OLBC 3 – Sligo 9

A determined Sligo side remained unbeaten after another solid, yet unspectacular victory away to OLBC on Sunday December 7th. So far this season it has been a case of one narrow result after another for a Sligo side that despite sitting top of the league continues to have their title credential questioned in certain Connacht quarters. Nine points from the boot of fullback David Gerrity were enough to secure the points, as Sligo’s forwards dominated upfront.

Sligo were looking to put their disappointing scoreless draw in Westport, the only blemish on their perfect record so far this season, behind them and with this being their last encounter before the Christmas break, they were determined to provide the victory that could prove crucial to their title aspirations. Sligo coach Joe Walsh made a number of changes from their lacklustre performance in Westport with Mataele Fifita switching back to number eight, with the evergreen Peter Mullan moving into the second row alongside lineout colossus James Wilson, where the unlucky Kim Williams moved to the bench. Walsh sprung a surprise at scrum-half with Warner Wilders called up for his first start at the season, while there was also a recall for Kiwi centre, Andre Taurerewa at 13 to partner Andrew Feeney. OLBC went into the game targeting a victory that would ease any fears they may have of being dragged into a relegation dogfight and were relying on JL1s leading try scorer, centre Dave Prior, to breach a mean Sligo defence.

On a crisp, bitterly cold afternoon at The Sportsgrounds Sligo began the brighter, despite playing into a stiff breeze, with their forwards immediately to the fore. With their solid pick and drive offense again in operation, Sligo pressurised the home defence from the go, with drives from Fifita and flanker Joe Sweeney. The first fifteen minutes were played in the OLBC half as Sligo’s pack got to grips with their opposite numbers. Sligo had the first chance to get on the scoresheet when a period of sustained pressure led to a drop-goal attempt from fullback David Gerrity which drifted narrowly to the left and wide. Inspired by their excellent defence and their containment of Sligo’s strong side, the home side looked to respond. Having been starved of possession for the opening quarter, OLBC finally released their dangerous backline on the twenty minute mark and immediately looked threatening. Out-half John McDonagh released their danger man Prior, whose looping pass looked to present winger Jonathan Curran with a chance. Sligo’s South African speedster, Nick Reynolds attempted to cut out the attack but his tackle was high and OLBC were awarded a penalty. Turning down a shot at goal from a difficult angle, the Galwaymen kicked to touch near the Sligo line, but this chance was wasted when Sligo’s James Wilson continued his destruction of ever y lineout he has faced this season with a crucial interception.

As the half wore on, OLBC gradually managed to obtain a foothold in the game. While their forwards failed to match the physicality and power of the Sligo eight, their backs looked dangerous and they looked to get the ball wide at every opportunity. Out-half McDonagh kicked well, pinning Sligo back, and it was from of these kicks on the half hour mark, that the home side won another penalty. Prior looked to punish Sligo but he dragged his kick wide. The longer the half progressed the scrappier it became, with both sides failing to create anything of note. Using the wind OLBC kicked long and pressured Sligo deep. With only a minute remaining in the half a handling error from Sligo saw OLBC awarded a scrum 22m out, right in the centre of the pitch and presented them with a great opportunity to release their potent backline. Sligo needed a big defensive scrum but unfortunately they did so illegally and the referee awarded the home side a penalty right in front of the posts for wheeling the scrum. This time Prior made no mistake and he slotted the straightforward penalty over to hand OLBC a lead of 3-0 and despite’s Sligo’s domination upfront it was the home side who carried this narrow lead into half-time.

Whatever Sligo coach Joe Walsh said to his players at half-time made an immediate impact as Sligo began the second half looking far more determined to take advantage of their possessional advantage and with a strong wind at their backs were immediately on the front foot as Sligo struck with ten minutes of high octane pressure rugby. Straight from the kick-off Sligo retained possession and from the ruck, Boys Club were penalised for an infringement, and Sligo were awarded a penalty. With the aid of the breeze, Gerrity decided to have a go from 40m out, and his well struck effort had the legs but went narrowly wide. However he was soon to have a chance to make amends as straight from the drop-out some good drives from the Sligo front-row pushed OLBC back to their 22, and when the home side deliberately slowed Sligo ball down , the referee had no option but to give Sligo a penalty straight in front of the posts. Gerrity made no mistake this time and his kick bisected the posts to level the game at 3-3. The home side looked slightly stunned by Sligo’s physical start to the second half with Sligo upping the tempo and attacking at every opportunity with OLBC struggling to contain Sligo’s powerful strike runners. Seasoned out-half Gavin Foley released Feeney, and the centre made a good break before being dragged down 30m out, again OLBC infringed at the breakdown slowing the recycle down, and this time the referee handed out a harsher punishment sending out-half McDonagh to the sinbin. Gerrity provided further punishment as he kicked the penalty to give Sligo a 3-6 lead.

Looking to take advantage of their man advantage, Sligo were rampant. The forwards were superb, picking and driving at every opportunity with props Adrian McHale and Martin Feeney prominent. Behind the scrum Foley was providing a backline that looked out of sorts in the first half with the leadership it required and his tactical kicking pinned OLBC back in their own half. It was one of these kicks that led to Sligo’s next chance. A good kick and a great chase held Boys Club up on their own 22m line and from the resulting scrum, Sligo produced a huge push which could only be stopped by collapsing and the referee awarded Sligo another penalty. Again Gerrity made no mistake from 20m out to extend Sligo’s lead to 3-9 with ten minutes of the half gone. Boys Club looked rattled by Sligo’s nine-point salvo but amazingly straight from kick-off they had their best chance of the game. Gathering the kick-off, Wilders looked to kick clear but his kick was charged down by a Boys Club forward and the ball ran into the try-zone. Luckily for Sligo the alert Gerrity won the race and touched down to prevent a try. From the drop-out the home side again infringed at the breakdown, and Gerrity decided to have what looked like a very optimistic attempt at goal from inside his own half. He struck his effort well but it came up well short. Sligo continued to pressure, and when winger Nick Reynolds made a good break down the left Sligo looked dangerous. Poor handling forced a turnover though, and it was OLBC who looked to break down the blind. Reynolds was on hand to stop the attack, but he was penalised for handling on the ground, and left the referee with no choice but to send him to the sinbin. With Sligo down to fourteen, OLBC looked to respond but whenever they gained a foothold in Sligo territory a mistake or turnover allowed Foley to kick Sligo downfield.

With only six points between the teams Sligo looked to try and create the score that would kill off a gallant Boys club. A Foley up and under was superbly chased by Wilders, and his great tackle and aggressive rucking forced the home side into the concession of another penalty 30m out. However Gerrity, who has been superb, pushed his kick wide to keep the game alive. He had another chance with five minutes to go when his massive attempt from 45m out was expertly struck, but amazingly it hit the post before bouncing onto the bar and somehow not going over. Boys Club responded fastest to the loose ball and their number eight James Moran charged through the stunned Sligo defence, before releasing his backs wide. They looked to have an overlap but Gerrity covered across to make a huge tackle and force his opposite number into touch. That looked to have done enough to secure victory but the referee decided the tackle was high, and awarded a penalty to the home side and sent Gerrity to the bin to set up a tense finale. Boys Club needing a try to secure a victory had to kick to touch, but again a mistake at a vital moment proved their undoing when they were penalised for a crooked throw in from the line out. This was their last chance and Sligo professionally played out the closing seconds, never looking like making a mistake. The referee’s whistle for full-time was greeted with cheers by Sligo’s players and supporters alike, and while it wasn’t pretty it was another crucial victory.

Upfront Sligo were rampant, the front row of Mannion, Feeney, and McHale worked tirelessly, putting their bodies on the line time after time in search of the hard yards. Wilson and Mullan dominated the lineout, while the back row of Fifita, Sweeney and the superb Culhane were everywhere. In the second half when Sligo really needed a steady performance, Foley was excellent, his kicking pinning the home side back and providing a platform from which Sligo could build. Gerrity was composed at full-back and his positional awareness and place kicking was good. Sligo’s defence was water-tight and it is a testament to the defensive work of Joe Walsh and his players that they have only conceded a miserly three points in their last three games. Sligo’s critics will point to the fact that they haven’t scored a try for over 160 minutes of rugby, but this will be of little concern to the Sligo management and players who continue to grind out results. At this stage it looks like Sligo will have their fate in their own hands and with home games to come against their only realistic challengers, they have every chance of taking a league title home to Strandhill.

Sligo: D Gerrity, N Reynold, B Hynes, A Taurerewa, A Feeney, G Foley, W Wilders, M Fifita, C Culhane, J Sweeney, P Mullan, J Wilson, A McHale, R Mannion, M Feeney.

Subs: B Leahy, G Conneely, K Williams.