Men’s U20s – Corinthians 21

Galwegians U20s scored a decisive and morale-boosting win against city rivals Corinthians when they won this derby under lights at a wet and windy Cloonacauneen on Saturday evening.

Playing with the advantage of the first-half breeze, Corinthians B scored first through a try from winger Patrick Charles, which was converted by out-half Jack Conway for a 7-0 lead. However Wegians would soon get on level terms, when scrum-half and captain Ben Donnelly scored off the back of a clever chip through from out-half Calum Elwood. Elwood duly converted and then slotted a difficult penalty to make it 7-10 to the visitors.

However the Blues were having to spend long periods of defence in their 22 as their hosts were making good use of the elements. The pressure eventually told and Corinthians scored two more unanswered tries before half time, with Charles completing a brace from a sweet cross-kick by Conway, who also tagged on the extras to make it 21-10 at the break.

With the wind now at their backs, Wegians went about their business and played the elements wisely. 10 minutes after the restart they scored their second try through hooker Evan Cunningham. Buoyed by this and with a pep in their step, the Blues kicked on and two forward tries in quick succession from front-rows Jaynel Almanzar Cordero and sub George Ukwuoma suddenly had them in front and firmly in the ascendancy. With the game entering the final quarter, the Blues had their hosts pinned inside their 22, and a delightful cross-kick from Elwood fed sub Ben O’Dwyer who scored a fifth try to put some daylight between the sides.

With a two-score game, Corinthians had to try and force things, which played into Wegians’ hands. In the final few minutes, Blues captain Donnelly put the issue beyond doubt. He bagged his second try by finishing well on the wing, before completing a hat-trick with an interception near the end. Elwood completed a personal haul of nine points with the boot to make the final scoreline an emphatic 44-21 win for the Glenina outfit.

This puts them into second place in the Premier 2 Super Six Group 2 League a point behind Wanderers who they face next at Crowley Park on 19^th January, while Corinthians B will seek to get back to winning ways away to bottom side Greystones.