GOREY 46 WEXFORD 10

GOREY TRAVELLED to Wexford on Saturday evening last to play a local derby in what could have been a potential banana skin in their quest for Division 2B honours.
The game started with the home team firing on all cylinders and it was not long until they crossed the whitewash for a well-deserved try. Wexford failed with the conversion which with hindsight was to cost them dearly as the game progressed.

Wexford kept the pressure on the league leaders and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts after Gorey strayed offside. Unfortunately for Wexford, the ball sailed wide.

Gorey were still not settled and a further try from Wexford which they did not convert saw Gorey ten points down in the opening 30 minutes. This really should have been 19 if the Wexford place-kicker had been on form.
This was to prove Wexford's last score as Gorey finally got their act together and, after camping in the Wexford '22, the wily Matt Bater barrelled over for the first of his three tries after sustained pressure by the Gorey pack. Aidan O'brien converted.

With half-time fast approaching, number 7 Benny Horan made a great break and with the support of the pack a quick ball through the backs saw wing Killian Breen dive over in the corner for Gorey's second try which Aidan O'brien converted.

With a scoreline of 14-10, Gorey could hardly believe their luck as it could so easily have been so different if Wexford had taken all their chances. The second-half saw Gorey continue where they left off, with the pack laying the foundation to move the ball wide to create the space.

It was from one of these moves that full-back Tomás Sheehy finished off a text book move when he came into the line at speed to score a magnificent try to break Wexford's hearts. Gorey's tails were up and two tries each from Ben Horan and Matt Bater saw Gorey wrap up the points to leave them 46-10 winners and crucially with a 14-point gap at the top of Division 2B with two games remaining.

Team: C. Smith, B. O'connor, C. Hennessy, I. Porter, P. Wafer (capt.), M. Woods, B. Horan, J.P. Redmond, M. Bater, A. O'brien, K. Breen, C. Pevoy, T. Sheehy, C. Coates, T. Martin, C. Owley, A. Copeland, P. Horan, J. Mannion.