Ashbourne sustain their survival hopes with win
LEINSTER LEAGUE
There was plenty of spirit and determination shown by Ashbourne as they defeated high-flying Monkstown in the Leinster League Div 1A at Ashbourne on Saturday to inject some momentum into their quest to avoid relegation.
This hasn't been the easiest of seasons for Ashbourne but Saturday's victory was one of their best days of the campaign. Experienced out-half Gavin Kennedy helped to give the home team an encouraging start when he fired over from two penalties while Calvin Vari almost broke through for a try.
Just to underline the challenge facing Ashbourne, Monkstown worked their way in for a converted try to edge ahead. That, however, turned out to be the Dublin side's first and last points of the game.
Ashbourne served up some of the best rugby they have produced all season. They worked a try scored by Colm Craigie which Kennedy converted and at the break the Meath side led 13-7.
Further Ashbourne pressure yielded penalties and Kennedy scored from two of them to add to his team's account. The in-form out-half also chipped in with a cheeky drop goal to secure the win - and sustain Ashbourne's hopes of survival.
Ashbourne - Paddy Murtagh, Colm Craigie, Jack O'Brien, Shane Rodgers, Calvin Vari, Adam Martin, Gavin Kennedy; Alan Wall, James McCaghy, Frank Keegan, Ciaran Roche, Petr Lelovsky, Chris Markham, James Reilly, Neil Reilly. Subs - Danny Norton, Mark Behan, Jake Moulder, Cathal O Scanaill, Shane Bass.
Ashbourne recorded a 45-7 win over Monkstown in the Provinical Seconds on Saturday. Nickolas Bobbett and Harry Wilson scored two tries apiece while Lorcan O'Reilly, Fergus Bobbett and Eoin Creaby also broke through for touchdowns while Ben Mahon added 11 points from the boot.
Ashbourne - Conor Phelan, Conor Malone, Carl Keogh, Shane McNulty, Eoin Creaby, Nick Bobbett, Lorcan O’Reilly, Harry Wilson, Danny Tuite, Ben Mahon, Max Samuel, F. Bobbett, Conor Creaby (Capt.), Ben Toole, Jake Murray. Subs - Brian Grieve, Conor Cunningham, Sam McSweeney, Eugene Gallagher, Patrick Dillon, Michael Morgan, Paul O’Connor.