Connacht J1 League

Tuam RFC 19, Creggs Rugby 34,

Creggs First team came away from Tuam with an unexpected bonus point victory to stay a point behind Connacht League leaders Connemara ahead of next Saturday’s top of the table clash in Creggs.

Creggs were missing a number of regulars against Tuam, but this was scarcely a factor as the team ran in four tries to lead by 31-12 midway through the second half.

Tuam dominated the early exchanges and won a penalty which full back Matthew Murphy kicked with ease. Creggs responded with some determined bursts upfield, with highly impressive debutant winger Martin Quinn almost squeezing in the right corner, before Kevin Gavin crashed over for a fine try on the other side of the pitch. Shane Purcell converted.

However, Tuam hit back with typical determination and due to some indiscipline by Creggs, this yielded three successful penalties by ace kicker Murphy to one for Purcell. Tuam lead 12-10 at half-time.

Creggs lost industrious scrum-half Brian Cleary to injury after 15 minutes but Mark Brandon proved to be a capable replacement, combining well with out-half Shane Purcell.

Back-row Ronan Cahill also had to go off injured with Danny Arnold faring well on his introduction to the fray. Tuam had considerable momentum heading into the second half but this quickly dissipated as first Tom Fleming crossed for a fine try, which Purcell converted.

Then Purcell himself outpaced the cover for a third Creggs try. Tuam’s cause wasn’t helped by a sin-binning which proved costly with two tries conceded during this period.

Maurice Buckley added a fourth try following a rolling maul from a line-out to which Tuam had no answer, with Shane Purcell’s conversion putting Creggs almost out of sight at 31-12.

In the last quarter, the remaining Creggs replacements Matthew Curley, Conor Rohan, and Ryan Horan joined the frey.

Tuam kept battling to the end and they finally broke through for a well-worked try with eight minutes remaining, but Creggs held out for a great win.

Creggs Rugby: Eoghan Coyle, Martin Quinn, Elliot Jennings, Tom Callaghan, Kevin Gavin, Shane Purcell, Brian Cleary, Aidan Leech, Maurice Buckley, Tom Fleming, lan Whittington, Brian Donohoe, Kevin Brandon, Ronan Cahill, Brian Diffley, Danny Arnold, Matthew Curley, Conor Rohan, Mark Brandon, Ryan Horan.