Firsts 31 – Corinthians 13

Galwegians got their AIL campaign back on track with a comprehensive victory over Corinthians in the first ever AIL match held by the club under lights last Friday night.

The weather was cold and apart from a short, sharp shower at the start of the match, dry on a night that Galwegians needed to perform to atone for some recent unpalatable defeats.

And perform they did. A pragmatic approach was taken by the sky blues in taking points as they presented themselves. The first of these opportunity taken on their first foray into the oppostition’s half when outhalf Tadhg Leader cooly slotted a drop goal. 6 mins – Galwegians 3 Corinthians 0.

From the kick-off Wegians drove back up the field, were awarded a penalty which was converted by Leader to extend the lead to 6 points, the perfect start for the home side. 7 mins – Galwegians 6 Corinthians 3.

The visitors dominated the next quarter of play as they severely tested the Wegians defense by running everything. The home side kept their try line secure and only gave up a converted penalty from the Corinthian outhalf Mick O’Flynn. 22 mins – Galwegians 6 Corinthians 3.

Having survived the visitors purple patch, Wegians went back on the offense put 6 points back between the teams with Leaders second successful penalty. 28 mins – Galwegians 9 Corinthians 3.

Wegians continued to dominate both territory and possesion as the game edged towards half time and Leader made it 3 from 3 to give Wegians the cushion of a two score lead. 37 mins – Galwegians 12 Corinthians 3.

Right on half time the pressure from the Wegians pack, who were dominating scrum-time, got to the Corinthians scrumhalf Bruce who was sinbinned. Leader banged over the long range penalty opportunity to extend the lead to 12 points. Half-time – Galwegians 15 Corinthians 3.

Corinthians upped the intensity at the start of the second half as they looked to get back within striking distance of the lead. However they were undone by a magnificant steal in a maul by Wegians second row Brian McClearn in his own 22. He fed the ever alert centre John Cleary put Wegians within 5 metres of the Corinthian goal line. From the lineout and subsequent ruck Leader opted to go down the blindside, he sold a superb dummy and crashed over in the corner. He hammered over the conversion to add the 2 point bonus the try deserved. 47 mins – Galwegians 22 Corinthians 3.

Corinthians edged themsevles back into the game with an excellent try of their own after a break from O’Flynn prised open the Wegians defense before the ball was moved wide for fullback Darren Classens score in the corner. 58 mins – Galwegians 22 Corinthians 8.

The game tightened up somewhat at this point with neither side threathening the opposites 22. However Wegians had the power of Tadhg’s younger brother Darragh’s boot to keep the score board ticking over from long range. 67 mins – Galwegians 25 Corinhtians 8.

The Wegians scrum was totally dominating their opposite numbers and forced another chance from distance for the younger Leader brother, this time from the halfway line, and he duly converted. 70 mins Galwegians 28 Corinthians 8.

Wegians were closing out the game by playing intelligent territorial focused rugby and the pressure they were applying gave Darragh the chance to show that nobody can afford to give penalties opportunities to him anywhere inside their own half as he boomed his third successful kick over. 76 mins – Galwegians 31 Corinthians 8.

A late blot on Wegians copy book was the sinbinning of Cleary. Corinthians made use of the extra man to get a late consolation try from Aoeghus O’Connell with the last play of the game. Fulltime – Galwegians 31 Corinthians 13