Our under 16's started their new campaign this afternoon with a superb 8-2 victory over Arklow United at Whitegates. Rovers started brightly but it was Arklow United who took the lead after a mix up in the Rovers defence. Almost straight from the restart Charlie Czwalina brought Rovers level with a clever finish. Two minutes later Lorcan Sinnott unleashed a rocket to the keeper's left who stood no chance and Rovers were in front. The away side roared back to equalise again after some sloppy play from Rovers. Brandon Battams then put Rovers 3-2 up with a fine finish from the edge of the box. A short corner between Charlie Czwalina and Evan Conyard resulted in Lorcan Sinnott getting his second when Conyard’s deep ball picked out the midfielder who made no mistake with a bullet header to give Rovers breathing space. Alex Earls pounced on a mistake in the Arklow defence to make it five on the stroke of half time. The second half saw Rovers up their game with some fine possession football. Charlie Czwalina grabbed his second of the game with another superb effort from twenty five yards out which gave the keeper no chance. Daniel Kavanagh got in on the act after a period of sustained pressure and possession on the edge of the box and the big striker finished neatly to put Rovers 7-2 up. Evan Conyard, Lorcan Sinnott, Charlie Czwalina twice and a thunderbolt from Jack Macklin all shook the Arklow woodwork before Brendan Porter followed up another strike off the crossbar to finish to make it eight and close out the scoring. A good runout for the lads today, disappointing to concede two goals in the manner they did but some excellent periods of possession football with the full panel of eighteen playing their part.