On Sunday 1st of March the U15 boys made the now familiar trip north to meet Premier rivals Navan in round two of the Leinster Cup, where the scene was set for a big showdown with both sides vying to remain in contention for a cup title.
Gorey received the kick off to get the game under way and immediately set the tone for what was one of the most physically demanding encounters for the team to date, with hard carries leading them into the Navan half.
A brutally physical but scoreless opening spell passed until skipper Andy Jones opened the scoring, crossing the line after 11 minutes with flyhalf Tyler Klopper adding the extras off the tee.
Navan regrouped and came back blazing after the restart but the Gorey pack rose to the challenge and after some very slick interplay, a couple of flawless lineouts and determined running lines, loosehead Prop Michael McGuiness went over for the second score of the game with 14 minutes on the clock and Scrumhalf Ben Morris slotted the conversion.
The game thundered on with neither side lifting off the throttle. A full team effort was required to defend waves of Navan carries with outstanding resilience shown by inside centre Hugo O’Broin, debutant starter Adam Laurie in the midfield, and some vitally timed chopping tackles from Tom O’Brien around the fringes.
With the tackle count rising into the dozens, Gorey forced a handling error and capitalised on their dominant scum to launch an attack which culminated in flanker Jimmy Collier collecting a well deserved five points with Tyler once more sound off the tee to close out the first half.
The second half got underway with Navan receiving the kick off and laying down the gauntlet through their own pack, but Gorey could see victory and were not for giving way.
Tyler probed with clever kicks, the chases applied the pressure needed and with the lineout and rolling maul firing on all cylinders, Lock Hugh Sherriff made the ideal call to shorten, Jones launched it long and sent Donnachadh Kearney away on a rampage from the tail, gathering yards before passing out of the contact to the steaming tighthead Morgan Corbett who added yardage of his own to the charge. The ball was whipped out to the advancing backline and to winger Sam Gough who had plenty to do in the conditions to finish a very well worked try, Tyler obliged again adding the two.
Navan, never a side to wilt or shy from a physical battle, rallied and advanced behind their own kicks forcing a handling error inside the gorey 22 and providing an ideal platform from which to strike. With their scum creaking under pressure the Navan 9 decided to pick and snipe himself and with the support of his pack and two quickly recycled phases Navan crashed over under the sticks for their first try of the game with their outhalf adding the conversion.
A fervent restart saw Gorey in the drivers seat once more, hammering Navan back into their own half and applying the pressure needed at the ruck to give Collier the mere millisecond he needed to clamp onto the ball and force the penalty.
McGuiness carried hard from the penalty and set the platform. Morris was rapid from the base and the ball was sent wide once more through the hands and to the waiting Sam who finished in the corner.
A further 15 minutes of duelling followed with neither side cracking when the final whistle was blown to close out a captivating, cutthroat and ultimately concrete Cup win for the Gorey side.
final score: Navan 7 - Gorey 33
💙💚
The boys now have a quick turnaround to ready themselves for their Premier League fixture away to New Ross RFC this coming Wednesday 4th of March at 7.30pm.
Gorey received the kick off to get the game under way and immediately set the tone for what was one of the most physically demanding encounters for the team to date, with hard carries leading them into the Navan half.
A brutally physical but scoreless opening spell passed until skipper Andy Jones opened the scoring, crossing the line after 11 minutes with flyhalf Tyler Klopper adding the extras off the tee.
Navan regrouped and came back blazing after the restart but the Gorey pack rose to the challenge and after some very slick interplay, a couple of flawless lineouts and determined running lines, loosehead Prop Michael McGuiness went over for the second score of the game with 14 minutes on the clock and Scrumhalf Ben Morris slotted the conversion.
The game thundered on with neither side lifting off the throttle. A full team effort was required to defend waves of Navan carries with outstanding resilience shown by inside centre Hugo O’Broin, debutant starter Adam Laurie in the midfield, and some vitally timed chopping tackles from Tom O’Brien around the fringes.
With the tackle count rising into the dozens, Gorey forced a handling error and capitalised on their dominant scum to launch an attack which culminated in flanker Jimmy Collier collecting a well deserved five points with Tyler once more sound off the tee to close out the first half.
The second half got underway with Navan receiving the kick off and laying down the gauntlet through their own pack, but Gorey could see victory and were not for giving way.
Tyler probed with clever kicks, the chases applied the pressure needed and with the lineout and rolling maul firing on all cylinders, Lock Hugh Sherriff made the ideal call to shorten, Jones launched it long and sent Donnachadh Kearney away on a rampage from the tail, gathering yards before passing out of the contact to the steaming tighthead Morgan Corbett who added yardage of his own to the charge. The ball was whipped out to the advancing backline and to winger Sam Gough who had plenty to do in the conditions to finish a very well worked try, Tyler obliged again adding the two.
Navan, never a side to wilt or shy from a physical battle, rallied and advanced behind their own kicks forcing a handling error inside the gorey 22 and providing an ideal platform from which to strike. With their scum creaking under pressure the Navan 9 decided to pick and snipe himself and with the support of his pack and two quickly recycled phases Navan crashed over under the sticks for their first try of the game with their outhalf adding the conversion.
A fervent restart saw Gorey in the drivers seat once more, hammering Navan back into their own half and applying the pressure needed at the ruck to give Collier the mere millisecond he needed to clamp onto the ball and force the penalty.
McGuiness carried hard from the penalty and set the platform. Morris was rapid from the base and the ball was sent wide once more through the hands and to the waiting Sam who finished in the corner.
A further 15 minutes of duelling followed with neither side cracking when the final whistle was blown to close out a captivating, cutthroat and ultimately concrete Cup win for the Gorey side.
final score: Navan 7 - Gorey 33
💙💚
The boys now have a quick turnaround to ready themselves for their Premier League fixture away to New Ross RFC this coming Wednesday 4th of March at 7.30pm.
