February 17, 20192:00 pm

Railway Union RFC vs Newbridge RFC – MATCH REPORT:

A game where the strong wind dictated the play in the early part. However, the stronger Newbridge pack of forwards dictated both scrums and lineouts as the match wore on and in the end it told on the scoreline. Newbridge are now elevated to 4th place in the Leinster League Division 2A as they jumped over Portlaoise. Wexford will come to Rosetown in two weeks as Newbridge look to jump past them into third place in this the final league game. Newbridge won by scoring seven tries with two converted to Railway Unionโ€™s two penalties and a try.

Railway started strongly with the wind at their back and were on the mark with a penalty in the 4th minute. Newbridge got up the field for a lineout in the 12th minute which was won by their captain Ronan Mangan ย  who drove on and was backed up by second row Rory McCann who drove over the line for a well taken try. Railway got back on the scoreline with a well taken try in the 29th minute. After a series of penalties and with successive scrums on the Railway Union 5meter line their prop was yellow carded. Surprisingly, Railway Union had no replacement prop. However, Newbridge took a short penalty for second row Oisin Howell to drive over for the try to leave the half time score at 8 points to 10 in favour of Newbridge.

With the strong wind beginning to drop Newbridge put on the pressure but had Howell yellow carded in the 42nd minute. Railway went ahead with a close in penalty in the 47th minute. The Newbridge pressure began to take its toll now and from a planned move in the lineout hooker Ian Oโ€™Rahelly took the return pass from jumper Ronan Mangan to score a try in the corner. Back in the lead now the 4th try for the bonus point was slow in coming. However, with much pressure on the Railway line outhalf Donal Cashman crossed for a try. At 11 points to 20 Newbridge now drove on with scrum half Mark Delaney scoring a try converted by Cashman in the 72nd minute followed by another try in the 74th minute from centre Liam Donovan converted by Cashman. The final score came in the 80th minute from wing forward Brendan Tiernan.ย 

Best for Newbridge were centres Denis Clarke and Liam Donovan whose tackling was first class while in the forwards the power and drive form both second rows Rory McCann and Oisin Howell paid great dividends.

Newbridge: Brendan Commane, Ian Oโ€™Rahelly, Tomas Munita, Oisin Howell, Rory McCann, Denis Oโ€™Callaghan, Brendan Tiernan, Ronan Mangan (Capt), Mark Delaney, Donal Cashman, Billy Delaney, Denis Clarke, Liam Donovan, Robbie Browner, Conor Dolan. Subs: Matt Duggan, Denny Murphy, Paidi Davies, Zach Meehan.ย  ย 

Newbridge are at home in Rosetown to Wexford on Sunday 3rd March at 3.00pm.