Mens First Team League Playoffs

Creggs RFC 25 – Tuam RFC 8

Creggs first team took on Tuam at home on Sunday afternoon in the super 4 league play-offs. The league this year involves the top 4 teams playing each other with the top team on points being the winner. Creggs, Tuam, Castlebar and Connemara are the four teams. 

Creggs started playing into the wind, receiving the kick off. From the outset it was clear to see they were switched on with Shane Dowd sprinting his way into the Tuam 22. Tuam cleared but Dowd regathered making his way 30 meters again. From the resulting scrum Creggs back line passed quickly where Mikey Dunne scored 5 points in the right corner. Minutes later Mark Purcell was unlucky with a penalty directly into the strong wind. From the drop out Shane Purcell took control and sprinted home untouched from the half way line to lead by 10. Tuam playing with the wind eventually got into the Creggs 22 scoring in the left corner and followed this shortly afterwards with a penalty from 46 meters out making it a two point game. After 32 minutes Creggs won a lineout on their 22, took a maul forward and then released the ball where the sharp handling backs let Dunne in for their third try on the right corner finish the first half 15-8 ahead.

The 2nd half kick off for Creggs went deep with the wind and received a penalty converted by Shane Purcell going 18-8 ahead. Tuam struggled to gain ground and did not want to kick to the very quick Creggs back-line. It took 60 minutes for Creggs to score again when Mark Purcell made 40 meter break, passed timely to Mark Dowd who had his cousin Shane on his shoulder to score the 4th try, converted by Shane Purcell. Tuam pushed hard for the last 15 minutes but Creggs subs defended as a team and had bone crunching tackles holding Tuam scoreless in the second half. Creggs now face Castlebar RFC at home next weekend.

Team Photo compliments of Steve Fahey Foxshots77