Portlaoise maul the West Offaly Lions

West Offaly Lions 5 

Portlaoise 87 

IT is not every day to play an away league game and come home with a 82 point winning margin. But it should really come as a surprise that Portlaoise travelled to Ferbane to take on the West Offaly Lions and amass such a total.

Since losing their opening round game to Roscrea, Portlaoise have now recorded four wins on the trot. Prior to Sunday’s game there were two significant details, both with the figure 165, Portlaoise had scored that number of points while coincidentally West Offaly Lions and conceded the same number.

So it probably came as no great shock when just two minutes into the game winger Marc Bracken raced in for Portlaoise’s first try, converted by Oisin Hade.

What was surprising was that it took another 13 minutes for the second try to come. This time it was Ronan Donlon who crossed the line and Hade on target again.

On 18 minutes the Lions scored what is only their second try of the season but they would little else to celebrate as the afternoon progressed.

Cormac Rigney struck for Portlaoise’s third try before a great break from centre Sam Browne was followed by Portlaoise fourth try from team captain, Ryan McEvoy. Again Hades unerring boot added the extras.

A breakaway by winger Iain Corrin led to Liam Doyle scoring while Corrigan himself touched down just be fore half time. Two conversions from Hade, the second from the touchline saw Portlaoise hole a 5-40 lead at the break.

And it didn’t get any better for the home team on the restart. Two quick tries from Mark Sherlock and Liam Doyle were converted by scrumhalf Mark Kelly who had taken over the kicking duties.

Portlaoise’s dominant pack forced the Lions into conceding a penalty try before full back Euan McCann scored a try and converted it himself.

And there was no stopping the visitors at this stage as they went on top score three more tries before the full time whistle – a second each for Donlon and Sherlock and the third from Niall Keenan. Hade converted two, one a massive effort from out wide.

Portlaoise have a break this weekend before playing host to Arklow on Sunday 23 November.

SCORERS:

Portlaoise: Oisin Hade 14 pts (7 cons), Ronal Donlon, Liam Doyle and Mark Sherlock 10 pts each (2 tries each), Euan McCann 7 pts (1 try, 1 con), Marc Bracken, Cormack Rigney, Ryan McEvoy, Iain Corrigan and Niall Keenan 5 pts each (1 try each), Mark Kelly 4 pts (2 cons) and 1 penalty try.

PORTLAOISE: Euan McCann; Jack Duffin, Sam Browne, Joe McCormack, Marc Bracken; Oisin Hade, Mark Kelly; Aran Coiley, Ryan McEvoy, Nathan Flanagan; Ronan Donlon, Darragh Davis; Mark Sherlock, Cormac Rigney, Liam Doyle.

Replacements: Cian Coffey, Michael Rigney, Niall Keenan, Sean Peters, Iain Corrigan, William Kerry, Kevin Griffin.

WEST OFFALY LIONS: James Lindley; Stephen Finnerty, Calvin Cox Kenna, Mark Coughlan, Nathan McIntyre; James McEvoy, Fionn Moran; Shane Berry, Sean Cuckley, Adam Coffey; Cormac Corrigan, Jake Delaney; Jack McEvoy, Dylan McCormack, Nathan Dunican.

Replacements: Adam Fletcher, Aaron Looney, Brandon Delaney, Jason Tully, Connor Reams, Cormac McKenna.