Ashbourne advance in Towns' Cup

When it comes to the Provincial Towns' Cup Ashbourne have had their share of disappoinments. Days when things just didn't go their way. On Sunday at Milltown they enjoyed one of their better outings in the venerable old competition brushing aside the challenge of a limited Boyne side - the club's second team - who struggled to raise a gallop. This year's opening round of the competition contained a series of derby games, but because of the incessant rain that fell on Saturday night and Sunday morning many of the ties were cancelled. Barring a downpour of Biblical proportions this encounter was always going to take place because of Ashbourne's first-class facilities. The all-weather, sand-based pitched was able to absorb the moisture and even in areas where the scrums took place it remained relatively unmarked. Ashbourne were certainly happy that they match went ahead as they put their stamp on this encounter right from the start. Not only did the rain continue to fall all afternoon Ashbourne led all the way with Gavin Kennedy running in their first try in the opening minute. That score set the tone. Paul Morris (pictured) easily added the conversion and the home side were already looking good for a place in the second round. Not that it was all sunshine and cake for Ashbourne. No local derby can be expected to be won without the opposition digging their heels in and putting up a fight. That's what Boyne did for lengthy spells yet they just didn't have the armoury necessary to inflict any real damage on Ashbourne. The scrums were even, neither side able to get the upper-hand in that sector while at the breakdown Ashbourne just about outshone their rivals. The Louth side huffed and puffed, they just couldn't find a way through the home defence, their only score coming from a first-half penalty from out-half Alan McAneaney. He also missed a couple of lengthy punts at goal in that first 40 minutes that, if they had gone over, would at least have added extra interest to the contest. There were no shortage of thunderous tackles from both sides as they sought to get an edge with some good approach work by Boyne all-too-often spoiled by knock-ons and wayward passes. At times, despite the weather and the bar of soap that passed for a ball, Ashbourne sought to play all-out, attacking rugby. It was from one of their most adventurous moves that they conjured up their second try soon after they got their first. Darragh Curran secured possession from a line-out, the ball was moved through a number of phases with Kennedy, Morris, Pieter Swanipoel, Frank Keegan, Charles Coyle and Rory Gleeson involved in getting the ball to Cathal Field who sprinted over in the corner. Morris missed the conversion. Ashbourne went in at the break 12-3 in front and looking good. Most of the play in the second-half was not only in the Boyne half, but it in the Boyne '22'. And it took only seven minutes after the resumption for Ashbourne to get their hat-trick of tries. The origins of the score came from a powerful drive by Jeff Mahon who showed a neat turn of pace to get past a few tackles. Ashbourne moved the ball out wide where Kennedy, Morris and Coyle again combined to leave Morris with a clear run to the tryline. Morris converted. While Field showed how to scoot in at one corner in the opening half the other wing Joe Taylor did the same in the final minute of the game to finish off the scoring and the contest. The Rugby League international showed a potent combination of power and speed to cut his way through the Boyne defence, picking up the ball just inside the '22' before driving over. It was a fine way for the home side to sign off. At times the Ashbourne defensive work around the edges of the rucks and mauls was exemplary with 'access denied' to Boyne at every turn. Ashbourne could even afford to have two players - Ken Bolster and James Rooney - sent to the sinbin separately in the second-half yet still manage to stay in front without too much trouble. It was one of those days when Ashbourne looked the most likely to win. One of there better days in the Towns' Cup. Bigger challenges lay ahead. Ashbourne - D Colreavy, C Field, C Coyle, P Swanipoel, J Taylor, P Morris, G Kennedy; F Keegan, R Gleeson, C Roche, A Buckley, D Curran, K Bolster, J Rooney, J Mahon. Subs - M Biersbrouck for Bolster, D Grimes for Buckley, C Randle for Mahon, E Bolton for Kennedy. Boyne - R Jenkinson, C Scanlon, G McQuillan, M Hennessy, M McGuirk, A McAneaney, S Rooney; D Kinsella, P Shuttleworth, H Carolan, R Shuttleworth, K Keogh, D Moore, K Keogh, M Maher. Referee - George Clare (Dundalk).