North Wexford U20s Launch League Season with Exciting Draw
Sunday was a landmark day for rugby in Co. Wexford. The JP Flanagan U20 League kicked off its new season with a team from the county involved for the first time in the history of the competition.
North Wexford U20s is a joint venture between Gorey and Enniscorthy Rugby Clubs. It was initiated to give players from both clubs exposure to top-level U20 rugby without having to leave the area.
The JP Flanagan League has the reputation of a fast-flowing 15-man style, which this match certainly lived up to. In perfect conditions, North Wexford U20s hosted Coolmine RFC from Dublin in Enniscorthy RFC.
Both teams showed their intent from the first whistle, moving the ball wide and continuing at a lung-bursting pace for the entire match. Sharing two tries each, the teams were tied at 12–12 at half-time.
The second half continued in a similar vein and, despite North Wexford pushing hard and having the better of possession and territory in the final 20 minutes, they couldn’t breach the Coolmine line for the decisive score. The final whistle left them again tied at 26–26, with two tries each in the second half.
It is a great testament to the strength of youth rugby in the area, as the team has shown the potential to be a real force in this league, playing a very attractive brand of rugby.
The next match is away to Ashbourne on 11th October, followed by a home fixture against MU Barnhall on 18th October. It promises to be an exciting season ahead.
North Wexford Squad
A Jacob Sajjn, D Shaughnessy (C), C Kavanagh, C Bolger, L Sunderland, J Smullen, C Donovan, S Lewandowski, F Standing, I Young, J Leech, E Slator, H Montague, B Coyne, M Ryan, K Treacy, J Delaney, R Bailey, D McBride, S Ivanoff, A Naughton, J Lawlor, L Kinsella, S O’Driscoll.
Sunday was a landmark day for rugby in Co. Wexford. The JP Flanagan U20 League kicked off its new season with a team from the county involved for the first time in the history of the competition.
North Wexford U20s is a joint venture between Gorey and Enniscorthy Rugby Clubs. It was initiated to give players from both clubs exposure to top-level U20 rugby without having to leave the area.
The JP Flanagan League has the reputation of a fast-flowing 15-man style, which this match certainly lived up to. In perfect conditions, North Wexford U20s hosted Coolmine RFC from Dublin in Enniscorthy RFC.
Both teams showed their intent from the first whistle, moving the ball wide and continuing at a lung-bursting pace for the entire match. Sharing two tries each, the teams were tied at 12–12 at half-time.
The second half continued in a similar vein and, despite North Wexford pushing hard and having the better of possession and territory in the final 20 minutes, they couldn’t breach the Coolmine line for the decisive score. The final whistle left them again tied at 26–26, with two tries each in the second half.
It is a great testament to the strength of youth rugby in the area, as the team has shown the potential to be a real force in this league, playing a very attractive brand of rugby.
The next match is away to Ashbourne on 11th October, followed by a home fixture against MU Barnhall on 18th October. It promises to be an exciting season ahead.
North Wexford Squad
A Jacob Sajjn, D Shaughnessy (C), C Kavanagh, C Bolger, L Sunderland, J Smullen, C Donovan, S Lewandowski, F Standing, I Young, J Leech, E Slator, H Montague, B Coyne, M Ryan, K Treacy, J Delaney, R Bailey, D McBride, S Ivanoff, A Naughton, J Lawlor, L Kinsella, S O’Driscoll.
