Firsts 7 – Sligo 33

Galwegians finished up their Connacht Senior League campaign when they were decisively beaten by an excellent Sligo team who sealed their first-ever Connacht Senior League crown in the process.

Short of a few regulars, coach Andrew Browne put out another experimental side who faced a serious test from a full-strength visiting team. Their powerful pack laid he platform from early on, and they took the lead with a maul over the line on 13 minutes which was converted for a 7-0 lead. Wegians had a chance to get straight back into it when a penalty gave them a 5m lineout off the restart, but they were unable to finish when in the red zone.

Instead the visitors restored their territorial dominance, and Mata Fifita charged through in typical fashion for their second try midway through the half, which was converted by full-back Euan Brown. Wegians were unlucky to have prop Sean Ryan binned bear the end of the half, and Brown squeezed over the line following another close-in penalty to stretch his side’s lead to 19-0 at the half-time break.

With a strong second-half breeze, Sligo looked like they would soon put the game beyond doubt, but an excellent read by Wegians winger Sans Sibade saw his snaffle an intercept and run in from inside his own half, which Ewan Strang converted.

This gave the Blues some faint hope, but although they defended gallantly, the pressure eventually told and the bonus fourth try came before the hour mark from winger Philip Carter. This was again converted by Brown, and with the game safe and benches emptied, the visitors put icing on the cake with a late fifth try from Cal Goddard.

This sealed the win and saw the trophy presented by Ciaran Smyth of the Connacht Branch to the visiting captain.

These two sides meet again at Crowley Park on October 5th for Round 1 of the Energia AIL Division 2b, where Sligo will be clear favourites again on this evidence.