By John Shirley
Kilkenny Junior 1 and 2 rugby teams came to Carlow as hot favourites playing in the South East Cup on Sunday but only came away with the one victory.
Playing ywo divisions above Carlow in the Leinster League, Kilkenny Junior 1 side prevailed against the Oakpark side by 33 points to 17.
But a mighty display by the Carlow Junior 2 team dispatched their Kilkenny opponents by 15 points to 7.
Even though they went under by 33- 17 the Carlow J1 pack outclassed their opponents for much of the game and actually outscored the Noresiders in the 2nd half.
Backed by the strong wind Kilkenny J1s scored four tries to one in the first half and led 26-7 at the break. Kilkenny’s back line looked especially useful under their new coach Gordon Rowe.
In the second period Carlow’s scrum dominance increased with the arrival of Alan and Ross Byrne (who had earlier starred in the J2 match) and Carlow got in for two tries by Ratahi and Challe. Fionan Burke had scored the third try.
New player Alec Crossley, who had earlier played on the J2 side came on following an injury and impressed at scrumhalf.
In the second’s game, held earlier in the day, Carlow outscored their higher rated opponents by three tries to one. Carlow’s tries were all due to strong rucking and ground made following scrums and lineouts.
Two tries in the first half were touched down by hooker Evan Gordon and back Rudi Corcoran. Fullback Adam Dowling got the third try in the second half after the forwards had made the hard yards.
Carlow’s J2 Captain Tom Bolger reckoned that this was Carlow’s first win against Kilkenny in 6 years.
Blackgates.
Carlow 1sts
Camen Brennan, Seamus Curran, Simon Walsh, Fionan Burke, Sam Dunne, Harry Hennessey, Andrew Hanley, Larry McGrath, Conal Slater, John Lyons, Thomas Whitney, Wes Shirley, Niall Bermingham, Thomas Ratahi (capt), Chris Challe.
Subs used Alan, Ross Byrne, Alec Crossley,
Carlow 2nds
Adam Dowling, Dylan Keogh, Rudi Corcoran, Jack Hickie, Terry Jones, Tom Bolger (capt), Alec Crossley, Alan Byrne, Evan Gordon, Ross Byrne, Zac Fitzhenry, Neil Slater, Mark Slye, Aidan Byrne Anthony Mannion,
Sub Niall O Mahony.
