Creggs RFC 45 – Ballinasloe RFC 38
On Sunday Creggs kicked off and dominated play for the first 30 minutes. Ronan Dowd took 3 points from a penalty on the 22. Creggs attacked again from the kick off Xavier Tavai got 5 converted by Ronan Dowd 10 -0. Creggs pack made ground from the kick off with Mikey Dunne touch down at the corner flag. Mark Purcell converted for 17 -0. Tavai again forced his way over converted by Ronan Dowd bringing the score to 24 – nil. On 38 minutes the Ballinasloe no.8 ran in from 20 meters out to score at the posts. Converted for seven points to start their scoring. From the kick off Creggs won possession and again carries within the pack with Brandon and Diffley pushing hard led to a number of phases where quick hands by Mark Dowd released Ronan Dowd for a line break getting his own try and con to go back ahead by 24 points. 
With only minutes to half time Creggs did not clear the ball and Ballinasloe got into the 22 again and finished up taking another 7 pts after a pen under the posts leaving the half time 31-14. Ballinasloe kicked off the second half with the wind behind got over for 7 points within 4 mins. This was a quick wake up call for Creggs releasing mark Purcell passing quickly to his full back Shane Dowd who sprinted from his own 10 beating 4 tackles to score under the posts, converted by Ronan for 38-21. Creggs doubled up where Dean O’Reilly kicked to the try line. Ballinasloe failed to make touch and the two Dowd brother did exactly the same move scoring another 7 points leading 45 – 21. A missed kick to touch left Ballinasloe race back and win a penalty 15 out and they again scored 5 points from this. On 65 minutes Ballinasloe again won a penalty 5 out and drove home their scrum to score another 5 with the score now 45-31. The next 10 minutes saw Creggs carry ball with Brandon, Mark Purcell and Shane Dowd making good carries but again Ballinasloe got possession and took another 7 pointer on 78 minutes. Creggs were happy to finish off the game and kicked for touch, once time was up. Creggs go into a semi-final next weekend away against Ballina RFC.
With only minutes to half time Creggs did not clear the ball and Ballinasloe got into the 22 again and finished up taking another 7 pts after a pen under the posts leaving the half time 31-14. Ballinasloe kicked off the second half with the wind behind got over for 7 points within 4 mins. This was a quick wake up call for Creggs releasing mark Purcell passing quickly to his full back Shane Dowd who sprinted from his own 10 beating 4 tackles to score under the posts, converted by Ronan for 38-21. Creggs doubled up where Dean O’Reilly kicked to the try line. Ballinasloe failed to make touch and the two Dowd brother did exactly the same move scoring another 7 points leading 45 – 21. A missed kick to touch left Ballinasloe race back and win a penalty 15 out and they again scored 5 points from this. On 65 minutes Ballinasloe again won a penalty 5 out and drove home their scrum to score another 5 with the score now 45-31. The next 10 minutes saw Creggs carry ball with Brandon, Mark Purcell and Shane Dowd making good carries but again Ballinasloe got possession and took another 7 pointer on 78 minutes. Creggs were happy to finish off the game and kicked for touch, once time was up. Creggs go into a semi-final next weekend away against Ballina RFC.Photos from Steve Fahey @foxshots77 Foxshots77
J1A League win over Ballinasloe