Strong start helps Carlow hold off Wexford to win first game of the season
Winger Ben Deacon breaks free with his Carlow teammates running behind in support. Photos: Michael O'Rourke
Carlow earned their first win in this season's Leinster League Division 1B in a ten-try thriller against Wexford Wanderers on Sunday afternoon at Oak Park.
Carlow were in dreamland at half time, leading 33-12, but they had to put in an almighty defensive shift in the second half to grind out their maiden victory of the campaign.
Three straight defeats left Carlow bottom of the table, without so much as a bonus point to show for their efforts before this outing. Neighbours, Wexford, came into the game in contrasting form following their relegation from Division 1A last season, having won two of their opening three games, including putting 70 points on Mullingar last week.
With former Tullow Head Coach, Maurice Logue at the helm, Wexford put in a dominant final half an hour that very nearly got them over the line, leaving Oak Park with the consolation of two losing bonus points.
An scrum penalty gave Carlow good field position in the early goings, kicking to the corner, winning the lineout, setting the maul and going through the phases before eventually being held up over the line.
Wexford were plagued with injuries during the first ten minutes, and Carlow took advantage of the uncertainty, with Cormac McElligott barging through the defence before slipping the ball inside for Owen Edghill to cross for a try. Ben Crotty added the extras to make it 7-0.
The home side kept up the pressure and went in for a second try in the 18th minute, again coming off a dominant scrum. Carlow kept it simple, winning their own ball and going wide to Crotty, where the full back danced over in the corner for a wonderful score.
Carlow gathered the restart before a sublime chip-and-chase from hooker, Evan Gordon, brought the play back inside the Wexford 22. The visitors cleared their lines, but Carlow ran it back hard and won another penalty on the 22, with Wexford's Louis Gainfort sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Aaron Gordon.
Referee Calvin Jones determined that the offence prevented a clear try and ran under the posts to award a penalty try. 19-0 midway through the first half.
Wexford's first real attack of the game brought a score, as their winger, Jay Ashford claimed the ball in midfield and tore through the Carlow defence before dotting down in the corner.
The 14 men went up a gear after that, but Carlow held firm in defence until a brilliant break from Caomhan Brennan saw him to play Aaron Gordon into space, with the winger tearing down the line for an excellent try - the bonus point in the bag after barely half an hour. A fabulous kick from out on the touchline saw Crotty extend the lead to 26-5.
Restored to the full complement, Wexford hit back once again, using their forwards to barge their way towards the line before eventually feeding Donal Buckley for a try under the sticks. The fly half converted the try himself, with Caomhan Brennan shown a yellow card for an offside infringement in the build-up.
Carlow were soon back up the field and kicked to the corner off a penalty, immediately going through the phases before an audacious chip into the corner from Alan Owens was followed by a superb finish in the corner from Ben Deacon. Crotty again landed his kick from the sideline to stretch the lead to 21 points. Carlow, good value for their 33-12 lead at half time.
Carlow had a great chance to extend their lead eight minutes into the second half, only to be turned over just metres shy of the Wexford try-line.
But the first score of the half went the way of the visitors on 43 minutes, with Wexford showing tremendous patience before centre, Shane McGuinness found a gap in the defence and weaved his was through for a try. Buckley converted to cut the gap to 14 points.
Wexford remained on the front foot after that, with Carlow struggling to keep them out. The pressure finally proved too much, with the visitors taking Carlow through the phases before Ben McGuinness borrowed over from close range. Another Buckley conversion made it a seven-point game heading into the final quarter.
The Wexford backs were starting to cause huge problems for Carlow, with the hosts losing Paddy Rogers to the sin bin.
The visitors kicked to the corner, won the lineout and mauled over the line, with Eoin Walsh emerging with the ball. Buckley pulled his conversion wide, but there were now just two points in the difference with plenty of rugby still to play.
Carlow needed to score next, with the game in danger of getting away from them. Ben Crotty pointed at the posts from a 40-metre penalty and his shot had plenty to spare as the hosts stretched their lead to five followed by the welcome return of Rogers from the bin.
A massive scrum penalty from Carlow five minutes from time gave Crotty another 40-meter shot at goal, but his shot did not have the distance this time.
But it didn't matter in the end as a ferocious defensive scrum allowed Carlow to clear their lines for the win.
B Crotty (1 try, 1 pen, 3 cons), C Edghill, A Gordon, B Deacon (1 try each), Penalty Try.
D Buckley (1 try, 3 cons), J Ashford, S McGuinness, B McGuinness, E Walsh (1 try each).
Ben Crotty; Aaron Gordon, Caomhan Brennan, Johnny Murphy, Ben Deacon; Alan Owens, Noah Cope; Scott Neale, Evan Gordon, Paddy Rogers; John Lyons, Anto Kelly; Owen Edghill, Rhys Edghill, Cormac McElligott.
Tadhg Ronan, Conor Moore, Sam Dunne, Mick Drea, Liam Slater.
Richard Waters; Jay Ashford, Shane McGuinness, Colm O'Corcora, Bobby Connolly; Donal Buckley, Ruairi Fenlon; Kevin Redmond, Louis Richard, Brian Donoghue; Louis Gainfort, Jakub Tarnawski; Sean Cullen, Vincent Carroll, Ben McGuinness.
Daniel Doyle, Kevin Birney, Eoin Walsh, Stuart Hession, Aaron O'Neill.
Calvin Jones.
