Another Maximum for Sligo

Sligo RFC  40 :: OLBC 3

Sligo cemented their place at the top of division 1A of the Connacht Junior league with a bonus point victory over Galway visitors Our Lady’s Boys Club at Hamilton park, Strandhill on Sunday. The north westerners scored six tries without reply on their way to a comprehensive victory.

Sligo RFC First XV v OLBC

The home team were superior in both scrum and lineout but it was the work of their exciting backline that put the visitors to the sword. With conditions tailor made for running rugby Sligo made a dream start.
Paddy Pearson’s long kick off ensured the home team were awarded a line out on the ten metre line. Hooker Ross Mannion’s accurate throw was collected by James Wilson and the ball was quickly transferred to scrum half Billy Leahy. Leahy released Pearson who brilliantly dummied and stepped inside the onrushing defence before accelerating past the cover to touch down between the posts. Outside centre, Jack Macklin, easily converted to put the home team 7 points to the good.

A perfect start for Sligo and they continued in the same vein with another well taken score after 12 minutes. Following some good driving play by the pack, with second row Jamie Bowes and tight head prop Jason East particularly prominent, Pearson was presented with the ball on the half way line. A huge Garryowen was launched at visiting full back Noel Farragher. The Sligo chasers pressurised and Farragher’s relieving kick was plucked from the air on the ten metre line by Sligo loose head Adrian Mc Hale. Mc Hale linked up with Bowes who gave a well timed pass to release pacy winger Andrew Feeney. Feeney pinned his ears back and rounded the cover to score under the posts. Macklin added the extras. 14-0 to the locals.

Try number three arrived on 23 minutes. Another well placed Pearson kick was collected under pressure by the visitors. The attempted clearance was caught by Leahy who passed infield to onrushing Full Back David Gerrity. A long pass from Gerrity brought Macklin into play and the flying centre showed his class by racing away from the cover and finishing between the uprights.  The centre then added the conversion to put his team 21 points ahead.

‘Boys Club’ were then stung into action and started to put some phases together. This period of pressure was almost rewarded on 27 minutes when a sweeping backs move resulted in a rare foray into the Sligo 22. A fine break by centre Jonathon Curran looked destined for a score but good work by Andrew Feeney allowed Pearson the chance to clear the danger. The visitors soon got their reward when they were subsequently awarded a penalty in the Sligo 22 which was converted by winger Dan Mc Manus. Sligo went back on the attack and were almost rewarded on the stroke of half time. A scrum against the head on half way was quickly picked by No 8 Peter Mullan. The lock forward’s timely pass was collected by winger Feeney whose race for the line was stopped short by the visiting defence. The resulting clearance signalled the end of the half.

The second half began with Sligo continuing to pile the pressure on the visitors. This pressure was rewarded on 51 minutes when an overthrown lineout by the ‘Boys Club’ hooker was grasped by tearaway flanker Cathal Culhane. Culhane drove forward and set up quick ball for his backline. Pearson threw a huge pass to Macklin whose quick hands allowed Gerrity the space to expertly outpace the defence and earn the home team a well deserved bonus point fourth try.

‘Boys Club’ desperately tried to claw their way back into the game and were almost rewarded in the 61st minute when a loose midfield pass by Sligo was intercepted by visiting centre Shane Commins. Commins looked destined to score but Macklin had other ideas and a superb chase saw him drag down the Galway centre inches short of the home line. The ball was turned over and Leahy relieved his team with a fine clearance.

Try number 5 proved the pick of the bunch. Peter Mullan collected a line out on the 10 metre line his pack responded by setting up and driving the resulting maul towards the opposition 22. The ball was released to the backs and winger Feeney joined from the blind side to create the extra man and his pass released the speedy Gerrity who finished expertly between the sticks. Macklin again added the conversion to put the score at 33-3 in favour of the home outfit.

The closing score came on 80 mins when pressure on the visiting lineout saw prop forward Mc Hale steal the ball and drive infield. Man of the Match Bowes was the recipient of quickly recycled ball and he drove through the tribesmens defence before setting up quick ball for Leahy to feed Gerrity. Gerrity raced for the line and skilfully drew the cover to make space for Ted Mulvaney who outpaced the defence and dotted down between the posts. Macklin again added the conversion before the long blast signalled the end of a fine days work for the home outfit.

Next week sees Sligo travel to Athlone to take on midland side Buccaneers. Kick off at Dubarry Park is at 3 o clock.

Sligo: David Gerrity, Julian Rippon, Jack Macklin, Gavin Foley, Andrew Feeney, Paddy Pearson, Billy Leahy, Adrian Mc Hale, Ross Mannion, Jason East, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Gary Conneely, Cathal Culhane, Peter Mullan. Replacements: Martin Feeney for Conneely, Joe Sweeney for East, Ted Mulvaney for Pearson.
OLBC: Noel Farragher, Dan Mc Manus, Shane Connors, Jonathon Curran, Killian O Brian, Daragh Mc Donagh, Ciaran Berry, Patrick Curran, Liam Curran, Dara Keady, Niall Geraghty, John O Sullivan, Donagh O Sullivan, Daragh Ruddy, Robert Lennon. Replacements: John Barry, Martin Hughes, Keith Gavin.

More photos of the game can be found on our Facebook page courtesy of Rory Raftery.