19 February 2012

Provincial Towns' Cup, second round.
Naas 0 Newbridge 39

A SWASHBUCKLING Newbridge brushed past Naas in a second half performance full of enterprise in attack and gritty tackling in defence.
Newbridge were well worth their 39-0 win although Naas constantly pushed hard and will wonder how they failed at times to get on the score board.
The real damage was done out wide where marauding wingers Padraig Mahon and Dave Hogan enjoyed quick service from Ben Swindlehurst and Sean Kelly in the centre.
At the same time the second row pairing of Terry Donnelly and Colin O’Brien played in the loose phases as if they were back row, causing havoc in broken play.
Karl Darragh slotted two first half penalties while one Naas kick fell short and another hit the upright.
Naas dominated the early territory but failed to capitalise on that advantage.
When Niall Duggan at hooker scored the first try from possession off a lineout, it came thanks to the pack’s dominance in the set piece.
Leading 13-0 at halftime Newbridge soaked up some early pressure to break from deep with Swindlehurst setting up Mahon for the second try to make 20-0 with a Darragh conversion.
Hogan then got on the scoreboard with a try on the other wing after another phase of broken play as ambitious Newbridge passes went to hand.
Robbie Waters moved the game into the comfort zone with 15 minutes left to play when he exploited a midfield gap close to the line to dot down for a 30-0 lead.
In the final ten minutes Naas twice went for the corner with penalties in search of the consolation try but were foiled each time.
Instead another Newbridge breakout saw substitute No.10 Harry Murphy finish off close to the post for Swindlehurst to add the conversion and a 39-0 winning scoreline.
Next up Newbridge play Kilkenny at Rosetown on Friday, 2 March for a semi-final place.

Newbridge: Karl Darragh, Dave Hogan, Sean Kelly, Ben Swindlehurst (capt), Padraig Mahon, Robbie Waters, Ryan Jones, Jonny Downey, Austin Cella, Mick Byrne, Terry Donnelly, Colin O’Brien, Dan Jennings, Niall Duggan, Grant Wattleworth. Subs: Harry Murphy, Stephen Cook, Cillian O’Shea,  Darrell O’Hora, Kevin McCarthy.