Battling Portlaoise come so close to causing an upset

Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup Rd 2

Portlaoise 20 

Newbridge 30 

NEWBRIDGE may have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Provincial Towns Cup but were made to battle for every point by Portlaoise on Sunday. With the benefit of home territory Portlaoise looked for some time like they were going to upset the bookies odds.

The Kildare side play in Division 2A of the Leinster League, the division above the hosts and it was probably the advantage of playing in that higher grade that stood to the winners in the end. When they needed to up the pace they did so but even then could not shake off the determined Portlaoise lads.

It was in this area that a number of Portlaoise players excelled in particular Mark Sherlok, Glen Connolly and Cian Coffey.

It was in their back division that Newbridge had their stand out players. Centres James Parkinson and Riain Murphy along with full back Daragh Whyte always posed a threat. However, Newbridge supporters will single out John O’Brien whose unerring boot accounted for 15 points.

Those same supporters were surprised with the tactics employed by their side in the early stages of the game. For the opening six or seven minutes they laid siege to the Portlaoise line. In the process they were awarded three very kickable penalties but elected twice to go for a scrum and the third time decided to tap the ball.

It seemed they felt they were going to get the better of the home side’s pack, but that was not the case. For all their physical endeavour they left empty handed and were soon to pay the penalty.

Portlaoise were growing into the game and took the lead 13 minutes in when captain and hooker Ryan McEvoy crashed over for a try converted by Bryan Croke.

Approaching the half hour mark the home side double their advantage. When Croke chipped the Newbridge defence the ball was knocked on. From the scrum after a series of drives the ball ended with Sherlock drove over and Croke added the extras.

Newbridge never lost their focus but it was a Portlaoise error that let then back into the game. O’Brien made a decisive break before kicking the ball through. Portlaoise attempted to run the ball clear from the in-goal area instead of touching it down. From the ensuing scrum Murphy sliced through the cover and O’Brien’s conversion halved the deficit.

That was further reduced when Portlaoise lost Cian Coffey to a yellow card for a high tackle from which O’Brien split the posts.

Despite having seen their lead reduced to just three points, Portlaoise would not have been too unhappy as they had the advantage of the wind on the restart. But when they were penalised for not releasing O’Brien levelled the game eight minutes into the new half.

In the 51st minute Newbridge took the lead for the first time. Parkinson made a break and kicked through. Portlaoise gathered the ball Newbridge stole it back and whipped it out for Murphy to cross again, O’Brien added the extras leaving the score at 14-17.

It took Portlaoise just seven minutes to draw when Croke curled a penalty between the posts from 45 metres out on the right.

Both sides went at each other with ferocity and with just over 10 minutes left to play Portlaoise must have thought they got the telling break. Cormac Rigney won a lineout 10 metres from the Newbridge line. The pack drove forward with intent but was illegally hauled down which resulted in Cameron English being yellow carded. Croke kept his cool to convert and the home side now led 20-17.

But for the remaining 10 minutes Newbridge raised their game and took control. The pressure told on a tiring Portlaoise defence resulting in penalties being conceded. Newbridge and O’Brien were grateful as the out half added nines points from 71st, 76th and 81st minute kicks.

Newbridge now have a Town Cup quarter-final against Dundalk to look forward to.

All Portlaoise focus will be on their final league game at home top Roscrea next Sunday where the winner will win automatic promotion to Division 2A.

SCORERS:

Portlaoise: Bryan Croke 10 points (2 cons, 2 pens), Ryan McEvoy and Mark Sherlock 5 points each (1 try each).

Newbridge: john O’Brien 15 points (3 cons, 3 pens), Riain Murphy 10 points (2 tries), James Parkinson 5 points (1 try) PORTLAOISE: Niall Keenan; Marc Bracken, Joe McCormack, Kevin Griffin, Iain Corrigan; Bryan Croke, Jake Byrne; Paddy Coss, Ryan McEvoy, Aran Coiley; Michael Rigney, Dara Davis; Mark Sherlock, Glen Connolly, Cormac Rigney.

Replacements: Eoin Keenan, Joe Stevens, Ciaran O’Brien-McCormack, Cian Coffey, Mark Kelly, Jamie Holohan, Jack Duffin.

NEWBRIDGE: Daragh Whyte; Gavin Houlihan, Riain Murphy, James Parkinson, Zach Meehan; John O’Brien, Kevin Commane; David Morgan, William Jennings, Brendan Commane; Mark Bennett, Cameron English; Shane Treacy, Denis Clarke, Max McLoughlin.

Replacements: Michael Ugochukwu, Jack Moore, Steven McElligot, Chris Leech, Joshua O’Keefe, Robert Waters, Stephen Cooke.