Leinster League

 

Division 1A

 

Newbridge 25
Tullamore 23

 

NEWBRIDGE came of age to take the scalp of the Towns’ Cup holders in a victory that relied as much on self-belief as steely resolve.

 

In the final few minutes Karl Darragh stepped up to take the wining penalty and ensure a vital four-points in what is destined to be a long, dog-eat-dog, league campaign.

 

Captain Peter Sutton and scrum and hooker Gareth O’Reilly epitomised the Newbridge spirit and flair while the only grizzled old-timer among the youthful outfit, Colin O’Brien, was towering in the line-outs.

 

After ten minutes it looked as if the Division 1A new guys were going to be dished out lesson in concentration, giving away a try on the wing that put Tullamore 7-0 ahead against the run of the play.

 

Newbridge did have their moments in the first quarter with wingers Dave and Neal Hogan looking dangerous and full-back Karl Darragh adding some counter-attacking flair.

 

Their enterprise won a penalty but Darragh hit posts to let the visitors off the hook.

 

Despite the probings of the three-quarters, it was No.8 Jonny Downey who found a gap with a trade-mark bullocking run to touch down for an unconverted try.

 

Tullamore used their bulkier pack to keep a lid on the Newbridge ambition and on the half-hour were rewarded with a try off the back off a maul to make it 14-5.

 

Darragh hit back with a good penalty but Tullamore began to look in control of the game when immediately slotting over a penalty to stay 17-8 ahead on the stroke of half time.

 

The momentum appeared to swing to the visitors but a well-judged line kick brought play into Tullamore’s half and the defence was pressurised to kick short.

 

From the line-out prop Cillian O’Shea found the defensive door swinging wide open and ran in from the 22-metre line to score with Darragh adding the two points.

 

Immediately after half time Newbridge had to soak up the pressure but Robbie Water’s relieving kicks, chased by the Hogan brothers on the wings, went some way to keeping to Tullamore at bay.

 

When Terry Donnelly was sin-binned for an off-side call at 55 minutes and the penalty went over, Tullamore must have thought they finally broken the Newbridge resistance.

But the home side remained dogged with both sides still producing some big hits going into the final quarter.

Newbridge always looked more dangerous from open play and when Sutton suddenly found a wide-open gap he sped in to score close to the posts with Darragh adding the conversion.

 

With less than five minutes plus injury left on the clock Tullamore must have thought they’d done enough when some strong forwards’ play yielded a penalty for off-side to put them 23-22 ahead.

 

Again Newbridge came back and this time it was the Tullamore defence who strayed off-side for Darragh to snatch a vital victory.

 

Newbridge: Cillian O’Shea, Gareth O’Reilly, Mark Southern, Terry Donnelly, Colin O’Brien, Mick Byrne, Niall Duggan, Jonny Downey, Peter Sutton, Robbie Waters, Neal Hogan, Sean Kelly, Rob Scahill, Dave Hogan, Karl Darragh. Subs used: Matt Mullins, Brendan Tierney, Eoin Walsh.

Provincial Seconds

 

Division 1A

 

Newbridge 21
Tullamore 19

 

IT took a final minute penalty from Newbridge to win a game they had wrapped up at halftime after a barn-storming opening 40 minutes.

 

Shane O’Brien, Liam Heavey and Brian Furey cut-loose in broken play where outhalf Johnny McNamara consistently took the right option.

 

In the centre Colm Dunning and Matt Mullins produced some good angles and sleight of hand that kept the Tullamore defence guessing.

 

Tries from full back Gavin Coffey and second row Furey along with a conversion and drop-goal from McNamara left it 15-3 to the home side at the break.

 

Straight after the break McNamara extended the lead to 18-3 with a penalty and a Newbridge team bursting with confidence were on course for a comfortable win.

 

But all the Newbridge panache and flair of the first half slid into to complacency in the second half and Tullamore began edge back in with a tally of penalties.

 

In the final quarter Tullamore had got back to 18-12 and then went ahead with a try to go 19-18 ahead.

 

McNamara missed with a long range penalty attempt as Tullamore desperately tried to close the game out with Heavey and Mark Doyle doing their best to batter forwards.

 

Then in injury time McNamara had another opportunity to the right of the posts which he put over in the final act of the game.

 

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