U16s 3 – Ballinasloe 8

We played our re-fixed League Final last Friday evening at 6 pm in Monivea. Perfect conditions for a cracking game. Galwegians and Ballinasloe have played a number of tight matches in the last couple of years but I think this one topped the lot.

Galwegians defended their line very effectively yielding only a penalty on c 18 minutes which Ballinasloe converted to leave the score 3:0 at half time.

We did not compete as well as we usually do in open play in the first half but towards the end of that half, we corrected that and were very unlucky not to score off an excellent maul mid-way through the half. It might be said that Ballinasloe should also have scored a try when they had their purple patch in that half also.

The second half saw a different Galwegians performance. We lorded the line-outs all day and put severe pressure on Ballinasloe in open play. We also dominated the scrum (which had not started so well for us). It is fair to say we won the physical battle but our failure to move the ball wide at times probably cost us in the long run.

Jack Beatty converted a fine long range penalty 23 mins into the second half and it looked like we would push on as we dominated this period of the game. With minutes to go and on the attack, Ballinalsoe interercepted a pass and scored a fine try to bring the score to 8:3.

While we were not done and did look like scoring again, it was not to be and Ballinasloe won a deserved victory in what was a fiercely competitive match. Well done to a fine team and one we relish playing.

We are fortunate enough to be in the Cup Final v either Corinthians or Monivea - either one a mouth watering prospect. We are back!