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Leinster League 1A

 

Carlow 19
Newbridge 3

 

CARLOW fighting for survival in Division 1A dragged Newbridge into a dogfight and won the scrappy ill-tempered game.

Three yellow cards and 17 penalties didn’t help Newbridge’s cause who looked at time disjointed in the face of Carlow’s withering aggression.

 

Rory McCann, who wore the captain’s armband, and Massey Tuhakaraina at outhalf tried hard but failed to make an impression against the home side’s defence.

 

Karl Darragh at full back made some good counter attacks but too often was left isolated in possession.

 

Newbridge were trailing 9-0 as the Carlow fullback slotted over three out of four kicks by the end of the first quarter.

 

Things went from bad to worse as Newbridge lost Mark Southern to bin for killing the ball and then second row Terry Donnelly followed along the Carlow scrum half after a forceful exchange.

 

Newbridge then took their only chance of the first half when they pushed Carlow off their own scrum and forced a penalty converted by Karl Darragh.

 

Six points adrift Newbridge still looked well capable of earning a victory, but another series of early penalties gave Carlow another easy three-pointer to go 12-3 ahead.

 

Carlow missed another kick at goal before Newbridge had a chance to gain territory but the penalty kick failed to find touch.

 

Carlow worked the ball through the phases and the right-winger exploited the eventual overlap for the only try of the game.

 

The touchline conversion added to the sense that it was going to be Carlow day after being underdog for most of the season.

 

Newbridge pressed for a final quarter score but again were hit by penalties with John Southern becoming the third player sent to the bin.

 

The Carlow pack were dead on their feet but kept up a ferocious tackle rate.

 

Newbridge should have been through but Tuhakaraina was unable to get the pass away to use a generous overlap in the three-quarters.

 

The sighs of relief were audible around Oak Park at the sound of the final whistle while Newbridge were left to contemplate a hard lesson in attrition rugby.

 

Next week they play the second round of the Town’s Cup against Arklow at Terenure RFC at 1pm  on Saturday– a change of fixture to avoid a clash with the Newbridge College Junior Cup match the next day.

 

Newbridge: Mark Southern, Gareth O’Reilly, Cillian O’Shea, Terry Donnelly, Colin O’Brien, John Southern, Niall Duggan, Rory McCann, Neal Hogan, Massey Tuhakaraina, Denis O’Callaghan, Dave Hogan, Karl Darragh. Subs used: Mick Byrne, Arjen Delaney.