Sligo 39 :: Galwegians 5
Sligo’s flagship team kicked off their Connacht junior league division one campaign with a magnificent 7 try demolition of Galwegians at Hamilton park, Strandhill on Sunday. Producing a super display of 15 man rugby Sligo earned maximum points to start the campaign in ideal fashion.
Galwegians won the toss and elected to play with the breeze in the first half.Out-Half Paddy Pearson, who made his return to the Yeats county side following a serious accident last season, kicked deep and the home defence immediately put the visitors under pressure in their own half. This concerted pressure was rewarded, when the locals were awarded a scrum outside the visitors 22 after 3 minutes. No. 8 Trevor Sweeney picked and linked up with flanker Cathal Culhane who drove at the heart of the tribesmens defence. A quick recycle saw the ball moved through the backline to the awaiting arms of winger Julian Rippon who rounded his opposite number to touch down for the opening score in the corner. The conversion attempt fell short to leave the home side 5 points ahead.
Galwegians were immediately stung into action, and some good driving play earned them a foothold in the home teams half. Pressure on the Sligo ruck saw the visitors awarded a penalty on the attacking 10 metre line which was kicked to touch 5 yards short of the home teams try line. The line-out was secured but good defence forced a knock on and the resulting scrum allowed scrum half Billy Leahy to avert the danger with a well judged clearance kick.
The Sligo scrum, with tight head prop Jason East prominent, was now starting to impose itself on the Galway unit and on 20 minutes turned over the Galway scrum 10 yards from the vistors line. From the reset Leahy fed Pearson who expertly wrong footed the defence to dot down and put the home team 10 points in front. Sligo continued to press and on 30 minutes were rewarded with a superb score. A relieving kick from ‘wegians out half Jimmy Mc Michael was collected at full pace by flying winger Jack Macklin. The winger swerved around three possible tacklers before off-loading to onrushing centre
Jordan Farrington. Farrington broke through the cover defence before feeding the awaiting Pearson who cantered over for his second try of the day. ’Wegians rallied and were awarded with their only score when on 38 minutes when scrum half Martin Connolly turned over a badly controlled defensive scrum to allow No.8 Conor Greg to pounce for a score. Sligo’s response was swift. From the kick off collection ‘Wegians outhalf Jimmy Mc Michael launched a high kick into the home teams half. Winger Macklin collected superbly and immediately attacked the onrushing defence where he linked up with the powerful Jamie Bowes. Bowes burst through the defence before laying the ball back for Leahy to release Pearson who timed his pass perfectly to allow full back David Gerrity to sprint to the line
to earn the home team their “bonus point try” and put The home team 20 points to 5 ahead at the break.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first with Sligo immediately imposing their superiority on the Galway outfit. Some fine driving by Adrian Mc Hale, Gary Conelley and James Wilson saw Sligo produce quick ball. Fast hands gave Jordan Fariington a chance to run at the visitors defence and the centre showed his class as he superbly danced through the away defence to score from 60 metres. Macklin converted to put Sligo 27-5 to the good. 12 minutes into the second half Sligo added to their total. A midfield scrum saw the ball transferred to veteran centre Gavin Foley. A well placed kick saw the visitors conceding a lineout 8 yards from their own line. Sligo’s captain, second row, James Wilson secured the ball and his pack drove him over the line for Sligo’s 6th try. Macklin added the extras with a superb kick from the touchline to advance the scoreline to 34-5 in Sligo’s favour.
The final score of the game came when a loose kick by the visitors was collected by ‘Man of the match’ Macklin. A fine downfield punt was collected by visiting winger Eamon Dowling who was forced to touch down behind his own line by Macklin. The home team were awarded the scrum and immediately drove towards the posts. The ball was quickly recycled and moved to substitute winger Ted Mulvaney, who powered past his opposite number to close ther scoring at 39-5 in favour of the Yeats county outfit.
Sligo : David Gerrity, Julian Rippon, Jordan Farrington, Gavin Foley, Jack Macklin, Paddy Pearson, Billy Leahy, Adrian Mc Hale, Gary Connely, Jason East, James Wilson(Capt), Jamie Bowes, Peter Mullan, Cathal Culhane, Trevor Sweeney. Subs Martin Feeney for Mc Hale, Ross O boyle for Connely, Ted Mulvaney for Pearson.
Galwegians: Ronan Dillon, Kieran Cunningham, Daniel Carr, Ralph Parkes, Eamon Dowling, Jimmy Mc Michael, Martin Connolly, John Mackey, Ross Fitzgerald, Steve Mc Grath, Niall Forde, Darran Murphy, Derek Boyd (Capt),Liam Griffin, Conor Greg. Subs: Spencer Perkins, Mark Rouse, Declan Kiely
Next Sunday travel to newly promoted Ballinrobe for a 3 o’Clock kick off at the Ballinrobe racecourse grounds.
More photos of the game can be found on our Facebook page (direct link) courtesy of Rory Raftery. More photos of the game can be found here as well (Thanks to Colin Gillen).
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