Portarlington maintain their winning streak
Jack Hynes has been on fire for Portarlington this season. Photo: David Maher
PORTARLINGTON'S perfect start to Division 2B of the Leinster League is still intact after another impressive win, beating Midland Warriors on Sunday afternoon in Moate.
Ross Doyle's side ran in five tries - four coming in the first half - to finish as 19-point winners and leaving Westmeath with all five points.
Port received a walkover from Birr on the opening weekend of the season but set the tone for the division once they finally took to the field, beating West Offaly Lions 99-0 in Ferbane and backing that up at home to Arklow last time out where they won 72-3.
Midland Warriors also came into the game with a 100% record thanks to victories over Clane and Garda Westmanstown, but that record is no more.
The home side held out for the first quarter of an hour, but there was no holding back Portarlington once the dam finally broke in the 17th minute.
Big centre Jack Hynes has been in exceptional form this season and opened the scoring for Portarlington with a trademark charge over the try-line.
Hynes was the man again ten minutes later when Portarlington crossed for a second try to go 10-0 up.
The visitors had their tails up and waited just four minutes to cross for a third time, with captain Warren Murray scoring his first try of the season, with the flanker going over in style.
Portarlington secured the bonus point with five minutes to go before half time when hooker Jack Hennessy touched down, continuing his record of scoring in every game so far this season.
Kicking conditions were challenging in Moate, but Jason Keogh landed his fourth kick off the tee to add the extras and finally get on the scoresheet. There was still time left for the scrum half to slot a penalty before the break to leave Portarlington 25-0 up at half time.
Midland Warriors went over for a try to open their account three minutes into the second half - the first try Port have conceded this season.
But that was cancelled out just three minutes later thanks to a lovely try from Denville Maya - his second five-pointer in as many games.
The hosts cut the gap again with a second try in the 52nd minute before Keogh slotted another penalty on the hour mark to leave Portarlington 19 points to the good.
The final quarter was a real arm wrestle, with neither side able to add to their score as Port came out on top.
The Laois club remain top of the table with a maximum of 20 points on the board.
Portarlington's next game is in two weeks’ time when they welcome Clane to Lea Road.
Jack Hynes (2 tries), Warren Murray, Jack Hennessy and Denville Maya (1 try each), Jason Keogh (2 pens, 1 con).
Eoin Worrell, Reinas Balakauskas, Denville Maya, Jack Hynes, Anavil Storey; Andrew Evans, Jason Keogh; Daragh Jewell, Jack Hennessy, Devlin Mclaughlin; Jason Yellop, Toby Neilson-Dry; Warren Murray, Gavin Crampton, Dylan Stronge.
Oisin Mooney-Sherlock, Aaron Costello, James Dunne, Jack McCann, Craig Shaw, Darragh Perry, Peter Dunne.
Odhran McIntyre; Dean Broderick, Liam Fitzpatrick, Cody Broderick, John Maguire; Sean Flynn, Paul Dunican; Hugh Hilliard, Zain Kenny, Michael Burnell; Daniel Heffernan, Tadhg Hennessy-Thornton; Eoin Hennessy-Thornton, Simon Bradley, Dylan Lynch.
Darren McCormack, Neil O'Kane, Carlo Jardim, Cathal O'Connell, Conor Molloy, Jack O'Brien, Lucky Oviawe.
Owen Desmond
