County Cavan RFC 7
Sligo RFC 27
Sligo RFC’s pre season preparations continued in a positive fashion with a fine win over a physical Cavan outfit at Swellan park in Cavan last Saturday. The match initiated the revival of a long standing fixture between the two clubs, which through the 70s, 80s and 90s saw the clubs battling it out on the pitch for the right to lift the Elliott cup.
Playing into the slight breeze, Sligo started the game strongly with the pack winning the early exchanges and securing clean possession for the half back pairing of Billy Leahy and Frankie Feeney to use. Some fine kicking saw Sligo camped in the home sides half. In the seventh minute this territorial advantage was almost rewarded when a fine line-out take from James Wilson was quickly moved to midfield, full back Julian Rippon expertly changed the angle and looked destined to score but was hauled down short of the Cavan line. Cavan were awarded a scrum but good pressure from flanker Simon Coulter caught the home team in possession behind their own line and the resulting scrum was awarded to the visitors. A fine drive from Sligo’s front row of Adrian Mc Hale, Ross Mannion and Jason East shunted their opposite numbers back and the Sligo scrum drove over the tryline to allow veteran number 8 Peter Mullan the opportunity to touch down. Rippon was narrowly wide with the conversion.
Sligo continued to try build on the advantage and were unlucky not to go further ahead following line breaks from Billy leahy and Ted Mulvaney but the Cavan defence held firm on each occasion. The home team were now starting to impose themselves on the game and came close to scoring on 28 minutes when Sligo failed to deal with a grubber kick. A footrush ensued but the overeager supporting Cavan player put himself in an offside position and Sligo were relieved to be awarded a penalty close to their own line.
Despite this disappointment Cavan continued to press and looked destined to score on 38 minutes. A sweeping backline move engineered an excellent scoring opportunity but alert Sligo right winger Matt Drury stepped in to intercept the final pass and sprint the length of the pitch to dot down under the home posts. The conversion was missed, leaving the visitors 10 points ahead.
Despite this setback, Cavan were not going to be kept scoreless and they got their reward on the stroke of half time when some loose tackling by Sligo caused the concession of a try in the right hand corner. The conversion attempt was successful to leave three points between the teams at the interval.
Sligo raised the tempo of the game in the second half and their forwards began to dominate the home pack. The Sligo lineout was functioning well with James Wilson and Peter Mullan causing difficulties for the home throw and the Sligo scrum was well on top of their opposite numbers. The forwards dominance was producing quality possession for the backs and scrum half Billy Leahy took advantage of this with a fine break in the 62nd minute. Leahy offloaded to supporting substitute Ross O Boyle who burst through the last line of defence for an unconverted try in the left hand corner.
Sligo extended their lead in the 67th minute when good work by Kieran Stafford and Trevor Sweeney set up a ruck inside the opposition 22. The ball was quickly moved across the line to winger Cathal Culhane who dummied the pass and stepped inside the onrushing defence to race in under the posts. Frankie Feeney added the extras to extend Sligo’s lead to 22 points to 7.
Sligo saved their best until last, when right on the stroke of full time the Sligo pack collected the ball from a line out inside their own 22. The ball was moved left and right through a number of pairs of hands before a ruck was set up inside the Cavan 22. A sweeping movement saw the ball move across the backline and outhalf Frankie Feeney popped up to take the scoring pass in the right corner. The unsuccessful conversion attempt was followed by the long blast by the referee and the presentation of the Elliott Cup to Sligo captain Ross Mannion.
Sligo Team. Julian Rippon, Matt Drury, Andrew Feeney, Ted Mulvaney, Cathal Culhane, Frankie Feeney, Billy Leahy, Adrian Mc Hale, Ross Mannion (capt), Jason East, James Wilson, Kieran Stafford, Trevor Sweeney, Peter Mullan, Simon Coulter. Substitutes Gary Connelly, Dara Cox, Ross O Boyle, Steven Connolly, Clive Morris, Mikey Conlon.
Next Sunday sees Sligo travel to Castlebar for a challenge game. Kick off is at 2.30.
Sligo’s Junior league campaign begins on Sunday 20th against Galwegians. Kick off is at 3 o clock at Hamilton park in Strandhill.
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