Match Result
- Result: Galwegians Seconds 26 - Ballina 18
- Venue: Crowley Park on Sun Jan 22nd 2012
- Competition: Connacht J1A League
Match Report
On a sharp, crisp, breezy Sunday afternoon in Crowley Park Galwegians 2nds and Ballina served up a cracking fixture with the home team running out the eventual winners by 8 points.
As is there wont these days, Wegians started at a hundred miles an hour running the ball from everywhere. The early blitz produced a barreling try from hooker Calum O'Connell after charging on to a deft offload from prop Ger Fahy. Darragh Leader duly converted. 7-0
Ballina took up the gauntlet and struct straight back with an excellent of their own when centre ? Made an excellent break to score, game on. 7-5
The game continued to be played at a frantic pace but both defences held up well whilst giving away kickable penalties. Wegians converted two in quick succession, one of which was outrageously on the touchline just inside the Ballina half, while Ballina scored one. 13-8
The game was full of fire and brimstone as both packs tore into each other while both backlines probed the strength of the opposing defense looking for an opening. Wegians continued applying pressure and forced another penalty which the trusty boot of the youngest Leader slotted. 16-8.
With the half coming to an end, Ballina's pack built up a head of steam and forced a penalty try when their rolling maul was dragged down just short of the line. 16-15.
Wegians were immediately in trouble at the start of the second half when their powerhouse second row Dave O'Hara was sin binned for foul play.
The sky blues survived the 10 minutes with a man short with admirable stoicism. With the full compliment back on the field the team upped the pace of the game again and they were rewarded with a superbly taken try by the livewire wing David Quill. 23 - 15.
Ballina fought their way back into the match and a penalty from winger O'Malley with 10 mins to go kept both sets of supporters on edge. 23 - 18.
However an infusion of fresh legs gave Wegians the impetus they needed to control the ball in the final few minutes and a final penalty from the reliable Leader denied the visitors even the comfort of a bonus point. 26 -18 final score.
