Laois rugby derby delight for Portlaoise against Portarlington
Sean Peters scored a hat-trick of tries for the away side
Portlaoise doubled Portarlington 34-17 in an impressive victory at Lea Road on Sunday afternoon, coming out on top in the highly anticipated Laois derby. Portarlington were the side that ended Portlaoise's unbeaten run earlier in the season but Lar Hogan's men gained some revenge for that result with a statement win in Division 2B of the Leinster League.
Second-row powerhouse Sean Peters was the star of the show, scoring a remarkable hat-trick to lead his side to victory. Portlaoise were knocked out of the Towns Cup last week while Portarlington powered through to Round 2, but they were unable to transfer that form back into the league, despite taking an early lead.
Portlaoise 34
Portarlington 17
Devlin McLaughlin got the home side off to the perfect start when the big, imposing prop powered over for a try in the second minute. Portlaoise cut the gap to two points when scrum-half Mark Kelly kicked a penalty in the fifth minute, but Portarlington were the much better team in the opening period and were rewarded with a second try after a quarter of an hour.
Full-back Adam Lambkin sprang into action, gathering a wayward ball before racing in under the posts. Port scrum-half Darragh Perry added the extras to push his side nine points up.
The visitors scored their first try of the day after half an hour after some good work from the forwards ended with a pick and drive from Peters before Kelly landed the conversion.
With the penalty count stacking up for the hosts, Portarlington lost their captain Warren Murray to a sin bin in the 35th minute. And they were reduced to 13 men moments later when referee Keith Condell brandished another yellow card, this time to Keith Kavanagh for dissent.
From the resulting penalty, Portlaoise decided to tap and go, with Peters using all his power and height to stretch out his hand and get the ball down for a second time. Kelly once again converted to send Portlaoise in at half-time with a 17-12 lead.
Portlaoise camped in the Portarlington half after the restart but were unable to capitalise on the two-man advantage thanks to some heroic defending from the hosts. But once restored to a full complement, Portarlington did finally subside to the pressure as Portlaoise got try number three.
A penalty attempt from Kelly pulled to the left of the upright and wide, but the ball stayed in play leading to a Portarlington knock-on. From the resulting five-meter scrum, Portlaoise powered their way over the try-line with Peters emerging with the ball to complete his hat-trick. Kelly's successful conversion put Portlaoise 24-12 up with 25 minutes remaining.
Portarlington came back at their visitors immediately with Gavin Crampton crossing for a try on the hour mark. Portlaoise kept the scoreboard ticking through a penalty from Kelly and with just over ten minutes remaining the visitors crossed for their fourth try of the game. Aron Kingston secured the bonus point after taking advantage of some indecision in the Portarlington defence with Kelly again adding the extras.
The sides were level on 30 points before the game, but Portlaoise have now moved five points clear. They will play away to Newbridge in two weeks time while Portarlington will host North Meath.