Sunday’s Well 36 Newcastle West 7

It was another scintillating attacking showpiece from the ‘Well on the main pitch at Virgin Media Park, as they ran in a five-try salvo to secure successive bonus point victories in the Junior League. The bonus point was achieved by half-time with a  31-0 lead after a half of some of the most exhilarating power running rugby seen for a few years.

It was a great team performance; with some powerful foundations laying the platform for some of the enterprising play being undertaken. The likes of Mike McCarthy, John Costello and Kees Pereka hit hard around the fringes, both in the attack and the defence and laid a lot of the foundations to create space for their team-mates out wide.

There was great cohesion in the attacks, with the running lines of Finn MacFhlannchadha and Cormac Kelliher setting up chances for others out wide. Andrew ‘Bully’ O’Callaghan probably started the show with a  magnificent break up the middle in the opening minutes to turn defence into attack and start building the pressure on the Newcastle West defence. ‘Bully’ partnered well with Harry McHenry outside him; while the back three were a consistent potent threat throughout.

The initial Bully break created the penalty situation that saw Ciaran Maguire slot the kick over for the opening score. Maguire, who controlled the flow of the game at out-half with Fabien Loughrey inside him then kicked another penalty into the 22. A superb drive saw the maul bought down just short of the line. A series of strong carries by Mike McCarthy, Captain Finn and Fabs continued to exert pressure before Minty made his way over the line. His second try in as many week; though it should be three as he effectively should be credited with last weekend’s penalty-try.

The  ‘Well continued to play with a  dynamic vim and vigour. The line-out; directed by the livewire Dylan Cooper proved a constant threat and it set the platform for another attack. With some strong follow up carries; pulling Newcastle defenders in tight; allowing the ball to be spread out with the experience head of Mariano Cosimi touching down.

Another similar move; saw Robert Loftus create a great front-foot drive that allowed Fabien Loughrey snipe around the edge for the third try. Alex Lane finished off the try-fest of a first-half following a sublime break by Cormac Kelliher. Lane ran a magnificent support line; taking out the three retreating defenders when CK made the pass.

The second-half was much more even; with Newcastle West eager to make a fightback. There were moments for each team; but the ‘Well defended tenaciously with some massive hits around the fringes, while Mariano Cosimi and Emeka Asiegbu managed the defence out-wide when space was created; halting several scoring chances.

After sustaining pressure, the ‘Well broke off a scrum on their own five-metre line; with replacement Ryan O’Donoghue Kelliher making a great break out of the Twenty-Two.  Emeka Asiegbu was on hand to bring play to half-way before making a great in-field kick leading to an attacking scrum. A powerful solid drive allowed Fabien to break on the blind-side and set up Lane for his third try in two weeks. 

NCW eventually made a breakthrough with Sean Murphy touching down.

Scorers: Sunday’s Well: Alex Lane (2), Andrew Mintern, Fabien Loughrey, Mariano Cosimi tries; Ciarán Maguire 4 cons, pen.

Newcastle West: Sean Murphy try. James Guina con.

Sunday’s Well: Mariano Cosimi; Alex Lane, Harry McHenry, Andrew O’Callaghan, Emeka Asiegbu; Ciaran Maguire, Fabien Loughrey; Evan O’Connell, Dylan Cooper, Michael McCarthy; Andrew Mintern, John Costello; Kees Pereka, Finn MacFhlannchadha, Cormac Kelliher. Replacements: Sean McDonald, Robert Loftus., David Hourigan, Jacob Lane, Rob Maher, Ryan O’Donoghue-Kelleher, Alex Guerin.

Newcastle West: James Guina, Daniel Normoyle, Liam Treacy, Sean Murphy, Sean Darcy; Michael Bourke, Jack Grimes; Shane Breen, Kieran Copse, John Walsh; Gerald Griffin, Alan O’Riordan; Padraig Roche, Jason Woulfe, Cian Mulcahy. Replacements: Cormac Browne, Robert O’Donovan, TJ Relihan, Paudie Kelly, Jack Corkery, Giorgi Kilasonia, Andrew Mortell.

Mallow 21 Sunday’s Well 29

On a clear crisp afternoon in Mallow; the ‘Well produced an excellent performance in a thrilling hard-fought battle to claim their first maximum points of the season. It was a great hard-hitting and committed performance from all 22 players against last-year’s runners up; for whom some familiar faces in Owen and Jimmy Glynn played significant roles.

The attacking tempo from both sides was high from the start – but equally were the defensive hits; leading to an intriguing encounter for all witnessing the game. Kees Pereka and Mike McCarthy were among those leading the defence while John Costello and Finn MacFhlannchadha made plenty of strong carries in attack. Evan O’Connell made some sublime surges and off-loads while his front-row colleague Dylan Cooper had an immense game; getting on plenty of ball and gaining a lot of momentum for his side.

Out wide; Emeka Asiegbu and Harry McHenry made some incisive runs while Mariano Cosimi was covering excellently in the back-field and steady as a rock under the high ball. Half-backs Fabian Loughrey and Ciaran Maguire controlling the tempo while Andrew O’Callaghan superbly marshalled the back-line.

The ‘Well almost struck first, with good carries by McHenry and Costello setting up a chance, but Alex Lane was unable to finish a difficult opportunity. Mallow also started like a bat out of hell with immense ferocity. They had an immense opening scrum but the ‘Well front-row recovered and managed to turn things around as the game developed. With Mallow pinning the ‘Well back; an attempted clearance from the five-metre line was blocked down by Jimmy Glynn who chased through and touched down, with Hunter Cowan converting.

Ciaran Maguire responded shortly with a penalty following powerful surges by Evan O’Connell and Loughrey. The’ Well built on the momentum – led by captain MacFhlannchadha and the experienced Cormac Kelliher. The front-row were prominent, in the loose; with O’Connell and Cooper almost setting up Mike McCarthy for a try – but the tight-head was adjudged to be held up.

The ‘Well though maintained the pressure and eventually a sublime pass by Kelliher allowed Cosimi finish off a chance in the left-corner to edge the ‘Well into an 8-7 lead. Kelliher temporarily went off with a knock; but the ferocity was maintained with Jacob Lane coming on.

Evan O’Connell again was to the fore with a line-breaking burst to set up an attacking position in the Twenty-Two and the lively Andrew Mintern finished off the move to surge over the line. Maguire kicked the extras to make it a 15-7 lead.

The ‘Well’s defence was to the fore in the closing stages; with the two Lanes leading the charge. Jacob Lane kept up the intensity; forcing unsure passes with his team-mates following; leading to the Alex Lane pouncing on a long pass to intercept and race half the length of the field. Maguire’s simple conversion made it a 22-7 score-line for the visitors at half-time.

The bonus-point was secured within the first minute of the second-half. A Fabian Loughrey break saw Andrew Mintern followed up and the second-row was about to race in for his second try, but only a high tackle prevented him – leading the referee to award a penalty-try. With one point secured; the ‘Well knew even with a sizable lead – they couldn’t take a strong focused Mallow team for granted.

The hosts showed great tenacity to respond and while the ‘Well defended ferociously, Mallow got in for a pair of tries by Chris O’Regan and Conor Ellis. Both supremely converted by Cowan. There was still a quarter of an hour left; but the ‘Well finally earned some possession and territory since the penalty-try, including a superb driving maul that bought them into the Twenty-Two from half-way.

They couldn’t yield a score but used up plenty of time and Mallow did put together one last effort with time-up. The ‘Well effectively had the win secured in the last play but with two bonus-points on the line; both sides fought with everything to the end and the ‘Well just held up; as two efforts for Mallow came agonisingly close to getting their double bonus-point try.

Scorers: Mallow: Jimmy Glynn, Chris O’Regan, Conor Ellis tries; Hunter Cowan 3 conversions.

Sunday’s Well: Andrew Mintern, Mariano Cosimi, Alex Lane, penalty-try tries; Ciaran Maguire  2 cons, pen. 

Mallow: Barry Taylor; Sam Glynn, Dylan Walsh, Kenneth Mills, Ryan Clifford; Hunter Cowan, Jimmy Glynn; Steven Finn, Stephen Hayes, Chris O’Regan; Dylan Lucey, Rory Murphy; Owen Glynn (c), Micheál O’Callaghan, Brian Henry. Replacements: Colm Flaherty, Aaron Holland, Darragh Clifford, Thomas Mohally, Conor Ellis, Jaeden Searra, David Walsh.

Sunday’s Well: Mariano Cosimi; Alex Lane, Harry McHenry, Andrew O’Callaghan, Emeka Asiegbu; Ciaran Maguire, Fabien Loughrey; Evan O’Connell, Dylan Cooper, Michael McCarthy; Andrew Mintern, John Costello; Kees Pereka, Finn MacFhlannchadha, Cormac Kelliher. Replacements: Sean McDonald, Robert Loftus., David Hourigan, Jacob Lane, Eric Kingston, Ryan O’Donoghue-Kelleher, Alex Guerin.