Sligo RFC 24

Belfast Harlequins RFC 14

Sligo rounded off their competitive program for 2018 with a well worked win, earning four precious AIL league points, over Belfast Harlequins at Strandhill on Saturday.

The win moves Sligo into fifth place in Division 2B as the League takes a halftime break until the resumption on January 19^th.

With an earlier kick off of 2pm due to the shorter day and Hamilton park being buffeted by severe gusts, Harlequins kicked off playing towards the airport with the aid of the elements.

The visitors enjoyed much of the early possession but Sligo’s defensive line was ferocious to the point that ‘Quins were forced back in to their own 22 and conceded an early penalty.

Jack Keegan popped the kick over the bar to open his and Sligo’s account.

The visitors responded with their own penalty on 12 minutes and made use of the wind to take the lead with another well struck effort on the fifteen minute mark.

Sligo restarted and regained possession with a super take from Philip Carter giving his team the chance to work their way into the visitors 22.

Kuba Wojtkowicz , Ciaran Cassidy and Rob Holian carried strongly and bit by bit Sligo forced their way closer to the try line.

The sustained pressure eventually paid off and Sligo were awarded a penalty five yards from the line.

The forwards smelled blood and the decided to go for the maximum reward by opting for the scrum.

Conor Mitchell put on the pressure and Sligo shunted towards the line but ‘Quins infringed and Sligo opted to scrum again.

Quins infringed again to prevent the pushover and when Sligo once again opted for the scrum it looked like a penalty try was the likely outcome for Sligo’s dominance.

Ryan Feehily had other ideas and with the visiting back row committed to the scrum , Feehily picked and darted to the left to touch down at the post.

Keegan converted and Sligo were back in front.

Harlequins moved back to within a single point with another well struck penalty before taking the lead with a try out wide on the left to put the half time score at 10-14.

For the second time in two weeks Sligo were behind at the interval and were turning with the breeze at their backs and once again Head Coach Paddy Pearson and Player Coach Jason East impressed on their charges that the excellent work rate would reap the deserved reward.

With the wind gusting fiercely Sligo upped the intensity and Mark Butler took full advantage with some excellent kicking from hand, coupled with great chase play from Calum Goddard and Enda Gavin, to position Sligo in the ‘Quins danger zone.

Sligo put on the pressure with some excellent carries and again the visitors were forced into the concession of a penalty close to the line.

Once again the scrum was called and when Shane O’Hehir struck the put-in, Sligo shunted towards the line. With Shane Boyle in full control at the base, the inevitable infringement was forced and this time the referee went to the posts to award the penalty try.

With fifteen minutes remaining, the sky went black and a deluge was dumped on Hamilton park but this did not deter Sligo, who despite the horrendous conditions, continued to play with purpose.

Sean Wynne secured a lineout on the 22 and the ball was move midfield. Mata Fifita carried strongly and the ruck was set up in front of the posts. The ball was quickly recycled and Matt Davey took an excellent line to burst through the cover and touch down on the right.

Keegan’s conversion was the final score of the game and when the ref blew for full time the Sligo faithful celebrated a well deserved victory.

Although Sligo will be out of competitive action until the new year , the annual St Stephens day match will be an opportunity for players to ‘work off’ the Christmas dinner.

The match kicks off at 2 pm on the 26^th and returning and local players and friends are welcome to Hamilton park for some fun rugby and hospitality in the club house afterwards.

Sligo Jack Keegan, Calum Goddard, Enda Gavin, Mata Fifita, Philip Carter, Mark Butler, Ryan Feehily (co–captain), Kuba Wojtkowicz, Shane O’Hehir (co–captain), Conor Mitchell, Ciaran Cassidy, Rob Holian, Jason East, Matt Davey, Shane Boyle. Reps Sean Wynne, Ross O’Boyle, Sean Mullin, Jake Sexton, Niall Gray.

Corinthians RFC 17

Sligo RFC 19

Sligo made it two in a row in their ALL Ireland League campaign with a superbly crafted 2 point win over a physical Corinthians outfit in Galway on Saturday. Sligo’s defence and discipline were the two pillars of a game plan that was executed superbly by a wholly committed Sligo team.

Playing into the teeth of a ferocious wind Sligo kicked off and had to withstand an immediate barrage from a fired up local outfit intent on bringing their big ball carriers into the fray as often as possible. The Sligo defence stood strong however, with Mark Butler, Enda Gavin and Calum Goddard all putting in bone shuddering tackles in the early stages. Prop forward Tom Gormaley threw himself into tackles like man possessed despite carrying a hamstring injury and one hit from powerhouse Mata Fifita must have left his opposite number wondering what day of the week it was.

Inevitably, with such a wind  advantage, the local were going to score at some stage in the first half, and Corinthians picked up trys on the half hour and just prior to the interval to move into a 10 point lead.

Sligo coaches Paddy Pearson and Jason East rallied the troops at half time , impressing on them the importance of keeping faith with the system and to continue with the herculean effort being displayed.

Following the resumption the excellent work rate began to pay off as Sligo began to dominate in the scrum and make inroads into ‘blue’ territory. With 50 minutes on the clock Sligo struck. A scrum on the half way line on the right hand side was wheeled towards touch. Scrum Half Ryan Feehily saw his chance and made a searing break down the blind side before being hauled down in the 22.  Sligo recycled quickly and good hands from Butler , Gavin and Jack Keegan gave Philip Carter the opportunity to finish on the left. Keegan put over an excellent conversion and Sligo were within 3!

Sligo continued to press, with the scrum causing the locals all sorts of problems and the defensive line speed continuously forcing errors. Hooker Shane O’Hehir was putting in his best performance in a Sligo shirt this season with second rows Ciaran Cassidy and Rob Holian causing mayhem with powerful carries time after time. The backrow of Matthew Davey, Shane Boyle and Sean Wynne, who was incidentally only making his first start in a Sligo senior jersey, hit everything that moved, setting the tone for the rest of the team.

Keegan brought the scores level with another well struck penalty on 55 minutes, and proved his invaluable worth by putting his side into the lead with another excellent effort on 60 mins to take the lead.

Sligo were now in full flow and a sustained period of pressure in the Corinthians 22 resulted in Butler slotting over a sweetly struck drop goal to extend the lead for his side. Corinthians tried to respond but Sligo were not taking a backward step.

The intensity spilled over with 10 minutes remaining with a good old fashioned dust up erupting with all 30 players involved. To the disbelief of the Sligo faithful when all had calmed down the referee awarded a penalty to Corinthians and sent two Sligo players and only one local to the sin bin.

With Sligo down two forwards Corinthians sensed an opportunity and elected to take the scrum. Sligo, however, were not to be broken and a huge effort from Conor Mitchell and Kuba Wojtkowicz forced a penalty and Keegan made no mistake with the kick.

Corinthians made the most of the numerical advantage with a try in the dying moments but it was too late for a comeback and come the long whistle there were jubilant scenes from the travelling supporters.

The much needed win moves Sligo up to 6^th in UBL div 2B table with one more fixture before the Christmas break.

Next Saturday sees Belfast Harlequins come to Strandhill with an earlier kick off time of 2pm.

Sligo Jack Keegan, Calum Goddard, Enda Gavin, Mata Ffitia, Calum Goddard, Mark Butler, Ryan Feehily (Co Capt.) Kuba Wojtkowicz,  Shane O’Hehir, Tom Gormaley, Rob Holian, Ciaran Cassidy, Matt Davey, Sean Wynne, Shane Boyle. Reps: Ross O’Boyle, Conor Mitchell, Jack Sexton, Niall Gray, Brendan Cunningham