Portlaoise defeat Portarlington to take bragging rights in Laois rugby derby
Nine tries were needed to separate the two sides in Togher
Portlaoise came out on the right side of Sunday afternoon’s nine-try thriller at home to Portarlington, solidifying their place at the top of the division. Portarlington won by two points in the reverse fixture in December, but things have turned on their heads since then.
Portlaoise came into the game top of the division and were unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions before today. Portarlington, on the other hand, have lost five of their last six league games - all by three points or less.
Portlaoise 38
Portarlington 31
The hosts took an early lead thanks to a penalty from Jack Reddin but Portarlington hit back almost immediately.
The visitors had Portlaoise under pressure with a scrum on the home side's try-line before putting the ball through the hands, sending Adam Kelly in under the posts. The returning Andrew Evans added the conversion to make it 7-3.
But Portlaoise had their first try soon after, with Ross Cooper emerging with the ball from under a heap of bodies, before Reddin added the extras.
Portarlington were in for their second try then after a brilliant effort by the Portarlington forwards forced the play inside the Portlaoise 22. Playing under advantage a pin-point kick from Jordan Fitzpatrick released Jack Hynes who crossed over for a beautiful try. Evans' conversion put the visitors four points ahead.
But midway through the half, Portlaoise crossed for their second try - a carbon copy of the first, with Sean Hennessy forcing his way over after a tap-and-go penalty.
Reddin missed the kick as Portarlington went directly up the field and kicked a penalty to go back in front.
Portlaoise knocked on the door for the next ten minutes, eventually wearing down a resilient Portarlington defence as Tadgh Mullen went over in the corner for a third Portlaoise try. Reddin could not add the conversion as Portlaoise went in at half time with a three-point lead, 20-17.
It took just three minutes of the second half for Portarlington to re-take the lead thanks to an individual try from their fly half. Evan kicked the ball over the top of Portlaoise, gathered himself, and danced between three defenders to go in under the posts, before kicking the conversion as well.
But the pendulum nature of the game stopped as Evan Bergin dotted the ball down from the back of a powerful driving scrum. Reddin kicked the conversion and followed that with a penalty moments later to push the lead out to six points.
Another penalty on the hour mark from Reddin meant there was more than a score between the sides for the first time.
Portlaoise found another gear and added a fifth try when Adam Duffin ran a lovely line before getting over the whitewash.
The game became disjointed as both sides began to empty the benches. With four minutes left, Jack Hynes went over in the corner for his second try. Evans kicked the extras to bring Portarlington to within a converted try.
The visitors went in search of a draw, but they had to settle for a losing bonus-point along with the four-try bonus-point.