Ballinrobe – 10

Creggs – 36

Creggs secured their first winning bonus point of the league campaign when an unanswered 36 points wiped out the home side’s early lead. Creggs haul included five tries, two in the first half from right wing Sean Quinn and three in the second from Barry Egan, Conor Brandon and Ray Cassidy. The remaining points came from the boot of out half Noel Flynn, four conversions and penalty. Creggs began well and an early attack should have yielded dividends but handling errors undid the good work and the strong Ballinrobe pack gradually wrestled control of the game, chalking up a ten point lead by half time from first a converted try and then a penalty. Creggs reduced the deficit when Quinn crossed to his opposite wing to finish off a series of rolling mauls with a try in the left corner. Quinn added his second shortly afterwards, interlinking with centre Bernard Kilcommons along the right touchline for the best score of the game. 12-10 ahead at half time Creggs who had played with the elements in the first half now faced the prospect of defending their narrow lead for the second. This was precisely the situation early in the second half with Creggs pinned on their goal line for the first 10 minutes, Ballinrobe however unable to build on their early score. The gods then smiled on Creggs with the wind abating to little more than a puff for the remainder of the game and firstly a Flynn penalty, followed by a converted Barry Egan try when the centre charged down a kick under the Ballinrobe posts ended the game as a contest. The only remaining question was answered when left winger Conor Brandon, making a welcome return from a long injury lay off, cut through diagonally in support to score under the posts and second row Ray Cassidy cantered home for his side’s fifth try to close out the match. Creggs were boosted by the return of Joe Heavey to the front five but on the downside scrum half Enda Gavin was carried off early in the second half with an ankle injury which may see him sidelined for a couple of weeks. This Sunday Creggs are away to Corrib who improved their league placing with a surprise win against Ballinasloe at the weekend, kick off in Headford 2.30 pm.