Suttonians 24 Carlow 13
Carlow will be hoping that the hardest games in Division 1B of the Leinster League are behind them as they suffered a third loss from 4 matches by going down 24 – 13 to table toppers Suttonians in Dublin on Sunday.
For much of this game the Oakpark side matched the highly rated opposition but in an incident packed game Carlow seemed to get the fewest breaks.
The game began disastrously for the visitors when the Suttonians retrieved their own kick off and passed the ball wide for their fullback Nathan Henderson to score in the corner.
Eight minutes later a Suttonians centre intercepted and was clear for a score only to be called back for a Carlow penalty.
But after that with the wind in their back, Carlow dominated territory for most of the first half. Eighteen minutes in, the visitors opted for a scrum when awarded a penalty close to the Suttonians line.
Number 8 Ronan Farrell lifted the ball, made some hard metres before passing to scrumhalf Isaac Daly who in turn fed Sam O Brien who crashed over for a try.
After missing an easier penalty 10 minutes earlier team captain Ritchie Whyte converted the try to put the visitors 7 – 5 ahead.
Carlow almost increased the lead five minutes later when Ronan Farrell was tackled inches from the line. But on 30 minutes Carlow’s Ross Elmes was yellow carded for a high tackle.
Carlow almost survived sin binning but the home side squeezed in for another unconverted try in the corner in the dying moments of the binning.
However there was still time for another Carlow penalty from Ritchie Whyte which sent the teams in at 10 pts each at the break.
Facing the wind in the second period the visitors were up against it. But they will be frustrated at the two converted tries they conceded to the home side. The first came from a cross kick that Carlow could have and should have cleared.
The second started when Carlow were penalised in a scrum on half way in which they had won the ball and were moving forward.
The home side number 10 Jamie Ward booted the ball to within five metres of the Carlow line.
In the lineout the ball seemed to be overthrown but it fell to an unmarked prop at the back who got the simplest of touchdowns. Carlow had chances in the second half.
Ritchie Whyte converted a good penalty which put the game at 17 -13, still on a losing bonus point score for the visitors. When Suttonians went 24 – 13 ahead Carlow needed a try.
Eight minutes from time Carlow were heading towards the Dublin side’s line and the ref had signalled a Carlow penalty for dropping the maul. But this penalty was reversed and a Carlow player yellow carded for hitting the ruck with a shoulder and no arms.
Carlow got back up to the opposition line again and Suttonians shipped a sin binning for persistent fouling but the final whistle came to the relief of the home side.
While Carlow lost this game they will take heart from the fact that they were competitive away from home against the League Leaders. They will relish another crack at the Dublin side when on the return game in Oakpark scheduled for 13th January next.
Carlow had excellent performances from the second row pairing of Shirley and O Brien. Full back Rob Browne put in some try saving tackles.
Ronan Farrell beat the first tackler time and again. Scrumhalf Isaac Daly kept the opposition guessing with a few breaks around rucks.
After a break next weekend Carlow face North Kildare in Oakpark on November 4.
Carlow Team: Rob Browne, Seamus Curran, David McDermott, Ritchie Whyte capt, Stuart O Malley, Fiach Millward, Isaac Daly, Larry McGrath, Joe Gorman, John Lyons, Wes Shirley, Sam O Brien, Ross Elmes, Ronan Farell, Barra Farrell,
Subs John Farrell, Mark Slye, John Murphy, Jeff McDermott, John Whyte.
