Three debutantes but no victory as Portlaoise RFC get campaign underway

Portlaoise 8 Enniscorthy 29 
Leinster League Division 2 Cup 

Portlaoise Rugby Club got the new season underway in Togher on Friday evening but without much success.

After playing little or no rugby over the past 18 months they looked decidedly rusty when taking on Enniscorthy in the Leinster League Division 2 Cup.

Their hopes for the game were not helped when they lost team captain Ross Cooper and regular centre Cormac Doyle in the opening minutes, Cooper with hamstring issues and Doyle with a bad shoulder injury.

The opening quarter was all about Enniscorthy who completely dominated the play and were camped deep inside the Portlaoise half for long periods.

The visitors should have taken the lead after nine minutes when awarded a penalty to the right of the posts but the kick came off the post and was cleared.

The second quarter saw Portlaoise improve their game and they applied sustained pressure but without reward.

They were then hit with a sucker punch when against the run of play Enniscorthy scored a try from a line out adding the easy conversion.

By half time Portlaoise had pulled back three points when outhalf Niall Keenan converted a penalty leaving 3-7 at the break.

The home sided needed to maintain the momentum they had build up approaching the break on he restart but instead it was Enniscorthy who upped their game.

They were to score their second try just three minutes into the new half due to some poor tackling from the Portlaoise defence.

Five minutes later Portlaoise were right back in the game. They won a lineout five metres from the Enniscorthy after some good approach work from Iain Corrigan and Simon Williams.

Three first team debutants set up the move that culminated in Brian Flannery getting a try.

Hooker Ryan McEvoy’s throw was on the spot for Eoghan Brennan who laid the ball back to Michael Rigney and the ensuing maul ended with Flannery touching down.

But that was as good as it would get for Portlaoise who were to suffer a couple more injuries in the second half.

Enniscorthy took advantage of tiring legs to add on three more tries before the final whistle.

While Portlaoise did lose, the game did see three new players – Ryan McEvoy, Eoghan Brennan and Michael Rigney – all make their debuts which is positive for the club.

With the Leinster League proper due to get under way in a few weeks Portlaoise have a lot of work to do if they are to preserve their Division 1B status.

PORTLAOISE: Scott Cooper, Lorcan Byrne, Simon Williams, Cormac Doyle, Nebojsa Kukic, Niall Keenan, Eugene Hearns, Eanna Delaney, Ryan McEvoy, Brian Flannery, Michael Rigney, Jason Holohan, Mark Sherlock, Ross Cooper.
Replacements: Philip O’Brien, Christopher Cahill, Eoin Keenan, Iain Corrigan

SEE ALSO – 13 clubs represented on Team of the Week following Round 1 SFC and IFC action

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source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2021/09/07/three-debutantes-but-no-victory-as-portlaoise-rfc-get-campaign-underway/