Bonus-point win for Tullow keeps survival hopes in their own hands
Tullow's Ezarh Vai was sensational on the weekend. Photo: Thomas Nolan.
Tullow’s-bonus point win over Wexford, coupled with Athy’s defeat to Suttonians, means that one win in their final two games will be enough to see Tullow avoid a relegation play-off.
Tullow were ruthless, putting seven tries past an already relegated Wexford, opening up the side that beat them in the reverse fixture with ease at times. Defensively though, they struggled; Wexford scored the opening try in each half and scored four in total, something that will concern Maurice Logue going forward.
The wind made kicking conditions very difficult at the scoreboard end in particular, but Wexford broke up the pitch from a lineout and recycled the ball out to the right to Richie Waters who went in around the back to open the scoring early.
That seemed to wake Tullow up and three minutes later they won a scrum and Ezrah Vai made good ground up the pitch before Jack McDonald picked up the ball after Vai was taken down and went over to the right of the posts. Peter Burgess took over the kicking duties from Adam Johnson and sent over the conversion to give them the full seven points. Then, with 11 minutes gone, Tullow scored their second try as Stephen Smith powered over in the corner.
Smith then took a tap penalty and made good ground up the pitch. The ball was driven to the line and recycled back to Smith who powered through. The bonus point try came after 22 minutes when Tom Cashen made good ground before Joe Waters picked up the ball and crashed through the gap to go over under the posts. Burgess nailed both conversions. Tullow picked up their fifth try seven minutes before the break when Vai intercepted the ball and laid off to Cosgrave who went in before Burgess kicked the extras.
Wexford’s Jakub Tarnawski found space down the right and went in for the visitor’s second try moments later, however, with Donal Buckley adding the extras. But Cosgrave fired over a penalty line to extend the lead to 24 points at half time.
Wexford came out a wounded animal and started with a try through William Miller.
However, Tullow went on to get try number six through Corey Leigh Hughes and try number seven courtesy of Vai after Jack Hanlon palmed off to Vai who went over in the corner.
Wexford got their bonus-point try as a tap and go penalty saw Ben McGuinness find space and go through the gap to go over under the posts. Buckley drop kicked the conversion over to bring the game to a close.
S Smith (2 tries), D Cosgrave (1 try, 1 pen), J McDonald, J Waters, C Hughes and E Vai (1 try each), P Burgess (4 cons).
R Waters, J Tarnawski, W Miller and B McGuinness (1 try each), Donal Buckley (3 cons).
Adam Johnson, Jack Hanlon, Dara Cosgrave, Ryan Curran, Scott O'Sullivan Magne, Peter Burgess, Cian Leonard; Scott Caldbeck, Corey Leigh Hughes, Tom Cashen, Tom Hughes, Joe Waters, Ezrah Vai, Jack McDonald, Stephen Smith.
Daniel Culleton, Brian Keogh, James O'Brien, Martin Cole, Paul Canavan.
Richard Waters, Robin Hawkins, Shane McGuinness, William Murphy, William Miller, Dónal Buckley, Ruairi Fenlon; Brian Donohoe, Eoin Walsh, Kaylem Codd, Louis Gainfort, Jakub Tarnawski, Louis Richard, Vincent Carroll, Ben McGuinness.
Jason Guerrine, Cillian Gondard, Ewan Carroll, Niall Power, Michael Harney
