New Ross - 17
Kilkenny - 29
Kilkenny Under-15s made hard work of this South East League tie against New Ross on Saturday. New Ross with home advantage, failed to capitalise on Kilkenny’s poor form.
Head coach, Steve Van Rooyen commented that it is satisfying to know that “even when we don’t perform to our usual best, we can still score beautiful tries and come away with the points.”
Kilkenny started the stronger team and opened the scoring after only five minutes but after some time New Ross came into the game and managed to score a penalty kick.
New Ross were now in the driving seat and started running the ball at Kilkenny who now were missing vital tackles.
But luck was on Kilkenny’s side as John Curtin thundered through the New Ross side to touch down. Treacy judged the conversion kick perfectly and the ball sailed between the posts. Kilkenny went into the half-time break 14 – 3 in front.
Kilkenny must have received a stern talking-to at the break, as they started the second half a much stronger side with McWey scoring a fine opportunistic try straight from the kick-off.
For a few minutes it looked as if they would run away with the game but again they applied the brakes and allowed New Ross back into the game. They added two converted tries in quick succession in the 15th and 20th minutes.
The champs were on the ropes and were now leading by only two points. It was time to shift up a gear and that is what they did. The Kilkenny front-row trio of James Rafter, Jim Moore and John Henrich didn’t flinch despite the extra weight and drove hard in the scrums. Lock, Conor Quinlan decided to add his name to the scoreboard and crossed the line in the 25th minute.
Some 4 minutes their captain, Cormac Connolly crossed the line for a try and brought this contest to an end.
