Creggs Rugby 38, Carrick-on-Shannon RFC 31.

Creggs ground out a hard fought victory against a strong Carrick RFC side on last Sunday morning.

The game started off with Greg Thomas receiving the Carrick kick-off and making a break, beating several Carrick defenders before being hauled down a few metres short of the line. After some fine rucking by Ruairi O’ Brien and Sean McCormack, Paddy Downey touched down in the corner for the opening try of the match. Downey however was off target with a difficult conversion.

Creggs forwards defended well with Frankie Quinn, OisinGately and Aodan Kelly hitting crucial tackles and Joe Farrell and Luke Butt creating good ball for the Creggs backs. After further pressure, Creggs were awarded a penalty on the opposing 22 and Mark Dowd took a quick tap and slid over for Creggs’ second try of the game. Downey converted with ease leaving Creggs 12-0 up.

However, Carrick refused to throw in the towel, with their forwards rucking well and their centres tackling ruthlessly and eventually their hard work paid off. After quick passing out their back line they touched down in the corner. The conversion however, was just wide of the posts leaving a margin of 9 points in Creggs’ favour.

Creggs were undeterred and conceding the try only spurred them on to get another one of their own. Sean O’Roarke and Darren Gately worked well together dealing with clearance kicks from the Carrick half-back pair while Robert Colleran was gaining ground with the ball in hand. Eventually Creggs’ hard work paid off and the No.8 Shane Connaughton was on the end of some excellent passing from centres Eoin Ward and Greg Thomas and Connaughton touched down under the posts for Creggs third of the game. Again, Downey split the posts with the conversion.

Good play continued from both sides with Luke Gregory, Mark Kilcommins, Anthony Gorman and James Connelly carrying the ball with great urgency. Carrick however, turned possession over after some good rucking by their forwards and after some quick hands out the backs the man on the wing danced over the Creggs try line leaving the score 19-10 to Creggs at the break.

The two teams exchanged tries at the beginning of the second half with Shane Connaughton touching down for his second of the match after great rucking from James Murray and his forwards. Dowd converted with ease.

However, Carrick didn’t wait around to respond and scored within a few minutes of the last try.

Then brave rucking from Dara Hughes and Eoin Harrington presented clean ball to the Creggs back line. Creggs set-up camp in Carrick’s back third for a period with phase after phase of excellent rucking and cleaning out. Dowd then dashed through a gap in the Carrick defensive line and scored in the corner for his second of the match. Dowd was off target for the convert.

The action continued though with Carrick scoring after some excellent back play.

Creggs replied with Stephen Ruane and Jack Mc Donagh making crucial ground. They were parked on the Carrick 22 until they were awarded a well-earned scrum. Connaughton picked and went to the right, breaking through a helpless Carrick defence to touch down, resulting in a hat-trick of tries to his name.