Firsts 24 – Buccaneers 3

Galwegians secured a surprising but deserved bonus point away win to Buccs in Dubarry Park, with the scoreboard finishing 24-3 in favour or the Blues. Both sides were fielding experimental pre season teams in this Connacht Senior league clash. Buccs settled quickly and spent the first 20 minutes in the Wegians half but they had only one penalty to show for their sustained period of pressure.

Encouraged by a controlled defensive performance, Galwegians grew in confidence and when they eventually got into Buccs half they put together a fine flowing move, with both back and forwards handling before Jerome Harrimate went over for a try. A second try by Ja Naughton before half time, following an excellent maul left the Blues in control at the break.

Coaches Cory Brown and John Muldoon, used the match to rotate their squad. However, injuries to the unlucky Paddy Finn and Anthony Ryan limited their opportunities to experiment. Galwegians continued to look dangerous with ball in hand during the second half. Two more tries followed, when Marty Connolly surprised the Buccs defense to sneak in from a ruck on the Buccs line, which he converted himself. The last try was again well worked by the forwards, with Ross Fitzgerald touching down and Connolly converting.

Buccs threw caution to the wind for the last ten minutes and ran ever ball but excellent defensive work by Galwegians meant that the blue line remained intact. Although the quality of the match was a long way from AIL standard, there were a number of encouraging features from a Galwegian perspective. The forwards performed well as a unit, protecting the ball and running good lines, the centre partnership of Harrimate and Moore is developing nicely and the general attitude to defense suggests a strong character within the teams.

The Connacht Senior League will be decided next Saturday night when Galwegians take on city rivals Corinthians in Crowley Park at 7:00 under lights. This will be a step up for both sides and an excellent warm up for the AIL, which starts on the 25th September.