Archive for the 'Youth' Category

Sligo RFC 14 :: Corinthians RFC 8

Sligo’s U15s wrestled back the provincial bragging rights when they avenged  last weekends one point Connacht cup final defeat by Corinthians after they superbly overcame the Galway outfit in an excellently fought league final encounter at Glenina on Sunday. Sligo scored two converted tries to nullify a Corinthian try and penalty in a game which was in the balance right to the final whistle.

Sligo kicked off into the strong breeze and immediately put pressure on their Galway opponents. Strong driving by the pack with Daire Byrne and Ryan Bright to the fore went unrewarded and it was the Galway outfit who were first to score. A series of rucks in the Sligo half culminated in a sweeping backline move which was rounded off with the concession of an unconverted try.

Sligo regrouped and immediately attacked the tribesmen. Outhalf Stephen Kerins took control and positioned his team in the attacking half. Pressure by the pack was rewarded with a penalty 15 metres from the Corinthian try line. Sligo decided to run the penalty and following a well set up ruck, powerhouse prop Conan O Donnell, burst through the cover and dotted down left of the uprights. Evan Mc Grath struck an excellent conversion to nudge his team ahead at the break.

Corinthians started the second half at a high tempo and their perseverance was rewarded with a well struck penalty 10 minutes into the half to regain a one point advantage.

Sligo were up to the task and their pressure game was starting to tell. Scrum half Ryan Feehily was giving his opposite number a torrid time at the scrums, centres Matthew Cosgrove and Mc Grath were winning the midfield battle and Full Back James Hampson was capably dealing with everthing thrown at him.

With ten minutes remaining on the clock Sligo struck the killer blow. A powerful Byrne drive was halted 7 metres from the Corinthian line before O Donnell picked, burst through the cover and crashed over for his, and his teams, second of the day. Mc Grath again converted to move his side 6 points clear.

Corinthians responded but excellent Sligo defence ensured the scoreline remained in Sligo’s favour when the referee blew the final whistle.

Sligo; James Hampson, Jack Tillion, Evan Mc Grath, Matthew Cosgrove, Jackson Smith, Stephen Kerins, Ryan Feehily, Thomas Moran, Francis Walsh, Conan O Donnell, Sean Hurley, Jake Sexton, Ryan Bright, Daire Byrne, Joe Conway. Reps Cian Cassidy, Ben Rooney, Luke Morrison, Jason Greer, Ronan Elliot, Diarmuid Mulligan, Darran Harte.

Galwegians RFC 9 :: Sligo RFC 3

The Sligo U17s suffered the heartbreak of a final defeat when the lost out in the Connacht U17 league decider at the sportsground in Galway on Sunday.  Galwegian’s kicked three penalties to Sligo’s solitary effort in a closely fought battle that was in the balance right to the final whistle.

Galwegian’s started brightly and looked to bring their pacey backline into the game as quickly as possible. Sligos’s defence remained firm and big tackles from James O Hehir and Mark Gerrity ensured the early threat was snuffed out .
Then it was Sligo’s turn to attack and the pack with Eddie Connell and Diarmuid O Dowd-Hill prominent were gaining inroads into the blues territory. A promising move put together by Sligo in the tenth minute looked set to gain a reward but a loose pass was intercepted by Gawegians and only a superb chase and cover tackle by winger Enda Roche kept the Sligo line intact. From the ensuing ruck Sligo were penalised and ‘Wegians used the opportunity to open their account with a well struck penalty.

Sligo responded and some astute kicking by outhalf Enda Gavin gave them field position in the ‘wegians half. Pressure at the breakdown resulted in a penalty award and Full back Colm Egan made no mistake with a well judged effort to equalise, putting the scoreline at three all at the break.

The second half began with Sligo on the attack but their pick and dive game was well defended by the Galway outfit and no reward was gained for the packs endeavours. Galwegians went took the lead midway through the half with a well struck penalty and further increased their lead with a drop goal with fifteen minutes remaining. Sligo were stung into action and good play by the pack gave outhalf Enda Gavin the opportunity to position his team in the ‘wegians 22. A planned line out move almost resulted in a try but the ‘Wegians defence held firm.

Sligo continued to hunt for the all important try and with time almost up on the clock were awarded a series of penalties close to the ‘wegians line.  The forwards drove over the line three times but incredibly the referee was unsighted on each occasion and did not award the try to Sligo.

Sligo Colm Egan, Sean Finnegan, Jason Mc Goldrick, Mark Gerrity, Enda Roche, Enda Gavin, Ross Gordon, Fabian Zawada, Matt Davey, Jamie Mc Govern, Niall O Rourke, Shane Boyle, Diarmuid o Dowd-Hill, James O Hehir, Eddie Connell. Reps Conor Kerins for Gordon, Daragh Burke for Egan, Patrick Saba for Davey.

Sligo RFC 50 :: Castlebar RFC 5

Last Sunday,Sligo took on and defeated Mayo rivals Castlebar in the Northern division of the U14 Connaught League by a massive margin to cement their position at the top of the table.  Sligo came out with all guns blazing to impress with an 8-try blitz over their visitors.

The powerful Sligo forward pack dominated the set pieces and worked well as a unit to win a great number of turnovers in the rucks and mauls.
The quality possession provided by the pack was put to good use by the well organised Sligo backline who used great width and speed to out run Castlebar. Continue reading ‘Sligo make it 3 wins from 3 in U-14 League’

Galwegians RFC U17′s – 0 :: Sligo RFC U17′s – 22

Sligo U17s second league match was against a much fancied Galwegians side in Galway.

On a glorious day for rugby. Galwegians exerted much of the early pressure with little end product. Sligo’s aggressive defence was well capable of styfling what Galwegians threw at them. Sligo gradually gained the upper hand in all depatments apart from the scoreboard.

A combination of good forward play and excellent handling skills saw the first and only score of the first half when Enda Roache touched down. The try was not converted to leave the score 5-0 in favour of Sligo.

Sligo started with purpose and had Galwegians pinned deep within their own half. The breakthrough came from quick ball off a scrum when the ball was quickly sprayed out wide to Darragh Burke who touched down in the corner to make the score at 10-0. Continue reading ‘U17′s make it two from two with a great win over Galwegians’