Sligo u15’s continued the clubs excellent start to the youth cup competitions will a win over Buccaneers in Dubarry Park Athlone last Saturday. This was Sligo third success over Buccaneers in 2 weeks with the under 14’s and u16’s both winning their cups games against the Athlone based side the previous weekend.
Building on hard games against Ballina, Longford and Mullingar over the past month Sligo played a very controlled game of rugby and looked like winners from the kick off.
The Sligo side had the majority of possession in the first half with Buccaneers only getting into the Sligo half 3 times in the first half. Sligo were unlucky to be only 7 – 0 ahead at half time.
Sligo first try late in the first half followed from a sustained period of forward pressure with numerous pick and drives by the pack before a fine three quarters move was finished off by Niall Connelly in the corner.
A massive kick from the touch line by out half Evan McGrath add the 2 points for the conversion.
In the second half Buccaneers changed their game plan and drove right at the heart of the Sligo back line. The Sligo centre partnership of Mark Gerrity and Eddie Weaver, with stood the challenge with on outstanding display of tackling.
Sligo second try came following a kick down field from Mcgrath which, was chased down by Sligo’s Flying wing Pat McGlone. From the ensuing ruck, the ball was fed by Scrum Half Killian Filan to Leigh Dunne on the Buccaneers 22 who crashed through, a packed defence to score.
Mcgrath’s conversion attempt again from close to the touch line was just wide of the upright to leave the score at 12 -0
Sligo were unlucky not to go further ahead when McGlone had outpaced the entire Buccs backline only to be called back for a foot in touch on the half way line.
Buccs increased the pressure for the last quarter and were denied their first score of the day by a try saving tackle from full back Stephen Keirns right on the Sligo goal line. Eventually Buccs did cross the Sligo line with a try from their number 8 from a 5 meter scrum. They converted the try to leave the score at 12- 7 with 3 minutes left on the clock. Bucc’s were camped in the Sligo half for the remainder of the game but were unable to add to the score line.
In the pack the front row of Conan O’Donnell , Andrew Kerr and John Walsh had their opposite numbers on the back foot at every scrum. The second row of Darragh Cullinane and Padraig Mitchell provided the powerhouse need both in the scrum and the loose and had Buccaneers under pressure at ever y line out. The back row of Leigh Dunne, Dara Byrne and Edward Burke, work hard all day at the break down to ensure Sligo won clean ruck ball.
The platform provided by the pack ensure the half back paring of Filan and McGrath were able to provide the Sligo back line with clean fast ball who were unlucky not to score at least 3 more tries. Sligo Subs Rory Molloy, David McGrath and Dylan Feeney had to warm up a number of occasions for injuries but were unlucky not to get a run on the day.
0 Responses to “U15’s kick off cup campaign will a win in Athlone”