Impressive bonus-point away win over NUIG
Connacht Junior League
NUIG 15, Creggs Rugby 24.
Over the years the College grounds at Dangan in Galway hasn’t exactly been a happy hunting ground for Creggs but on Sunday two tries in the closing minutes secured a winning bonus point for the second week in succession.
Creggs began impressively, forcing the students on the defensive from the kick-off with NUIG losing two men to injury in the first five minutes. Nevertheless they defended stoutly, repelling everything Creggs could throw at them until James Brandon broke the deadline with a well taken try after ten minutes.
A couple of minutes later his back row colleague Alan Brandon was sinbinned and NUIG levelled the scoring with an unconverted try.
While still a man down, Creggs regained the lead through left winger Chris Duignan from a well executed kick and chase.
Two minutes before half time NUIG added a penalty and the half ended controversially with the referee disallowing what looked to be a perfectly good try, a fabulous solo effort from right wing Luke Meehan just before half time.
Creggs continued to press throughout the second half, but both possession and territory were more evenly matched, with former Creggs second row Tom Oates untouchable on his own line-out ball, Creggs however nullified the students height advantage with some judicious throwing, split between Brian Donoghue and James Brandon and the line-outs broke even as did the set scrums.
That applied also to the scoreline for half an hour into the second period with neither side able to puncture the opposing defence. On the half hour mark however, disaster struck for Creggs, with a number of backs having left the line to join a maul on the students try line, when the ball emerged Creggs were largely marked absent in the back division and an attempt to play the ball wide was intercepted by the NUIG full-back who sprinted unopposed the length of the field for a try between the posts. The conversion left Creggs five points behind as the game entered its closing stages.
Creggs re-grouped impressively and with five minutes left Mark Brandon crossed in the corner and added a magnificent touch-line conversion to restore his side’s lead 17-15.
Everything was still to play for but a fourth try from prop Aidan Leetch converted by Brandon left with the students looking at a losing bonus point, best case scenario. That however required a score of any kind and none was forthcoming as Creggs pulled up the drawbridge in the closing minutes, and left with an impressive bonus point win.
Creggs Rugby: Kevin Gavin, Luke Meehan, Elliot Jennings, Tom Callaghan, Chris Duignan, Mark Brandon, Andrew Callaghan, Mike Blighe, Sean Og Higgins, Aidan Leech, Tom Fleming, Brian Donoghue, James Brandon, Alan Brandon, Kevin Brandon, Eoghan Farrell, Ronan Cahill, Peter Lohan, Michael Farrell, and Michael Holland.
Senior Team Rugby Fixtures
This weekend Creggs Firsts take a well earned break from competitive rugby. Sitting joint-second with Castlebar in the League, on 16 points from five matches, behind Corinthians, who sit on top of the table with 23 points.
Last weekend Creggs Seconds had their home match v Connemara RFC due to an unplayable pitch. This weekend, while there is no scheduled Connacht League match, the team coaches are trying to organise a home friendly match.
Creggs Under-18.5’s will play a local derby against Buccaneers RFC in the Connacht Under-18.5 league on Bank Holiday Monday at 3pm.
Creggs Under-20’s will take third part in the Connacht Under-20’s 10-a-side series next Saturday in Corinthians RFC at 3pm. We are in second place in this series and hope to have good competitive team on Monday to progress further in this competition.
TRAINING for all senior teams continues on Tuesdays and Fridays in Roscommon and Wednesdays in Galway for players based there.
YOUTH RUGBY
Creggs Under-14’s away win puts them on top
Connacht Under-14 A League
Monivea RFC 5, Creggs RFC 24.
Creggs Under-14’s travelled to Monivea last Monday night for their Connacht Under-14 A League game and came away with a hard fought 24-5 win, to remain at the top of the table in the top division.
Unbeaten in their league so far this year the Creggs lads knew this fixture and the coming fixtures against Ballinasloe and Galwegians would be a step up and they overcame this first hurdle.with a four try to one victory.
It was Monivea who took an early lead when they broke away from well inside their half for their winder Cillian Wheelan to score and while Creggs had the much better of the territory through good carries from Lee Kilcoyne, Ciaran Purcell, Ben Johnson and Tomas Tiernan, the opposition had the better of them at the breakdown and time after time turned the ball over when a score looked likely. Creggs did eventually get over when a succession of penalties were awarded for infringements and Edimar Fimho dived over which Cormac Dolan converted for a 7-5 half time lead.
Creggs continued to have the better of the second half and eventually were getting the required quick ball to move their backline and got three well taken tries in the corners from Tadg Lyons, and 2 from Ryan Conlon and one well taken convert also from Conlon to take the spoils 24-5. Excellent for Creggs up front in the second half were Aindriu Oates, Aidan Hoare and Michael McAteer while Aodhan Looby and Jack Fleming released their wingers well and DJ Hession was a good link between forwards and backs..
Creggs Rugby: Senan Lambe, Tadg Lyons, Jack Fleming, Aodhan Looby, DJ Hession, Shane Walsh, Cormac Dolan, Ciaran Purcell, Aindriu Oates, Edimar Fimho, Lee Kilcoyne, Ben Johnson, Aidan Hoare, Michael McAteer, Tomas Tiernan, Patrick Keane, Cormac Feeley, Daniel Crehan, Daniel O’ Shaughnessy, Ryan Conlon, Eoghan Dillon, Daniel Flynn, Daniel Hughes, Oisin Poucher, Sean Curley, Sean Allen, Jack Donnellan, and Logan Gore.
Creggs YOUTH Team Fixtures
Creggs Under-13’s travel away to Claremorris RFC next Saturday.
Creggs Under-15’s travel away to Longford RFC for a friendly at 1pm next Sunday.
Creggs Under-17’s are Home to Corrib RFC next Sunday at 12pm in the Connacht Under-17 A League.
MINI RUGBY
Last week, training was called off due to bad weather and poor pitch conditions in Donamon.
Creggs MINI Rugby Fixtures:
Claremorris RFC will visit Creggs for a MINI Blitz next Saturday in Creggs @ 10.30am.
Creggs Under-10 boys and Under-12 girls will go a Aviva Blitz in Corinthians RFC Galway, players to be there at 10am.