Firsts 15 – Buccaneers 11

Galwegians continued their defense of their Connacht Senior League title with a sterling defensive display against Buccaneers on Saturday at a damp, breezy day in Crowley Park, has there been any other type of day in Crowley Park this year.

Wegians played with an anxiousness that badly impacted their ability to play the game in the first quarter allowing Buccs to settle and get their noses in front with a penalty from Jack Carty. 15 mins - Wegians 0 Buccs 3.

The Sky Blues eventually relaxed and started to enjoy themselves, and a jinking break from out half Tadgh Leader and a good line from full back Ronan Burke put Ronan Moore into space about 40 metres out. He brushed passed the first tackle, before standing up the last defender to score in the left hand corner. Leader superbly converted. 26 mins - Wegians 7 Buccs 3.

The home side had their dander up at this point and further pressure resulted in a penalty for Leader to stretch the lead to 7. 31 mins - Wegians 10 Buccs 3.

The midlanders immediately got back into the match when a loose clearance kick gave them the chance to counter attack and after a couple of good offloads led to Buccs No.8 finishing off the move. 32 mins - Wegians 10 Buccs 8.

Wegians were not detered by the set back and upped the tempo. A couple of good recycles made room on the open side of the field where an intricate interchange of passes between hooker Conor Muldoon and prop Jason East set the hooker rumbling over to score. 38 mins - Wegians 15 Buccs 8.

The visitors made use of the breeze at their backs in the second half to keep the Blues pinned deep in their own half and the pressure applied eventually led to another penalty conversion from Carty to pull Buccs to within a score. 46 mins - Wegians 15 Buccs 11.

Buccaneers turned the screw and forced Wegians into some heroic defending. Unfortunately the heroics bordered on the illegal a little too often for the referees liking and the returning flanker Ivan Muldoon got an unscheduled 10 minutes in the bin.

Wegians dug deep and prevented a score while down a man. Just as they looked to have lifted the siege, second row Brian McClearn was harshly adjudged to have illegally shoulder charged Carty, who was chasing his own chip.

The new defense coach will be pleased with the discipline and execution of the defense which held firm for the 2nd time in the match when a man short.

The home side nearly finished the game with a flourish after a clever lineout move allowed them to sweep down field but unfortunately the referee didn't see Wegian's man of the match, flanker Mark Duncan, ground the ball. Wegians kicked to touch from the ensuing scrum to secure a hard earned 4 point victory. Full time - Wegians 15 Buccs 11.