October 13, 20193:00 pm

Portlaoise RFC vs Newbridge RFC – MATCH REPORT:

A match which saw two totally different halves as the Newbridge side ran the ball early on to leave it at 10 points to 18 at the break. However, the heavier Portlaoise pack dominated the scrums and the tight play in the second period to win this good League match. Portlaoise scored 2 penalties and 3 tries of which 2 were converted while Newbridge scored 2 penalties and 2 tries with one converted.

Played in very good conditions Newbridge were assisted by the breeze in the first half. On 16 minutes outhalf Karl Darragh kicked a penalty from close in. This was followed by a period of ill-discipline from Portlaoise as they had 2 players yellow carded. A penalty try was scored for Newbridge in the 19th minute while Portlaoise struck back with a penalty from in front of the posts in the 22nd minute. A further Portlaoise drive against the run of play saw them score a try and conversion in the 27th minute. A penalty was scored by Darragh after a lot of Newbridge pressure in the 34th minute. A flying run from the Newbridge right winger Stephen Cooke broke a number of Portlaoise tackles which saw him go over in the corner in the 40th minute to leave the half time score at 10 points to 18.

In the 42nd minute a penalty was scored from in front of the posts for Portlaoise. A number of substitutes were made by Newbridge with Graham Burns in for Billy Delaney, Matt Duggan for Paddy Commane and Liam McGovern for Stephen Cooke. The Portlaoise pack were now on top in the scrums and in the 68th minute they drove over the line for a converted try. This was followed in the 81st minute by another push over try in the corner.

Best for Newbridge we were Karl Darragh at outhalf, and Denis Clarke in the centre Stephen Cooke on the wing while wing forwards Ian Oโ€™Rahelly and team Captain Jeff Draper did well.

Newbridge: Paddy Commane, Will Jennings, Brendan Commane, Scott McMullan, Keith Moran, Jeff Dreaper Capt), Ian Oโ€™Rahelly, Ronan Mangan, Mark Delaney, Karl Darragh, Stephen Cooke, Denis Clarke, Ephin Conroy, Billy Delaney, Donal Cashman. Subs: Matt Duggan, Graham Burns, Liam McGovern, Neil Hogan

Newbridge are at home in Rosetown to Edenderry on Sunday next 20th October at 3.00pm.