Match Result
- Result: Galwegians U21 14 - Buccaneers 7
- Venue: Dubarry Park on Sat Feb 4th 2012
- Competition: Connacht J1A League
Match Report
Wegians kept their hopes of a play-off spot alive in the South-West Conference with a dogged, hard fought victory at a sodden Dubarry Park on Sat.
Persistant rain for an hour before the match, which stopped just after kick-off, made an already heavy surface somewhat more tretcherous and killed the expansive ambition of both sides.
The home side came out with all guns blazing and it took some solid defending from Wegians to keep them at bay. Wegians eventually relieved the pressure through some solid scrummaging and worked their way into the Buccs half.
Buccs were also not for breaking but they were bent far enough to concede a penalty which was expertly converted by Darragh Leader. 0-3
The momentum of the match swung back towards the home side, who were keeping hold of the ball well into wind and eventually worked an overlap on the left which was finished expertly by centre Davie Henshaw. 7-3
Wegians forwards were getting well on top at this stage and forced another kickable penalty which Leader knocked over. 7-6
Both sides were struggling to keep their feet on the slippery surface and ball handing was a real challange as the half came to an end.
Wegians were a point behind and now playing into the breeze, so all thoughts of expansive rugby went out the window. Their scrum was totally dominant by now. The pick and go was the order of the day for the away side.
The Sky Blues were owning possession and dominating the territorial stats as the second half ticked away. Eventually the Buccs defense were forced into conceding another kickable penalty but it wasn't required as Leader nudged the Galway side into the lead with an expertly taken drop-goal. 7-9
Wegians started really turning the screw at scurmtime and Buccs could not keep the monstrous Wegian front row at bay. After a series of rumbles from the pack after another dominant scurm, prop Paul Griffen boshed his way through a solid home team defense to crash over. 7-14
The game now entered the final stages and Wegians tried to go into a holding pattern, but this just allowed the dangerous Buccs backs get into the match and made for a nervous last few minutes for the travelling support. However time ran out for Buccs, Wegians managed to clear their lines and hold on for an excellent win.
