SLIGO 25 – CORINTHIANS 6NOT EVEN the most optimistic of Sligo’s supporters would have envisaged this scoreline, Sligo travelled to Corinthians Park on Sunday last mindful of their unenviable record at the venue.
Their task was made more difficult to line out without their New Zealand starlet, Jordan Farrington and last season’s skipper, Trevor Sweeney.
However, not only did a Sligo RFC 1st XV score their first away victory over Corinthians in over 30 years, but the side also gained a precious bonus point by scoring five tries.
There was little to suggest in the opening 20 minutes that Sligo would score such a facile victory. In that opening wind, Sligo were pinned inside their own half. They were tentative and prone to errors and conceded a few cheap penalties.
Obstruction
Corinthians went ahead after 4 minutes when Sligo were penalised for obstruction in front of the posts on the ‘22’, and Frenchmen, Adrian West landed the points. In the 9th minute, a blatant Sligo offside on the ‘22’ presented West with a ‘sitter’ but incredibly he missed. However, he atoned for this in the 11th minute by landing a fine penalty from 42 metres. Sligo now trailed by 6-0, and were under continuous pressure, but the defence held firm.
Eventually Sligo raised the siege, and in their first incursion into Corinthian territory they scored a spectacular try. In the 23rd minute, the packs excellent picking and driving sucked in the defence, and great play from Julian Rippon and Gary Boland created just enough space for outside centre, Andrew Feeney. to squeeze in at the right corner.
However, directly from the kick-off Gary Conneally who gathered the restart was penalised for holding on, but to the dismay of the home side, West clipped the kick wide.
Crunching tackle
A further Corinthian attack was stymied by a crunching Joe Sweeney tackle. In the 35th minute, Sligo again broke out and Gary Boland was foiled, as he followed up Cathal Culhane’s deft kick through by a despairing fly kick to touch by Corinthians full-back Ciaran Dunne.
From Ross Mannion’s accurate line throw, Jamie Livingston secured possession, and the pack mauled for 10 metres, with second row Andrew Williams touching down at the corner flag. Sligo now led by 10-6, despite their limited first half possession.
With wind advantage, Sligo dominated the second half, and their pack was in control. It is certainly a long time since a Sligo pack scrummaged, rucked and mauled so well, while the line-out was outstanding. After a flowing back-line movement, Andrew Feeney forced his way over in the right-corner after 10 minutes to increase the lead to 15-6, and four minutes later they led by 20-6 and guaranteed themselves a bonus point with their fourth try.
On this occasion Sligo forced a line out 15 metres from the line, and after Livingston’s take, the excellent ensuing maul resulted in Andrew Williams scoring his second try.
In the 25th minute, another line-out take by Livingstone saw Sligo again maul over the line, but the unsighted referee awarded them a five metre scrum. A concerted effort by the pack pushed the Corinthians eight backwards, and No. 8, Peter Mullan picked up and crashed over to complete the scoring.
Outstanding
In an outstanding team display, which reflected very favourably on the management quartet of manager, Aidan Buckley and coaches Pat Curran, Gavin Foley and Bernie Kelly, each team member played his part.
Scrum-half, Billy Leahy gave a man of the match display at scrum-half, and his coolness in the opening quartet was invaluable. At full-back, Gary Boland’s lightning incursions into the line created havoc in the Corinthians defence Joe Sweeney marked his return to action with an impressive outing on the left wing, while on the right wing, Julien Rippon had one of his best outings in Sligo’s colours.
At outside centre, Andrew Feeney grabbed two golden tries and had an excellent outing, while Warner Wilder, initially at first centre and later at wing forward put in some big tackles.
Out-half, Gavin Foley had a big second half, and proved to be an excellent line-kicker, who pinned Corinthians back.
Unit
As a unit, the pack was outstanding, and the excellent work being done on the training ground ensured that they were still going strong at the end. Hooker, Ross Mannion made a major impact, both in the loose, and at line-out time, while his props, Martin Feeney and Joe Kelly, and their replacements in the final ten minutes, Adrian McHale and Neil Williams, ensured that the scrum was always going forward .
New Zealander, Jamie Livingstone is a major acquisition, jumping well at No. 2 in the line-out and making his presence felt in all facets of the game. His second row partner Andrew Williams had another outstanding game, highlighted by two priceless tries. Cathal Culhane, both at open side, and later at first centre, had a very fine outing, while blind side, Gary Conneally will be very satisfied with his first competitive outing with the club. Warner Wilders was another to shine.
For Corinthians, out-half Barry O’Sullivan, winger Adrian West, second row Dave Maher and No. 8 Cormac McGuckian were best.
Sligo: Gary Boland, Julian Rippon, Andrew Feeney, Warner Wilders, Joe Sweeney, Gavin Foley, Billy Leahy, Martin Feeney, Ross Mannion, Joe Kelly, Jamie Livingstone, Andrew Williams, Gary Conneally, Peter Mullan (Capt.), Cathal Culhane. Subs – Adrian McHale for Kelly (70 mins), Neil Williams for M. Feeney (71 mins), Geoffrey Draper (not used).
Corinthians: Ciaran Dunne, Adrian West, Dave O’Sullivan, Colm Power (Capt.), Julian Leonard, Barry O’Sullivan, Ciaran Dolan, Graham O’Neill, Alan Walsh, Jonathan Madden, Dave Maher, Ross McInerney, Seamus Cantillon, Adrian Pilkington, Cormac McGuckian. Subs – William Olivier, Padraig Storey, Dave Gaule.
Referee - Mr. Seamus Phillips (Connacht branch).
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