Sixteens Power to Final

Sligo RFC U16s 22 :: Buccaneers U16s 0

Sligo’s U16s powered their way into the final of the Connacht U16 league with a superb team performance against a strong Buccaneers outfit at Strandhill on Sunday.

Sligo RFC’s Under 16 Squad (photo supplied by ShootingStars.ie)

The home team scored four tries without reply on their way to a convincing victory.

Buccaneers kicked off and immediately put the home outfit under pressure, but some fine driving play by Sligo forwards Diarmuid O Dowd Hill and Jamie Mc Govern gave outhalf Enda Gavin the space to clear his lines and avert the danger.

Sligo then went on the attack and began to gain a foothold in the visitors half. A penalty awarded on the 10 metre line was kicked into the corner 8 yards from the Buccaneers try line. Hooker Matt Davey’s throw was gathered by Niall O Rourke and the forwards rumbled towards the try line before being stopped short. A number of pick and drives followed before powerful prop forward Fabian Zawada collected and crashed over for the opening score. The difficult conversion attempt fell just short.

Buccaneers responded and started to use their pacy backline to try to stretch the Sligo defence but some fine tackling, particularly from flanker James O Hehir and winger Cian Mulligan snuffed out the danger.

Sligo upped the pace in the second half and their work at the breakdown was beginning to reap rewards. 10 minutes into the half a sweeping left to right move gave centre Enda Roche the opportunity to attack. Roche carried into the 22 before superbly exchanging passes with supporting no 8 Eddie Connell. The move was stopped short but the Sligo pack piled in and quickly recycled the ball allowing substitute scrum half Ross Gordon the chance to release the backline. The ball was moved to Roche who finished off the attack he started with a well deserved try. Gavin made no mistake with the conversion.

Sligo,s third try arrived 15 minutes into the half. An O’Rourke lineout was driven into the Bucc’s 22. The Sligo pack took on the challenge and sucked in the visitors defence before the ball was moved to Enda Gavin. The outhalf darted through a gap in the defence bfore linking up with Sean Finnegan who raced ahead and touched down to the left of the posts. The conversion attempt rebounded out off the post.

The final score came with 5 minutes left on the clock. A well rehearsed line out move 15 metres from the visitors line gave Matt Davey the chance to break clear and the hooker made no mistake as he burst through the cover and touched down in the corner.

Sligo; C. Mulligan, D. Burke, E. Roche, S. Finnegan, E. Kilroy-Talbot, E. Gavin, C. Kerins, F. Zawada, M. Davey, J. Mc Govern, N. O’Rourke, D. O’Dowd Hill, G. Knecht, J.O’Hehir, E. Connell, A. Donnellan, R. Gordon, P. Saba, K. Devanney, T. Cadden, C Mc Laughlin, A. Nairn, J Mc Gynne, M. Leydon, M Gerritty, J. Mc Goldrick.