Match Result
- Result: Galwegians Firsts 15 - Corinthians 8
- Venue: Crowley Park on Sat Sep 10th 2011
- Competition: AIL Division 1A
Match Report
Galwegians made it three wins from three by overcoming city rivals Corinthians in their Connacht Senior League meeting at Glenina on Saturday afternoon.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze blowing into the clubhouse end, the visitors took the lead courtesy of an early penalty from Wayne Williams. But the Blues began to assert themselves with their strong pack dominating the exchanges, and they took the lead for the first time with a try from stalwart prop and new Connacht squad member Jamie Stephens in the first quarter.
It got better for the home side in the second quarter when some good phases of play in deep territory led to a penalty under the posts. And when they opted for a scrum, the powerful home pack shunted the visitors backwards, giving no. 8 Eoin McKeon the simple task of touching down over the line for a second try. Winger John Cleary converted to stretch the lead to 12-3, and although the visitors rallied towards the end of the half, the Wegians defence held firm to maintain their nine point advantage at half-time.
Now playing with the elements in their favour, the Blues soon stretched their lead with a Dave Clarke penalty in front of the posts just after the restart, and they looked set pull clear of the visitors at this stage. Indeed they could have stretched their lead further when sub hooker Conor Muldoon appeared to ground the ball in the left-corner but referee Dave Connolly was unsighted and could not award the score.
Instead it was the visitors who rallied and they played much the better rugby in the second-half when playing into the elements. And they got their reward with a try after the hour mark when Finn Gormley finished off a well-worked backline move in the left-corner to reduce arrears to 15-8.
However it proved to be a consolation only as Wegians did just about enough to close out the game in opposition territory and secure the points.
On the Sunday the Wegians seconds completed a double over Corinthians with a narrow and hard-fought 13-12 win in the Connacht Junior League.
