Arklow u15 rugby friendly

Arklow 34

Greystones 36

Anyone that has an interest missed a cracker of a rugby match in the oval last Sunday morning. Arklow hosted their neighbours from up the road. This game was a friendly in name only. It was played as nearly a competitive match with both sides going hell for leather from the first minute

 The away side started the game well scoring an early try in the first five minutes of the game.  This kicked the home side into action and after a sustained period of pressure Arklow centre Dean Kelly Farrell managed to burrow his way through the Greystones defence to level the scores with a try. Fly half Conn Kinsella added the extra two points.  In a very end to end game Greystones managed to get over the whitewash twice very quickly. Arklow replied again through the aforementioned Kelly Farrell who managed to cross the line again.  Arklow forwards worked there socks off for the next couple of minutes with their power pushing the opposition defence. This led to a penalty near the line where Arklow hooker Jamie Tobin got the ball and drove his way over the line this was yet again converted by Kinsella

            The 2^nd half of the game started much like the first with Greystones getting the 1^st score of the half adding the extra two. In nearly a carbon copy of the 1^st half Kelly Farrell managed to cross the line again for the home side.  The game went from side to side with both sides cancelling each other out till Greystones managed to cross the line again deep in the corner which they managed to convert the extra two. Arklow pushed forward again and after a period of intense pressure on the opposition line Greystones thought they had won the ball back but the ball slipped out and Arklow scrum, half Padraig Bermingham  cleverly touched the ball down to give Arklow a fighting chance .With the game in the melting pot in the dying embers. Greystones managed to crash over the line again, before in the final play of the game Arklow Conn Kinsella managed to slalom his way through the Greystones defence to add a final try. Unfortunately this wasn’t enough as Arklow lost out.

Arklow u15 League

Arklow 14

Tullow 24

Anyone that was up early last Saturday in Arklow witnessed a great top of the table clash in the oval.  Both sides were looking to get home advantage for the league quarterfinals.

The away side started well piling on the pressure from the first whistle. After a sustained period of pressure from the visitors, they managed to cross the whitewash very early on to give them an early 5 point lead. The away side kept the foot on the throttle going up the field and attacking every chance they had.T his intense pressure led to Tullow second try followed by a conversion which gave them a 12 point lead midway through the first half. These two scores kicked the home side into action. They pressed forward from then until the end of the half. After some very good defending Arklow no.8 Oran Kelly got his hands on the ball and drove over the line. They try converted by Conn Kinsella leaving 12-7 heading towards half time.  Arklow kept the pressure on for the remainder of the half but try as they might Tullow kept them out for the rest of the half with a strong defensive performance. Leaving the score 12-7 at half time.

The second half started much like the first with Tullow starting on the front foot again. There attacking lines causing problems for Arklow defense. These attacks led to another try for the away side which was converted this time to extend their lead to 19-7. In almost a mirror image of the first half Arklow attack kicked back into action. After a sustained period of pressure on the Tullow line. Arklow won a scrum no.8 Kelly picked it off the back and yet again got over the try line. Kinsella converted again. With the game heading into the final 10 minutes, Arklow camped themselves inside the Tullow half. The away side heroic defending kept Arklow out eventually Tullow managed to break away in the final minute and cross the line to finally put the game to bed. Giving Tullow a 24 -14 win.

Arklow u15s Leinster Cup

Arklow 14

Wexford 22

U15 Leinster Cup

 There was a great cup game played last Saturday afternoon in Arklow between two southeast sides.  The home side was looking to keep their momentum going after a few very strong performances at home. Playing with a strong wind in the first half the home side started very strongly getting the first try of the game through center Dean Kelly Farrell, who managed to break his way through the opposition defense before dotting the ball down under the posts. Fly-half Conn Kinsella cleverly drop-kicked the conversion over to give Arklow an early 7 point lead.  The game ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes with Wexford putting pressure on the Arklow try line. Try as they might Wexford couldn’t get through. With Arklow using the wind every time to clear their lines.  Eventually, Wexford pressure paid off as they got over the try line and slotted the resulting conversion to level the game. With the game edging towards half time the home side piled on the pressure again with foray after foray into the opposition twenty-two. This intense pressure led to indiscipline from the Wexford defense. With the final play of the half Arklow won a penalty and after a quick tap, the ball landed in the hands of Arkow no.8 Oran Kelly who burst his way through the  Wexford defense for the home sides 2^nd try. Kinsella dropped the conversion over to give them a 7 point lead at the break

The 2^nd half was nearly a mirror image of the first, with the team that had the wind gaining the advantage. Wexford piled on the pressure from the first whistle and after some heroic defending from the home side, they managed to cross the whitewash for a score.  They missed the resulting conversion which kept the home side in the lead. A couple of phases of play later Wexford managed to break through the cover again to cross the line but again missed the resulting kick. With the game in its final quarter and still only one score in it Arklow managed to get control of the ball in the Wexford half. Some more indiscipline got the home side right down into the 22 where they were camped for nearly 10 minutes. But a mix of great defending and clever fouling Wexford managed to keep the home side at bay. With the final play of the game, Wexford managed to break away and cross the line for one last time. Giving the away side an 8 point win in the cup