Ashbourne side match ambition

Anyone who pays a visit to Ashbourne RFC would quickly see that they are an ambitious club. When it comes to facilities they are a match for any other side in the province. They have spent a considerable amount of money on providing comfortable surroundings for spectators and decent, good quality pitches for their players. They are in the process of building a new team that can achieve something and another indication that they are well down the road to reaching their objective could be seen on Sunday. Ashbourne hosted Wexford Wanderers at their Milltown ground and wrapped up a Leinster League Div 2 victory that leaves them well in contention for league honours as the season starts to move into a crucial few months when a team's fate can be decided. As well as the deserved victory, the side, coached by Collie Kieran and Wayne Mitchell, picked up a bonus point for their haul of five tries from Ian Smith, Charles Coyle, Rory Scanlon, Paul Morris and Gavin Kennedy. While the title is on the agenda for Ashbourne, securing one of the two top places in the division is the chief objective. After that a third place finish will do and the guarantee of a play-off spot, although, as the club have found out in the past, play-offs can be capricious uncertain affairs. Promotion is what Ashbourne want and if they keep on picking up points as they did in this match they should be able to fulfil their ambition of returning to the top flight in the Leinster League. There was the customary smattering of home supporters who braved the icy, Arctic wind that blew and they must have been cheered with the way their side produced some swift, attacking rugby to wrap up the points. Before the kick-off this encounter might have been seen as something of a cake walk for the Meath side. After all they had defeated Wexford by a whopping 55-0 earlier in the season. Despite the score-line this wasn't as easy Ashbourne expected as Wexford Wanderers turned out to be stubborn, if limited opponents who did what they could to stay in the contest. It certainly looked like it was going to be a big win for the home side when, after applying some terrific pressure, scrum-half and place-kicker Kennedy slotted the ball between the points from a close-range penalty with just five minutes on the clock. Then the Wexford side had the temerity to go into the lead after 19 minutes when Ashbourne got their wires crossed in midfield. The Wanderers broke downfield and their hooker Richard Morris ended up getting a touchdown under the posts. It was a score that came very much against the run of play and was easily converted by Maurice Logue. The lead didn't last too long as Ashbourne hit back with tries in quick succession from Smith and Coyle with Kennedy also scoring from another penalty before the interval. There were times when Ashbourne were totally dominant, there were other spells when they appeared to lose focus. From early on it was clear that Ashbourne enjoyed dominance in a crucial aspect of the game - the scrum. It was no surprise that time and again when Ashbourne won a penalty they opted to go for a put-in. It was exactly how they engineered their first and third tries of the game, opting for the scrum a few metres out and exerting massive pressure on the Wexford defence which ultimately were unable to resist. The tries from Smith and Coyle had helped Ashbourne go in at the interval with a 16-7 advantage and the second-half was only a few minutes old when Scanlon broke through for his touchdown with Kennedy converting. It was score to cap a fine display from Scanlon who produced a series of jinking runs through the crowded midfield or along the wings. His pace was a big asset for Ashbourne. The centre combination of Dermot Colreavy and Coyle also proved effective in punching holes in the opposition defence while out-half Morris was well able to get past the first tackle. He frequently troubled the visitors with his ability to get over the gain-line. Ashbourne were adept at moving the ball through the phases and they thrived on quick ball from rucks and mauls. They foraged successfully at the breakdown, and managed a few turnovers which halted promising Wexford moves. It was a series of phases that eventually led to Ashbourne's fourth try midway through the second-half with Colreavy, Scanlon and Kennedy also closely involved in the build up with Morris applying the coup de gras. As well as a solid team display there was also a little, incisive flash of individualism produced by Kennedy with five minutes to go. The home side won a penalty about 30-metres out, which Kennedy quickly took himself and dashed through the startled and exhausted Wanderers defence to score under the post. Kennedy himself converted. Wexford had plenty of play in the final 15 or 20 minutes or so as Ashbourne made changes. That might be of some concern to the management as they continue to build a new side they hope will take them back to Div 1 of the Leinster League. Ashbourne - R Scanlon, T Brosnan, D Colreavy, C Coyle, K Toolan, P Morris, G Kennedy; C Boylan, A Wall, F Keegan, E Gallagher, S E Kennedy, JP Ennis, I Smith. Subs - J Rooney for Grimes, J Gavin for Boylan, C Roche for Keegan, N Neville for Coyle. Wexford Wanderers - P Gannon, R Casey, S Corcoran, J Flynn, M Roche, M Logue, S Ryan; W Morris, R Morris, C Sutherland, C Walsh, J Sutherland, J Kearney, A Walsh, J O'Connor.