Skerries and Enniscorthy produced a cracking game of Rugby last Saturday in Holmpatrick Skerries last Saturday with the home team winning 38-26.

Enniscorthy conceded a couple of late tries which were costly in a game that they dominated for long period. They dominated the opening 30 minutes with some sparkling running rugby and in fact were in front after just 5 minutes when young Rhyan Whelan took advantage of a mistake by Skerries and breeze through the cover to touch down under the posts. Fullback Ben Kidd added the conversion. 6 minutes later Enniscorthy should have scored again when Rhyan Whelan made another terrific break down the right and he slipped the ball to Ivan Jacob who was stopped inches from the line.

Enniscorthy were totally dominant, and another scoring opportunity went a begging when a superb exchange of play between backs and forwards almost produced another try, Ivan Jacob did touch down but the referee adjudged that the pass from Ben Kidd was forward and alas another opportunity missed. There was a quick compensation after missing that attempt when Ivan Jacob found some space again, he set Ben Kidd into space and when he was stopped, he popped the ball to out half Conall Kervick who touched down. The difficult conversion kick was missed.

There was 31 minutes on the clock when Skerries got into Enniscorthy’s half but it was telling as they moved the ball Enniscorthy covered quickly but a superb improvisation from the Fullback Jack Litchfield chipped over the top and caught his won kick to cross the whitewash. Litchfield kicked the conversion and then just before the half time break wing forward Paddy Finn peeled of a maul to score with Litchfield adding the convert and the home team leading 14-12 at half time.

Skerries completely turned the game on its head when they scored seconds into the 2nd half. Enniscorthy defence was poor when Ben McKiernan was allowed to travel so far with the ball and he put Litchfield in for his 2nd and Skerries 3rd try but he dropped the ball as he attempted to touch it down but everyone in the ground, but the referee saw it and the score was awarded and that put the home team 21-12 to the good. To their credit Enniscorthy responded with 2 tries to go back in front. Again, Rhyan Whelan was to the fore as his brilliant kick ahead inside the cover put Skerries under pressure and it was 2nd row Marco Byrne who scored beside the post. Ben Kidd added the conversion and it got even better when from the drop off Enniscorthy were to score again. Conal Kervick received the ball from Tomas Stamp and he made space for Ivan Jacob to score in the corner and Enniscorthy were now back in front and the 4th and bonus try came after a superb break from Mickie Nolan who galloped home to score. The conversion was missed.

Enniscorthy missed a couple of tackles down the left on Kevin McGrath who then switched the play to the far side and out half Ronan Mulcahy scored unopposed and he was to score again 5 minutes later for the 5-point lead. As the game reached its conclusion Enniscorthy defence was breached again and it was Mulcahys pace that did the damage as he spilt the Enniscorthy’s back field and he set up right wing Kevin McGrath for an easy touch down to destroy any chance of the visitors staging a comeback. Mulcahy incidentally is a grandson of Bill Mulcahy who made 35 Irish appearances and won 6 Lions Caps.

Enniscorthy will be disappointed with the result having been dominant for long periods particularly in the 1st half when they butchered some chances and yet they did leave with a try scoring bonus which puts them in 5th place in the division. Tony Ryan, Ori Lasisi, Marco Byrne and MJ Doyle were the pick of the forwards whist Rhyan When, Ivan Jacob and Conal Kervick did well in the backs.

Team; Ori Lasisi, Davy Murphy, MJ Doyle, Marco Byrne, Tomas Stamp, Lawrence Power, Lee Treacy, Tony Ryan (capt), Graham Barry, Conall Kervick, Micky Nolan, Rhyan Whelan, Ivan Jacob, Ben Kidd.

Subs used; Andrew Redmond, Sean McCarthy, Mickey McVeigh, jack Kelly, Shane McGuire.

Enniscorthy’s next match is a home game with Buccaneers Saturday 25th in Alcast Park @ 2.30pm.