Portlaoise continue winning run with impressive home performance
Cormac Rigney makes a break for Portlaoise RFC, with Juan Raffa in support, in the Leinster League Division 2B/3 win over Birr in Togher on Sunday Photo: David Maher
SINCE losing out to Roscrea in their opening game of the league Portlaoise have gone on to win their next three games, the latest of those against Birr in Togher on Sunday.
The winners look to be settling into a groove and are playing some attractive rugby although still making too many unforced errors. However, it must be remember that this is a very young team.
Their youngest player, Oisin Hade made his fist start for the team and put in a confident performance in his role as out half. His decision making was impressive while his kicking, both out of hand and off the ground was top class.
Another of the young guns Joe McCormack will have enjoyed his day having scored a hattrick of tries.
The other standout from this game was the effect of the winners’ backrow of Glem Connolly, Cormac Rigney and Liam Doyle. Whether in attack or defence they excelled with Doyle making some excellent turnovers.
Portlaoise wasted no time in getting off the mark when from a scrum inside the Birr 22, the ball was whipped across the backs to winger Iain Corrigan to touch down in the corner.
Birr hit back immediately when their full back Michael Keane converted a penalty.
Three minutes later Portlaoise were in for the second try. From an attacking maul the ball was worked to Hade who chipped ahead, ran on a gathered for the touchdown, and added the extras for good measure.
Soon after the number three came when McCormack crashed over for his first. Again Hade converted.
The first quarter ended with Keane converting another penalty for Birr leaving the score at 19-3.
Portlaoise might well have had another try with 25 minutes on the clock. Having taken three Birr lineouts on the trot, following the third scrumhalf Juan Raffa made an outstanding break before throwing a long pass to Connolly. The flanker looked destined to score but a great from a Birr defender resulted in him knocking on the ball.
But Portlaoise were not done yet. With just over half an hour played an attempted clearance kick from Birr was blocked and Ronan Donlon pounced on the ball, Hade converting.
Three minutes later Cormac Rigney went on a dazzling run and when ball went to McCormack went over for his second try. Hade conversion attempt came back off the upright but Portlaoise went into the break with a comfortable 31-6 lead.
It was possibly because of that big lead, combined with some very pernickety refereeing, but Portlaoise did not play with the same fluidity in the second half, which was a very much stop start 40 minutes of rugby.
Birr certainly started the half much more fired up and were causing the home team a lot of problems forcing four penalties on the trot.
Portlaoise lifted the siege when Raffa got possession, made a break, chipped ahead and only for some excellent by Birr centre, Gary Baker, would surely have scored.
As it was we had to wait until the midpoint of the half for another score. Another storming run from Cormac Rigney saw the flaker delicately chip ahead and then win the race for the touchdown. And again Hade was on target for the extras to make it 38-6 entering the final quarter.
A couple of minutes later it was 45-6 after Birr overthrew at a lineout and Connolly graciously accepted the present.
Birr scored a later consolation try when replacement Conor Franks went over.
Final score went to McCormack latched on to a Connolly cross field kick crashed over. Hade’s conversion ensured Portlaoise ran out very comfortable winners.
Scorers:
Portlaoise: Oisin Hade 1 try, 6 cons, Joe McCormack 3 tries, Iain Corringan, Ronan Donlon, Cormac Rigney and Glen Connolly 1 try each.
Euan McCann; Marc Bracken, Joe McCormack, Jack Duffin, Iain Corrigan; Oisin Hade, Juan Bautista Raffa; Aaron Coiley, Ryan McEvoy, Joe Stevens; Michael Rigney, Ronan Donlon; Glen Connolly, Cormac Rigney, Liam Doyle.
Cian Coffey, Paddy Coss, Mark Kelly, Sam Browne, Darragh Davies, Jamie Holohan, Darag Phelan.
Michael Keane; Barry Guilfoyle, Gary Baker Paul Donoghue, Ronan Minnock; Nicholas Corcoran, Jamie Tallon; Simon Eades, Aran Corcdoran, Michael O’Dwyer; Reuben Noyce, Liam Moore; Donnacha Purcell, Ciaran Yates, Philip Haslam.
David Guinan, Noel Lane, Padraig Burns, Liam Grimes, Conor Franks.
