Castlebar RFC 18, Creggs Rugby 12,
Following the recent weather disruption, Creggs Under-16’s travelled for their first game of the New Year to play a very strong Castlebar team last Sunday in the Under-16 League.
Castlebar fielded a very strong and powerful front 8 and the Creggs forwards were certainly facing a battle prior to kick off but they stood up very well to the test and were very unlucky not to come away with victory.
Creggs were minus a few regulars and the new recruits in Amuray Duarte, Kyle Walsh and Sam Connolly put in very good performances for their first day out with the club.
Castlebar got an early boost when they took an early lead through a drop goal after 5 minutes but Creggs responded well and after a prolonged period of attack a long kick downfield by Castlebar was gathered by Kyle Walsh who beat a few defenders by running back infield and passed to Juan de la Campa who raced in to score a try which Tim Lambe converted.
The lead was short lived however as Castlebar gathered their kick off and got their big forwards picking and driving which the smaller creggs pack were finding hard to stop and they powered over the line on the stroke of halftime to take an 8-7 lead.
Creggs had the better of territory in the second half and Michael Kelly, Killian Higgins, Matthew Curley were making good hard yards up front and out wide Cathal Crehan and Dylan Horan were moving the ball at every opportunity and one a couple of occasions they were only one pass away from beating the defence but it was Castlebar who extended their lead when they gathered the ball in their own 22″ and again got their big forwards carrying and after about 10 phases found themselves in the Creggs 22″ and once again powered over to extend their lead to 18-7.
To their credit reggs never gave up and continued to attack and again were unlucky on a couple of occasions before eventually Mairtin Quinn beat the defence to score a try after good work from Albert Looby, Sam Connolly and Amuray Duarte to leave the final score 18-12.
Creggs Rugby Under-15: Anthony Stewart, Killian Higgins, Mathew Curley, Sam Connolly, Michael kelly, Albert looby, Mairtin quinn, Amuray Duarte, Tim Lambe, Hubert Cadiou, Dylan Horan, Juan De La Campa, Cian Dolan, Kyle Walsh, Cathal Crehan, Conor Downey.