Firsts 21 – City of Derry 13

Galwegians secured their first away league victory of the season on a cold December day in Derry on Sat when they outscored the home side by 3 tries to 2.

14 minutes into the game the prospects of that first away win looked pretty remote as the home side ran in 2 early tries and kicked a penalty. Wegians missed a match load of tackles in that initial period as Derry threw everything but the kitchen sink at them. 14 minutes City of Derry 13 Galwegians 0.

The sky blues didn’t panic. They began playing more direct rugby, made the tackles count and put real pressure on in the scrum. They built pressure on Derry and eventually got their rewards when Tadgh Leader slotted a penalty. 29 min – Derry 13 Galwegians 3.

The momemntum was all with the visitors now and they were now living in the Derry half of the field. A kickable penalty was turned down as half time approaced with the lineout option taken. A clean take was then mauled expertly over the line with Conor Muldoon claiming the plaudits. 38 mins – Derry 13 Wegians 8.

Wegians were full on confidence now with the backs making excellent headway from the solid go forward ball the pack were providing and right on the half-time whistle Leader narrowed the gap with his second successful penalty that saw the Derry player sent to the sin bin. Half-time City of Derry 13 Galwegians 11.

The home side upped the tempo at the start of the second half as they tried to repeat their blitzkrieg tactics of the start of the game. However the Wegians defense held firm. From a scrum in midfield a sweetly excuted blindside move set fullback John Cleary slashing through the defense and a perfectly timed pass put wing Colin Conroy over in the corner. 45 mins – Derry 13 Galwegians 16.

Wegians were dominant at this point but the yellow carding of Leader on 50 minutes for tacking a man without the ball as the Derry player chased a hack through looked like it might swing the game back in favour of the home side.

However an increased workrate and some intelligent use of the ball from Wegians kept them in control. In fact they increased their lead duing the sin bin period when a sublime pass from centre Dave Clarke set his centre partner screaming through a gap in the Derry defence and once again Conroy was set free to score in the corner. 58 mins – Derry 13 Galwegians 21.

The bonus point try for Wegians became unattainable when Ivan Muldoon was sin binned for an illegal clear out in ruck.

What had been an entertaining match petered out to its inevitable conclusion with Wegians denying Derry a losing bonus point.