Carlow vs Portlaoise

Carlow 31 vs Portlaoise 0

Carlow’s J1 Rugby side got their highest scoring win of the season at Oakpark on Sunday when they saw off Portlaoise by 31 pts to nil. Although propping up the 120122_Portlaoise_2 Leinster League Division 1B, Portlaoise had won their previous two games and had run Carlow very close last October. However right from the kick off on Sunday Carlow took control and never looked in trouble. In the first minute a move started on the Carlow 22 by John Clare, taken on by Tommy Ratahi and Wes Shirley, saw Scrumhalf Mark Elmes scampering in from 30 yards to score under the post. Barry Purcell converted and the home side were up 7 – 0. On the half hour Carlow kicked to the corner from a penalty. A clean lineout take saw a quick transfer through Barcoe and McDonagh and fullback Purcell scored
without being touched by a Portlaoise hand. Purcell’s conversion made it 14 – 0.
With the aid of a strong wind in the second half Carlow were cruising. First Captain Ross Byrne scored a good try after nice interplay between backs and orwards. Next Tommy Ratahi burst through after he himself took a quick tap penalty. Finally it was JJ Waddock lifting a ball from the back of the scrum on the 22 which led to prop Ross Elmes getting the touchdown in the midst of a forward rush. Barry Purcell goaled one of the three second half tries to bring the score to 31 to nil. Only in the scrums were Portlaoise able to compete with Carlow.

120122_Portlaoise_1 In the final quarter Carlow emptied the bench to give everybody a run before then team travels to Roscrea next Sunday for the serious business of the first round of the Leinster Towns Cup.

In the earlier match on Sunday at Oakpark between the Carlow and Portlaoise J2
teams, victory went to the visitors by 19 pts to 5. The lone Carlow try was scored by
winger Nevin Kelly.

Carlow J1.
Barry Purcell, John Clare, Ross Byrne, Captain, Thomas McDonagh, Ian Pearson, Paddy Barcoe, Mark Elmes, Ross Elmes, Joe Gorman, Chris Byrne Wes Shirley, Barry Waddock, JJ Waddock Joe Bulmer, Tommy Ratihi
Subs; all used. Larry McGrath, Damian Murphy, John Whyte, John Farrell,