Creggs RFC 27 Ballina RFC 17
Creggs opened their U14 League campaign against Ballina at the Green on Sunday morning and came away with a hard fought win. Creggs played with the wind in the opening half and started the game at blistering pace and had Ballina defending their line from the kick off.
Creggs went ahead after 2 minutes when David O Gorman picked from the base of the scrum and powered his way over in the corner which was brilliantly converted by James Brandon. Creggs continued to dominate territory and stretched their lead after 11 minutes when Melvin Conteh received the ball 10 metres out and broke the tackle to score under the posts which was converted by Shane Purcell to leave the score 14-0.
After 15 Minutes Ballina reduced the deficit to 14-5 when the left winger Darragh O Muirthe touched down in the corner however it was Creggs who continued to dominate territory and the score was stretched to 22-5 at half time when Niall Cunniffe scored a try after 23 minutes and after 28 minutes Ronan Dowd converted a penalty after Ballina were penalised at the breakdown.
Upfront Brian Maloney, Padraig Gaffey, Aaron Glennon and Danny Arnold were doing well for Creggs in the first half while Callum Fahy , Niall Cunniffe and Eoghan Coyle were showing well in attack.
The second half was only 2 minutes old when Creggs stretched their lead to 27-5, Ronan Dowd received the ball from the base of a ruck and scored a very good individual try when he noticed space down the left wing kicked through and beat the defender to the touchdown.
9 mins into the second half Ballina reduced the deficit when a clearance kick by Craig McCormack bounced unkindly for the Creggs defenders for Jack Loftus to gather and run in under the posts. This was followed up by a second try by Jack Loftus after 24 minutes leaving the score 27-17 in Creggs favour.
Creggs had to defend their line for the last few minutes and Michael Conroy, Brandon Hanmore and Adam Finnerty were doing well in defence upfront while Shane Purcell and James Brandon did excellent work to turn ball over at the breakdown leaving the score 27-17 at the final whistle.
Creggs: Michael Conroy, Aaron Glennon, Melvin Conteh, Brian Maloney, Padraic Gaffey, Adam Finnerty, David O Gorman, Danny Arnold, Eoghan Coyle, Ronan Dowd, Shane Purcell, James Brandon, Niall Cunniffe, Dylan Joran, Callum Fahy, Brandon Hanmore, Michael Brandon, Niall Hynes, Ryan Mannion