Newbridge in control in Towns Cup opener with Clondalkin

Newbridge RFC began their Provincial Towns Cup campaign with a hard-fought and ultimately deserved victory over familiar foes Clondalkin RFC in Rosetown.

Coming into the game, Newbridge sat third in Leinster League 2A, while Clondalkin arrived as the bottom side in 1B.
The teams knew each other well, having already met earlier in the season in the Hosie Cup, where the Kildare side had emerged on top.

In perfect conditions, Newbridge started brightly and immediately took the game to the visitors. Dominant at the set piece, the home side laid down an early marker and were rewarded after ten minutes when captain Denis Clarke powered over from close range.

Donal Cashman added the conversion to give Newbridge a 7–0 lead.

Newbridge continued to control territory and possession, creating several chances but, frustratingly, was unable to capitalise on its dominance fully. Clondalkin weathered the pressure and, with a rare visit to the Newbridge 22, got themselves on the scoreboard after 35 minutes with a penalty to make it 7–3.

The home side responded well. Moving the ball wide with real pace, Newbridge went close through Riain Murphy, who was held up just short. From the next phase, Robbie Waters found his way over the line, and Cashman again converted to send Newbridge into the break with a 14–3 advantage.

The second half began in much the same fashion as the first.

A superb pass from James Parkinson split the Clondalkin defence and released fullback Darragh Whyte, who calmly drew the final defender before sending Gavin Houlihan in for a well-worked try. Houlihan was not finished there, crossing for his second soon after, following a slick interchange between

Will Jennings and substitute Paddy Corbett, allowing him to score under the posts and stretch the lead to 26–3.
Credit must go to a young and spirited Clondalkin side who refused to lie down. Prop Alex Doyle forced his way over for a try, converted by Fionn Kenna, before Lemeki Vaipulu added another close-range score after sustained pressure from the visitors’ pack, reducing the deficit to 26–15.

Newbridge steadied themselves and finished the contest in style.

Another incisive Parkinson pass sent Robbie Waters clear. After some neat footwork, he unselfishly fed veteran Stephen Cooke, who touched down in the corner to put daylight between the sides at 31–15.

It was an impressive all-round performance from Newbridge, with notable impacts from the bench, particularly Paddy Corbett and Callum Reynolds Sourke, highlighting the squad’s growing depth. Newbridge saw out the closing stages comfortably to secure their place in the last 16, where an away tie against Portlaoise RFC now awaits.

NEWBRIDGE RFC: 1 Dave Morgan 2. Will Jennings 3. Brendan Commane 4. Jack Moore 5. Stephen McElligott 6. Chris Leech 7. Denis Clarke 8. Max McLoughlin 9. Robbie Waters 10. Donal Cashman 11. Zack Meehan 12. James Parkinson 13. Riain Murphy 14. Gavin Houlihan 15. Darragh Whyte 16. Adam Bingham 17. Connall Sharkey 18. Cillian Beirne 19. Callum Reynolds Sourke 20. Paddy Corbett 21. Fergal Doyle 22. Stephen Cooke.

Clondalkin: 1 Jack Lusk (c), 2. Josh Domican, 3. Darren Madden (c), 4. Pádraig Ó Ciardha, 5. Tom McGrath, 6. Nikolaz Patsia, 7. Alejandro Gonzalez, 8. Eoin Delaney, 9. Eoin Brady, 10. Fionn Kenna, 11. Matthew King, 12. Darren Madden, 13. Aodhan Kenna, 14. Seán Murphy, 15. Niall Hilliard, 16. James Doyle, 17. Alex Vaipulu, 18. Lemeki Steed, 19. Daniel Quinn, 20. Jack Sallier, 21. Cillian Dries, 22. Brett Dries.

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