Gorey 34 Carlow 12

On what was a very busy day for Gorey RFC in Clonlattin last Saturday, when teams from Mullingar, Portlaoise and North Kildare visited to play at U14 U15 and U17 levels, Gorey U17 A's got the day's matches underway with a win in a Leinster League clash against Carlow which put them one step closer to the play off stages. On one of the best day's weather wise, that the seventeen's have played this season they put in a first half display which was clinical in ever aspect of its play.

From scrums, lineouts rucks and backline play their handling and commitment was second to none. Their good play was rewarded early in the first half when from some excellent handling the ball was fed to winger Nail Heffernan who went over in the corner to score the first try of the game and it was converted by James Nolan. With such good weather conditions the ball was passed around at ease and soon afterwards Naill Heffernan was again on the end of a backline move to score his second try of the day. Soon after this James Nolan converted a penalty kick which was awarded to Gorey.
Gorey kept putting pressure on Carlow and the next try came from a break away from the ruck by forward Conor Kinsella who sliced through the defence to score and James Nolan converted. The last try in the first half was scored by Darren Willoughby in the corner after some slick passing and support play. This left the score 27pts to nil at half time.

From the restart Gorey went straight back to where they left off in the first half and from a well worked maul Harry Woods peeled off to score under the posts and James Nolan converted. Things from here to the finish just seemed to go a bit flat and after a few off the ball incidents Gorey let Carlow back into the game for two tries, one from a lack of communication between forwards from a kick off which lead to a bit of confusion and Carlow capitalised on this and the other from not been alert after a penalty was awarded however they gathered their composure and kept a hold on the game till the final whistle. Overall it was a very good performance and from week to week this team is coming on in leaps and bounds.

A special thanks to Denise Mary and Maria who kept all the teams supplied with food throughout the day .Well done to one and all.

Team: James Mulligan, JJ Earle, Zach Sinnott, Conor Kinsella, Charlie Wildes, Deasun Griffin, Eric Lacey, Harry Woods, Tom Sinnott, Paddy Chapman, Naill Heffernan, James Nolan (Capt) Jack Cleary, Darren Willoughby, Cathal O'Neill, Eoin Walsh, Arron O'Rourke, Kallum O'Donoghue, Garry Dowling, Robert Willoughby, David Eikrem