Kilkenny 1st XV 22-21 Gorey RFC
On a windy yet sunny day in Foulkstown, Kilkenny Rugby Club secured their first win of the Leinster League season, defeating Gorey by a narrow margin of 22-21. The game was packed with action, as both sides battled hard, exchanging the lead several times.
Gorey struck first, converting a penalty to go 3-0 up after 16 minutes. Kilkenny had a chance to respond soon after, but out-half Dan O'Neill's penalty attempt drifted wide, leaving the home side still scoreless. However, Kilkenny didn’t take long to find their rhythm, scrum half Steve Atkinson crossing the try line to claim the first try of the match and take a 7-3 lead.
The momentum quickly shifted again, as Gorey responded with a try of their own, edging ahead 8-7. Kilkenny’s troubles deepened when wing forward Joey Manuel was shown a yellow card for a high tackle—his third in just four games. Taking advantage of their extra man, Gorey added another penalty to extend their lead to 11-7.
Kilkenny regained control when new signing Nehuen Rossetti, making his debut for the club, crossed the line to score a crucial try, putting the home side back on top at 14-11. Despite some dominance in the scrums, Kilkenny were hampered by handling errors and penalties, which allowed Gorey to level the score at 14-14 with another penalty just before halftime.
The second half began with Kilkenny taking the lead once again through a penalty, going 17-14 up. However, Gorey soon struck back with a try, reclaiming the lead at 21-17. Kilkenny’s defense faltered at a critical moment, allowing what seemed to be a soft try.
Despite trailing, Kilkenny didn’t give up. They continued to pile pressure on Gorey, forcing a turnover deep in Gorey territory. A well-executed lineout, with Ben Devlin’s accurate throw and Jake Caldback’s clean catch, set the stage for Kilkenny’s third and decisive try through an effective maul. It was captain Garry Dunne who powered over the line, blood streaming from his face as he scored the winning try in front of a jubilant home crowd, bringing the score to 22-21.
There was more drama late in the game, as Kilkenny’s Geoff Power was shown an extremely harsh yellow card for a high tackle. However, the home side’s defense held firm, turning over possession once more to prevent a late Gorey comeback.
When the final whistle blew, Kilkenny emerged as 22-21 winners, much to the delight of their coaching staff and supporters. Captain Garry Dunne led by example, playing a pivotal role in securing a crucial victory.
With this hard-earned win, Kilkenny will now look ahead to their next match in the Leinster League, an away fixture against Wexford Wanderers on Sunday, October 13th. Buoyed by their first victory, the team will aim to build on this success and continue their winning ways as the season progresses.
Kilkenny’s 2nd XV were not as fortunate in their league match against Gorey, going down on a 41-32 scoreline. A dominant first half from Kilkenny with the wind at their backs didn’t translate into enough points on the scoreboard. Gorey made better use of the wind in the second half and the concession of a number of frustrating by Kilkenny saw Gorey win by 11 points in a game that was level in tries scored with 5 tries a piece.
By Orla Hennebry
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