Firsts 17 – Nenagh Ormond 52

It was another frustrating defeat for Galwegians whose season in Division 2A is suddenly coming very unstuck. Wegians were a match for their opponents for much of this game against high-riding Nenagh, coached by former Blues stalwarts, the brothers Muldoon Ivan and Conor. However a succession of errors at both ends of the pitch were the prove costly as their hosts were clinical in taking advantage to seal a commanding victory.

Wegians took an early lead courtesy of a well-taken drop-goal from out-half Morgan Codyre. However their good start was undone by the tenth minute, when they lost a lineout in their own 22, resulting in a try out wide for Nenagh’s right-wing David Gleeson, which was converted by Clayton Stewart. The Blues soon got back into their groove, and should have regained the lead when pummelling their hosts try-line, only for a knock-on at the death to cost them. Codyre then missed a long-range penalty at the start of the second quarter, and his counterpart Stewart made no such mistake minutes later to put his side 10-3 in front.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern. Wegians were dominating much of the territory but once again a failure to capitalise was to cost them. Their hosts absorbed the pressure and in the final five minutes before half-time the game was effectively won and lost. Another lineout steal set up try number two with Willie Coffey crossing this time, again converted by Stewart. And when the Blues were penalised in their last attacking foray of the half, a long kick to touch set up another Nenagh attack. Then following a strong attacking scrum 5, referee John Carvill awarded a penalty try on the stroke of half-time, putting the hosts 24-3 clear.

Credit to the Blues who didn’t give up and they came out of the traps after the restart. Within five minutes they gave themselves a lifeline, when lock Marty Cummins finished off a patient attack by diving over from close range, which Codyre converted to reduce the gap to 24-10. This galvanised the Blues who had a pep in their step, however hope was soon extinguished when another unforced error saw them concede a penalty near halfway. A good kick to the corner set up another Nenagh attack, and a clinical lineout maul saw them marching towards the line, before being pulled down by the Wegians defence, leading to a second penalty try.

With the game effectively over, both sides did their best to play attacking rugby for the remainder of the game. Nenagh’s Coffey bagged his brace of tries when he scored an excellent fifth try on the hour with a barnstorming break down the left-wing, before Wegians Jason East claimed a consolation score for the Blues, barging over from close range for a deserved second try. However it was Nenagh who finished with a flourish when they bagged two further tries late on from Jamie McGarry and Kevin Seymour to put some gloss on the scoreline.

It was another chastening experience for Wegians’ coach Brian McClearn and his team whose error count is proving costly with each passing game. Next up for the Blues is a home tie against a high-riding Highfield who come to Crowley Park this Saturday Dec. 2^nd (kick-off 2pm).