New Ross exact revenge in Under-17 encounter
FOLLOWING ON from the Leinster League quarter-final last weekend versus Navan and in a very physical encounter, played in ideal conditions on Saturday in Southknock, New Ross Under-17s exacted revenge on Carlow for a defeat earlier in the season.
New Ross raced into the lead after five minutes with Robbie Vallejo converting a penalty from the right touchline.
Two minutes later the lead was extended when Eoin Quirke, after blocking down a Carlow clearance kick following a scrum in the Carlow '22, gathered and went over unopposed. Robbie Vallejo was successful with the subsequent conversion.
Some five minutes later, after some brilliant line-breaking by the New Ross backs, Robbie Vallejo crossed for a try.
Carlow then missed a penalty and eventually scored a try just short of half-time.
After the break, Carlow seemed to have carried the better momentum and scored another try and a penalty five minutes later.
A second missed penalty attempt by Carlow a few minutes later, which would have had them take the lead, seemed to swing the momentum back to the Ross lads.
The pack began to dominate at ruck and maul and the ball was being swung wide to stretch Carlow.
Gaps were always going to open up and eventually Robbie Larkin capitalised, crossing the whitewash for a well-deserved try.
At this stage, the Ross heads were well up and the game was finished as a contest when Seán Grace scored a few minutes from time.
New Ross: Dale Redmond, Mark Nolan, John Caulfield, Michael Coyne, Robbie Larkin, Tim Coughlan, Eoin Quirke, Seán Grace, Niall Coughlan, Adam Swan, Robbie Vallejo, Luke Fitzgibbon, Eanna Burke, James Kinsella, Alex Mckenzie, Michael Burke, Nathan Prendergast, Rory Browne, Martin O'connor, Anthony Boland.
