Dundalk 2nds produced an excellent team display to beat a strong Wanderers team 29-20 at the Aviva Stadim back pitch on Saturday last. Dundalk took the lead when they broke down the pitch and some excellent offloading saw outhalf Donal Clare go over to make the score 5-0. Wanderers playing into a strong wind maintained good control off the ball and forced a number of penalties and converted two to go up 6-5. Dundalk got themselves on the attack again. This time Donal Clare barged his way over beside the posts and James Shields conversion to put Dundalk ahead. Dundalk continued to attack and had an overlap outside however Clare’s crossfield kick went straight to the Wanderers winger and he raced away to put Wanderers ahead 13-12. Dundalk’s poor discipline would come back to haunt them as they received two yellow cards in quick succession through Laurence Steen and James Shields. Dundalk showed excellent commitment in defence to hold out Wanderers until half time. Dundalk managed to keep Wanderers scoreless during the sin bin periods and spent the majority of the second half on the front foot attacking and trying to get back in front.

They eventually got ahead when hard carrying by the forwards got them into the Wanderers 22 and Stephen Soraghan was the forward who got the ball down and Shields conversion put Dundalk 6 points up. Dundalk didn’t let up and went about building on their lead. They did that when Laurence Steen broke the cover to get Dundalk’s bonus point try and Robert Williams’s conversion put Dundalk 13 up with 10 minutes to go. Wanderers got a try with 2 minutes to go when their impressive winger got his second try. But there was no sign of nerves from Dundalk and they forced a late penalty which Williams converted to deny Wanderers a losing bonus point and Dundalk left with 5 points. Dundalk are now up to 3rd match against Tullow at 1pm in Mill Road this Saturday in Leinster Seconds League 1a and continue with a home

Team:

James Shields, Robert Shields, Robert Williams, Kieran Lenehan, Joe Olaoye, Donal Clare, Simon Byrne, Will Lauaki, Sean Arrowsmith, Dermot Laide, Diarmuid Sloane, Stephen Martin,, Chris Brady, Laurence Steen. Subs Chris Duffy, Stephen Soroghan, Michael Crawley, David McGuinness.