AIL 1B – Blackrock 20 Old Wesley 26
Old Wesley produced a dramatic late comeback to edge Blackrock College RFC 26–20 away from home in a pulsating AIL Division 1B game, showing real composure and character to claim a vital victory.
The visitors struck first and settled quickly into the contest. A strong early platform from the pack paid dividends when Charlie Meagher finished off a well-organised maul to give Wesley a 7–0 lead. Blackrock responded through winger Harry Waters, who crossed to narrow the gap to 7–5, before Tim Corkery nudged the hosts ahead with a penalty to make it 8–7.
The game swung significantly soon after when Blackrock were reduced to fourteen men, Odhran Ring receiving a red card following a high tackle on Charlie Meagher. Wesley made their numerical advantage count before the break, with Tom Larke skipping through the defensive line to score a superb try. It restored Wesley’s lead at 14–8 heading into half-time and pushed Larke beyond the 100-point mark for the season in the AIL.
Blackrock came flying out of the blocks after the restart, with Waters grabbing his second try in the corner to reclaim the lead at 15–14. Wesley responded immediately and decisively. Captain Kieran O’Shea burst through a gap, showed great pace and composure, and beat the fullback to score, putting Wesley back in front at 19–15.
The momentum continued to swing as Blackrock hit back once more, Inigo Cruz O’Brien finishing well to give the home side a 20–19 advantage with time ticking down. However, Wesley refused to be denied. Applying sustained pressure in the closing minutes, they finally broke through when Niall Carroll crossed for a decisive try, sealing a 26–20 win and sparking celebrations among the travelling support.
It was a gritty, hard-earned victory built on resilience, leadership, and the ability to respond at key moments, another statement performance from Old Wesley to finish 2025.
Click here for photos by Ken Richardson
Scorers: Tries: Charlie Meagher, Tom Larke, Kieran O’Shea, Niall Carroll; Cons: Tom Larke 3
Team: Tom Larke; Paidi Farrell, Ethan Black, Eoin Deegan, Jules Fenelon; Niall Carroll, Evan Kenny; Jamie Clark, Kieran O’Shea (capt), Adam Watchorn, Mahon Ronan, Shane Cawley, Luke O’Connor, Charlie Meagher, Pat McBarron. Replacements: Rian Handley, Luke McAuliffe, Dan Campbell, Liam O’Neill, Ian Cassidy, Jarrod Homan.
