JP Fanagan Premiership 2 – Greystones 31 Old Wesley 8.
Wesley travelled to Dr Hickey Park in second place in the league but injuries were taking their toll on this young squad. Already shorn of some regular starters through long-term injuries, we lost three more front-liners in the days leading up to the game leaving us with a squad of just eighteen. Nevertheless, the lads got stuck into a very physical Greystones team, playing some good rugby. The home team kept it tight, absorbing the Wesley effort and forcing some errors from our lads and on 18 minutes, their wing touched down after a mazy run. Another handling error in a promising position handed possession back to Greystones on 32 minutes, who swept through our makeshift backline for a converted try under the posts. Wesley fought back with strong driving by the pack, and forced a penalty which Sean Balance converted. Half Time 3-12.
Wesley started the second half well, but with two more of our lads lost to the bench, Greystones gradually upped the physical stakes. They were awarded a penalty on 53 minutes which hit the post, but unluckily for Wesley the vicious bounce allowed Stones to gather and dot down for another try. The lads battled on, and were rewarded on 66 minutes with a try in the corner by Stephen Triggs following a great lineout and maul. However, the physical exertions caught up with Wesley’s much lighter squad, and try as they might, they could not contain Stones’ superior bulk and ultimately greater numbers. They ran in 2 late tries in the dying minutes to distort the score-line somewhat. Full time score Greystones 31, Old Wesley 8.
A brave performance by our depleted squad, but we still enjoy 2nd place in the league. Hopefully we’ll have some of the walking wounded back for next Sunday’s match away to Suttonians. A special word of thanks must go to our Physio Darren Nicol who has been doing Trojan work with the team both on and off the pitch this season.
Squad: Andrew Irwin, Andrew Egan, Sam Kenny, Dave Motyer, Lloyd Stephens, Callum Raftery, Stephen Triggs, Luke Corish, Scott Levie, Sean Balance, Mark Braithwaite, Bill Corrigan, Alastair Quirke, Daniel Gilmer, Philip Dean, Stuart Dudley, Harrison Pitt, Josh Reid. Coaches: Ian Dumbleton, Ronan O’Donovan,