Match Result
- Result: Galwegians Women 17 - Suttonians 12
- Venue: Crowley Park on Sat Oct 23rd 2021
- Competition: AIL Womens League
Match Report
Wegians defended the clubhouse end in the first-half . Visitors looked threatening but the Blue Belles were defending well and took the lead just before the end of the first quarter through a great individual score by centre Orla Dixon, converted by out-half Emma Keane for a 7-0 lead.Suttonians had wind advantage in the opening period and played a lot of territory in Wegians 22 but excellent D held them out. Blues struck a decisive blow on 32 minutes with a great breakaway try. Good work by full-back Mairead Coyne was continued by winger Megan Walsh who cleverly hacked the ball infield and won the race to score her side's second try. This gave Wegians a comfortable looking 12-0 half-time lead.
Conditions worsened considerably in the second-half as heavy rain swept in from the Atlantic, but credit the visitors who battled against the elements. They got back into it with a try on 50 mins through sub Mary Healy, converted by Jessica Kelleher. This set up a nervy final quarter. More demon tackling and hard graft by Wegians kept the visitors out, until the game was made safe with 10 minutes remaining.
A clever garryowen was fumbled by the visitors on their 22, and the Blues hacked on again with sub Maria Gorham winning the race this time for the all-important third try.
Suttonians threw everything at Wegians in the end, and they were rewarded when Healy grabbed a second try deep in stoppage time to earn her side a losing bonus point.
So a deserved and hard-earned win for Wegians who battled against both a strong side and the elements to win their first points of the season.
