RUGBY | Dundalk RFC move up to second in the table with a comfortable win over Kilkenny
Dundalk RFC 34–13 Kilkenny
Leinster League Division 1A
Dundalk RFC jumped up to second place in the Leinster League Division 1A table with their fourth straight win of the season against Kilkenny at the Mill Road on Saturday afternoon, banking a bonus point for good measure.
Adam Doyle’s side played with a strong wind at their backs in the first half but it was the mid-table visitors who took an early 3–0 lead from a penalty kick. Dundalk struggled to get any real flow into their play for much of the half and although they enjoyed the territorial advantage, some scrappy play and needless knock-ons allowed Kilkenny to easily clear their lines.
The pressure eventually told on the scoreboard as Willie Schutz kicked two penalties to put the hosts in front and when Kilkenny had two players sin-binned in quick succession for high tackles, Dundalk capitalised.
Jonathan Williams went over for the game’s first try. Spotting a gap at the base of the ruck, the Dundalk captain ran in unchallenged to put the cap on a fine move which saw the Kilkenny defence pulled apart.
The game was completely turned on its head minutes later when James Shields scored in the corner after a combination of some strong running by the pack, followed by some quick hands to get him away. Schutz made no mistake with both conversions to put Dundalk in the driving seat at the break, 20–3.
Dundalk started the second half looking to kill the game off but Kilkenny, to their credit, defended well to hold out and they made inroads from a couple of penalties. One of those kicks led to a strong rolling maul which saw them creep over the line to make it 20–8.
The Mill Road men responded to the setback with their third try of the day. James McConnon and Ronan Greene were heavily involved in the build-up and when the ball was worked up the pitch, Sean Arrowsmith exploited some space on the right to dive over and extend the lead to 19 points.
Kilkenny again kicked to touch and used their maul well to pull another try back but Schutz had the final say of the afternoon, picking up possession from Gauthier Petit to score under the posts and secure a welcome bonus point.
Next up for Dundalk is another home game, against third-placed Suttonians on Saturday, November 2nd. Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
DUNDALK RFC: Conor Williams, Sean Arrowsmith, Robert Farrell, Ben Mortimer, Eoin O’Sullivan, James McConnon, Laurence Steen, Tiernan Gonnelly, Gauthier Petit, Conor Hennesy, Jonathan Williams, Willie Schutz, James Shields, Ronan Greene, Robert Williams. Subs: Jonny Gray, Zac Coan, Ciaran Lennon, Andrew Williams, Jack Connolly.
