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Leinster League
Division 1A
Newbridge 34
Skerries 30
Newbridge confirmed their top-fight status and recaptured their early season form in a nine-try thriller against Skerries.
The bonus-point victory puts Newbridge out of reach for Carlow and Cill Dara who are left to battle it out to avoid automatic relegation.
Skerries, with former Leinster scrum half Chris Keane directing operations, came to Rosetown determined to play fast, attacking rugby.
While Newbridge struggled to contain the fleet-footed visitors they ground out a win thanks to a dynamic pack performance.
Front row Mark Southern, Niall Duggan and Cillian O’Shea laid the foundation for the win with a powerhouse performance that saw them snatch the ball against the head at critical moments.
Back row Jonny Downey capped a superb effort with two tries while John Southern’s abrasive tackling along with Rory McCann took its toll on the Skerries’ strike runners.
But it was Dave Hogan who drew first blood with the winger finishing off for an early converted try.
The north Dubliners struck back before fullback Karl Darragh added a long range penalty to make 10-7 after 13 minutes.
But as Newbridge pressed for another try Skerries showed their dangerous side turning over the ball in the own 22 to go the length of the field for a score.
A penalty and then another score out wide had Skerries firmly in the driving seat at 22-10 with 30 minutes gone on the clock.
At this stage the visiting three-quarters had too much speed and power for Newbridge who struggled to plug the gaps in the midfield.
Newbridge then changed tactics using the back row to attack the fringes of the ruck and after a patient build up Downey got in for his first try just before halftime.
Skerries piled on the pressure early in the third quarter as Newbridge were down to 14 man with John Southern in the bin and then a missed lineout ball handed the momentum to the visitors.
It took another long build up but the hard-running Skerries left wing got in for a score to leave it 27-15 and a bonus point in the bag.
Again Newbridge kept it tight and attacked the Skerries line with Duggan eventually claiming the try and Darragh adding two points.
The vital breakthrough came when Downey produced a midfield break in loose play that gave outhalf Massey Tuhakaraina the space to exhibit his magical side-stepping skills for the equalising try.
The conversion by Darragh gave Newbridge a slender lead in the absorbing clash poised to go either way.
Skerries missed a kickable penalty and then Newbridge let them off the hook with a knock-on at the back of a scrum in a promising position.
Newbridge conceded two penalties in a row, one of which was slotted over for 34-30 score line with seven minutes to go.
Skerries came looking for the winning score, but this time the Newbridge three-quarters held their line with some great tackling.
Skerries went through the phases and looked certain for a try in the dying moments only for the second centre to make an unforced error knocking on and effectively ending his side’s match.
The win keeps Newbridge in Division 1A ahead of their final match away to Carlow at Oak Park – the result of which could decide Cill Dara’s status for next season.
Newbridge: Mark Southern, Niall Duggan, Cillian O’Shea, Terry Donnelly, Colin O’Brien, Rory McCann, Jonny Downey, John Southern, Robert Waters, Massey Tuhakaraina, Neal Hogan, Ben Swindlehurst, Denis O’Callaghan, Dave Hogan, Karl Darragh. Subs: Arjen Delaney, Gavin Coffey, Sean Kelly, Daryl O’Hora