November 11, 20182:00 pm

Newbridge RFC vs Railway Union RFC – MATCH REPORT:

Top of the Leinster League table, Newbridge showed great commitment and endeavour to overcome a Railway Union side who scored two intercept tries.ย  Newbridge were more mobile and showed great drive and skill throughout this well attended game. Newbridge scored 6 tries, two conversions and a penalty to Railway Unions three converted tries. Newbridge gained a bonus point by virtue of scoring 4 or more tries.

Early Railway Union pressure was well handled by the Newbridge pack of forwards.ย  A break away in the 6th minute saw flying winger Robbie Browner race down the wing for the first of his 3 tries. A yellow card for the Railway Union outhalf in the 15th minute resulted in second row forward Rory McCann going over for a well-earned try following a series of good rucks. Outhalf Ronan Skehan converted a penalty in the 21st minute from 35 metres. Centre Graham Burns was on hand in the 27th minute to go over for a try after a lot of loose forward play.ย  Leading now by 20 points to nil Newbridge were caught twice in the 31st minute and in the 35th minute as they overdid the running game. Railway intercepted on both occasions to score two tries under the posts which were converted. Another yellow card in the 40th minute came for the Railway Union centre.ย  In what was the best move of the game Robbie Browner scooted over for his second try after a neat inside pass from outhalf Ronan Skehan to leave it at 27 points to 14 at the break.

In the second half Matt Duggan entered the fray as hooker for Ian Oโ€™Rahelly. Robbie Browner ran in for his third try after a good series of forward rucks. Newbridgeโ€™s Oisin Howell got a yellow card when the second row was accused by the referee of a high tackle. Liam McGovern substituted for Liam Donovan on the wing and then jinked his way over for Newbridgeโ€™s sixth try. Donal Cashman substituted for Skehan at outhalf and Ben Morgan came on for Mark Delaney. Railway got their final score in the 36th minute with a converted try. Railway Union tried hard to get a bonus point from the game in the final minutes with their 4th try which did not materialise with solid Newbridge defence.

Outstanding for Newbridge were props Billy Gainey and Brendan Commane with wing forward Niall Duggan. In the backs Billy Delaney and Robbie Browner tackled and ran well.ย  ย  ย 

Newbridge: Billy Gainey, Ian Oโ€™Rahelly, Brendan Commane, Oisin Howell, Rory McCann, Niall Duggan, Jeff Draper, Ronan Mangan (Capt), Mark Delaney, Ronan Skehan, Billy Delaney, Graham Burns, Liam Donovan, Conor Dolan. Substitutes: Matt Duggan, Richard Berney, Donal Cashman, Liam McGovern, Ben Morgan.

Newbridge are away to Wexford in Park Lane on Sunday 25th November with kick off at 2.30 pm.