CO. CARLOW tried their best to throw this game, and succeeded. Every category of error was on the agenda and Wanderers took full advantage in Saturday's AIL Division 3 game at Merrion Road. The little euphoria from their first win of the season against Rainey extended for most of the opening forty minutes, but they selfdestructed within minutes of the restart with some abysmal tackling, vocal frustration and going down two players at the same time.

Although Wanderers threatened to demolish the visitors when they scored a cheeky try after just four minutes, the Oak Parkers dug in and actually took the game to the Dubliners when Padraig Brennan barged over for a ninth minute try.

The home try was a defensive disaster, and an example of fatal hesitancy, but a smart piece of football by out-half Michael Boland who chipped down the left, got up to boot the ball to the line and was up for the touch-down when a Carlow back failed to kill the move. Boland made it seven.

A darting run by Alan Kenny, from a Rory Stynes pass to his left, unhinged the Wanderers defence but Richard Feighery illegally impeded Carlow progress and was binned for his transgression.

Carlow touched the penalty and claimed the line with Brennan driving on the right and over the line.

Ten minutes later the Carlovians were in front when Billy Murphy landed a 30 metres penalty, across the wind, for a rucking crime.

Tails up, the Carlow pack was grinding away with Brennan, Wes Whitten, Tommy Ratahi James Nolan doing some heavy work, but Murphy had to come to the rescue when Shane Robertson attacked the left corner.

Eager to go wide after hole-punching by Heroshi Tea, Michael Keaveney, Philip Rowe and Feighery, Wanderers always looked more dangerous on the run and a promising sortie through Feighery, Keaveney, Boland and Michael O'Malley might have produced a try but for rousing rucking which earned Carlow a penalty.

The hosts went 10-8 up with a Boland penalty in the 35th minute from 22 metres for handling on the turf, but Carlow's cause was not helped when Damien Carley got marching orders moments from the interval for technical fouling.

It was to get worse. He was followed by Whitten, for a similar transgression less than three minutes into the last half, and before Carlow could regroup with 13, Wanderers went 15-8 when from scrum and ruck Boland, David O'Keeffe and the charging Tea went right and from the recycle Boland arrowed a diagonal kick for the right corner where Robertson timed his arrival superbly for a five pointer which Boland goaled from close to the touchline.

Wanderers were doing the bullying, and their confidence increased along with their penchant for running everything they touched, and 14 minutes into the half Boland converted a penalty for pulling down from 22 metres.

It was all over when Boland touched another penalty to the right and taking the ball with style, and after Carlow conceded a scrum outside their own 22 Wanderers moved left with Keaveney doing the spadework before finding Alan McMahon on his right shoulder and the hooker was not to be stopped. Boland again added the points in the 17th minute.

It awakened the beast in Carlow and through Ratahi, Stynes and John Joe Waddock they won considerable metres. Stynes then jinked to his right and forced play to the home line where skipper Ratahi was in the thick of it to force a try which Murphy converted.

It took a great deal of energy from Carlow limbs however, and they had to call on deep reserves to keep Wanderers at bay, but five minutes from time another dreadful bout of defending permitted Robertson to zoom up the left flank, finding his opposite winger Pat Brophy inside and he finished the move with some aplomb with Boland's replacement David Fitzgerald completing the home total.

Not that it mattered but Carlow showed lack of composure, and arguably fatigue, when kicking two left side penalties beyond the corner flag in the closing minutes, but long before the end Wanderers were obviously enjoying their football, using all replacements and not for tactical reasons either.

Speed of service from a pack, which found the hosts more physical than many previous rivals, was never to the profit of Kenny or Ross Byrne who had promised so much against Rainey the previous Saturday. O'Keeffe and Peter Burke were way to sharp and cut space to a minimum with Burke and Robertson always threatening.

Brennan, again contributing more than any pair on view, Whitten, the best out of a dodgy line-out, Ratahi and Nolan didn't shirk the challenge but were confronted by a pack which had the edge in pace and eventually strength.

At the back Stynes was asked to work with less than quality ball while Kenny seldom got the chance to show his undoubted flair in midfield. Again the introduction of the bench made little difference, but by the time they arrived the horse had bolted.

Carlow have two weeks to repair the faults before facing Nenagh in a backmatch at Oak Park on February 13 and they another fortnight before tackling Queens, also in Carlow and both assignments rather daunting given the current state of the team and the enemy's high positions on the table.

Carlow put into 11 of the 26 scrums and eight of the 20 scrums while conceding ten of the 19 penalties, yet awarded six of the first eight.

Co. Carlow will present comedian John Kenny formerly of The Untouchables in a one-man night of entertainment at Oak Park on February 12 at 8.30pm.

- PAUL DONAGHY