With pre-season wrapping up last weekend, Leinster League junior rugby was back on the cards on Saturday and Sunday with Kilkenny, Carlow and Tullow all in competitive action.
Kilkenny v Monkstown (1A)
Having topped Division 1B in the J1 section for 2014/15, Kilkenny’s games are now on a Saturday and as the first local side in action this weekend, the Foulkstown men took to the road to face Monkstown in Dublin.
Despite coming off wins against Carlow and New Ross in the past fortnight, it was disappointment for Kilkenny at the first time of asking this season in Division 1A, going down 22-13 to a strong Monkstown side at Sydney Parade, Monkstown picking up the bonus point.
Elsewhere, Enniscorthy also picked up a bonus point 44-10 win away to Suttonians, Gorey beat Ashbourne 22-9 at Milltown House while Clondalkin picked up a losing bonus point, going down 15-3 to De La Salle Palmerston at Kirwan Park.
Kilkenny host Suttonians at Foulkstown this coming Saturday 3 October at 3pm.
[table]
#,Team,P,W,D,L,PF,PA,PD,BP,D,PTS
1,Enniscorthy ,1,1,0,0,44,10,34,1,0,5
2,Monkstown ,1,1,0,0,22,13,9,1,0,5
3,Gorey ,,1,1,0,0,22,9,13,0,0,4
4,De La Salle Palmerston ,1,1,0,0,15,13,2,0,0,4
5,Clondalkin ,1,0,0,1,13,15,-2,1,0,1
6,Kilkenny ,1,0,0,1,13,22,-9,0,0,0
7,Ashbourne ,1,0,0,1,9,22,-13,0,0,0
8,Suttonians ,1,0,0,1,10,44,-34,0,0,0
[/table]
Tullow v Kildare town (1B)
Having endured disappointing results in the South East League for pre-season, Tullow were beaten at home on the opening day of their new Leinster League Division 1B campaign to new boys North Kildare on a final score 34-20. With two tries under their own belts, North Kildare clocked up six of their own to pick up the bonus point and march their way to the top of the league table on opening day.
Elsewhere Malahide got back in the swing of things with newcomers to the division, Mullingar, tying up 20-20 at Shay Murtagh Park while Longford’s home record at CPL Park notched up another L as Wicklow returned to the goast 17-6 winners. In the day’s other game Cill Dara hosted Coolmine at Silken Thomas Park, the hosts losing out on a 15-12 reverse.
Tullow are on the road to take on Ashbrook next Sunday 4 October at 2.30pm.
[table]
#,Team,P,W,D,L,PF,PA,PD,BP,D,PTS
1,North Kildare ,1,1,0,0,34,20,14,4,1,0,5
2,Wicklow ,1,1,0,0,17,6,11,2,0,0,4
3,Coolmine ,1,1,0,0,15,12,3,0,0,0,4
4,Malahide ,1,0,1,0,20,20,0,1,0,0,2
5,Mullingar ,1,0,1,0,20,20,0,-1,0,0,2
6,Cill Dara ,1,0,0,1,12,15,2,0,1,0,1
7,Longford ,1,0,0,1,6,17,2,-2,0,0,0
8,Tullow ,,1,0,0,1,20,34,-14,-4,0,0,0
[/table]
Carlow v Portarlington (2A)
Like neighbours Tullow, Carlow too endured tough tests for this year’s South East League, first going down to New Ross before being beaten comprehensively by Kilkenny 47-0. Their third game against Enniscorthy never transpired.
Following relegation from 1B last year, life in Division 2A for Carlow began with a single try loss to Portarlington away at Lea Road but the 30-25 scoreline does at least get Carlow a bonus point for their efforts. The four winning sides in Sunday’s 2A round of games all picked up bonus point victories – Newbridge beating Athboy 43-15 at Rosetown, Portlaoise beating New Ross 38-17 at Togher and Railway Union overcoming Edenderry 28-19 at Park Avenue.
Carlow have a home game at Oak Park this coming Sunday 4 October against Port Laoise at 2.30pm.
[table]
#,Team,P,W,D,L,PF,PA,PD,BP,D,PTS
1,Newbridge ,1,1,0,0,43,15,28,1,0,5
2,Portlaoise ,1,1,0,0,38,17,21,1,0,5
3,Railway Union ,1,1,0,0,28,19,9,1,0,5
4,Portarlington ,1,1,0,0,30,25,5,1,0,5
5,Co Carlow ,1,0,0,1,25,30,-5,1,0,1
6,Edenderry ,1,0,0,1,19,28,-9,0,0,0
7,New Ross ,1,0,0,1,17,38,-21,0,0,0
8,Athboy ,1,0,0,1,15,43,-28,0,0,0
[/table]
We’ll have reactions and more reports across Monday on KCLR.