Enniscorthy 48 Bangor 15

Enniscorthy head into the mini break, lying second in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2C table, after a comprehensive 48-15 win over Bangor in Alcast Park on Saturday.

The Slaneysiders sit one point ahead of Galwegians and two ahead of Bruff, although the former have a game in hand. Second place would grant Enniscorthy a home play-off semi-final.

The final winning margin wasn’t reflective of the opening quarter where Bangor shot into a 15-0 lead, leaving the home team pondering the way forward. Slack tackling and poor decision-making allowed Bangor two early tries through centre Lusty and winger Widdowston, both in similar fashion in the scoreboard corner.

The away side also added a further penalty and could have been further ahead, but for some poor handling.

Enniscorthy needed answers quickly and, to their credit, they have been able to problem-solve on the pitch all year. For the final three-quarters of the game the men in red, black and white took over.

A sustained period of pressure, which saw Enniscorthy held up twice, eventually paid dividends with David O’Dwyer stepping back inside to touch down under the posts.

A clever line-out move yielded a second try from a maul. A switch of the point of contact gave Enniscorthy momentum, allowing Davie Murphy to crash over the whitewash.

Ben Kidd was successful with both conversions, leaving the half-time score at 15-14 in favour of the travelling outfit.

Enniscorthy scored 34 unanswered points in the second-half including five tries.

The first came after ten minutes. Strong carries gained Enniscorthy good territory and a quick tap penalty allowed Kidd to scoot clear to put the home side ahead.

His conversion and a further penalty saw Enniscorthy lead 24-15.

Nick Doyle crossed for the bonus point try after a strong scrum allowed the ball to be shifted to midfield. Quick recycling led to the ball being spread wide for Doyle to touch down in the corner.

The home side produced a quality show in the last ten minutes, adding three further tries.

The first, for Timmy Morrissey, arrived off the back of some great running rugby as Enniscorthy spread the ball from touch line to touch line, allowing him a simple run-in past a ragged defence.

Poor discipline from Bangor gave Enniscorthy a chance from a short-range line-out. They duly obliged with Aaron Doyle scoring his first senior try and his side’s sixth.

Nick Doyle had time for a second try right at the death. Enniscorthy moved the ball in their own half and a series of outstanding off-loads kept it alive and would have yielded one of the greatest tries seen in Alcast Park.

They were unfortunate not to finish it off, but Doyle was on hand from the resultant scrum to cross the whitewash. Kidd kicked four of the five second-half conversions.

On a day when Enniscorthy took a long time to hit top gear, man of the match Tom Ryan was to the fore throughout.

The industrious Lee Treacy was his usual waspish self at number 7, disrupting play and carrying well. Ben Kidd continues to grow in his number 10 role.

Enniscorthy now have a two-week break before the final block of three games that will decide their fate.

A home game against fourth-placed Bruff will be bookended by two tough away trips to Omagh and next up Ballina on March 23.

Enniscorthy: Scott O’Connor (Andy Redmond, 70), Davie Murphy, M.J. Doyle, Tom Ryan, Tomás Stamp (Darragh Joyce, 65), Nick Doyle, Lee Treacy (Aaron Doyle, 60), Timmy Morrissey, Graham Barry (Dominik Morycki, 50), Ben Kidd, Kevin O’Connor, Daniel Pim (Mikey McVeigh, 65), Fiachra Hourihane, David O’Dwyer, Jack Kelly.

The match report can also be read in this week's Enniscorthy Guardian. Photo credit to the Enniscorthy Guardian.