Metro League 4 – Old Wesley 29 – UCD 16
On a wet windy night, Wesley arrived in Thornfield looking to start their season with a win. Thankfully, the showers cleared and with that the supporters for both sides rolled in. Wesley started quickly, with a series of pick and go’s, offloads and strong running bringing them into the UCD 22 where they remained for the opening quarter.
The pressure eventually paid off and following some strong runs from Alan Doyle, Monty Akpan and Graham Claxton, the Wesley Captain on the night Guy Cresswell was able to dot down for the first try of the night.
A Wesley knock on from the kick off allowed UCD an opportunity to bring themselves back into the game and following a penalty from the ensuing scrum, UCD were able to pop the ball between the posts to get their first points on the board.
Unfazed by the UCD pressure, Old Wesley marched back up the pitch through some strong forward play and good hands by the backs. Their effort was duly rewarded by Caolan Smith who crossed the white wash for his first of the night. Old Wesley went into the break 12-6 to the good.
The second half started with Wesley being heavily penalised for various different infringements leading to UCD camping on their 5m line. Despite the defensive efforts, UCD scored and converted putting them back in the driving seat.
Their lead was short lived as, Man of the Match, Jean Killian won a penalty with his brilliant poaching efforts from the kick off and Old Wesley were back in business. Again, some good hands led to Caolan going over in the corner for his second try of the night.
The subsequent kick off was taken and dispatched with ease and once again the Wesley men found themselves in the UCD half. A quick snipe from the electric Wesley 9, Liam Crowley, allowed him to get over for his first of the night.
UCD answered this with some pressure of their own. After a period of poor discipline from the Wesley men, a number of penalties allowed UCD to be camped inside the Wesley 22. However some brilliant defensive efforts left UCD with no choice but to try some risky passes. Thankfully the Wesley scrum half was quickest to react and showing power and pace, scored his second of the night after intercepting a wayward UCD pass in the Wesley 22.