Sligo RFC 19 Creggs RFC 28
Creggs RFC went top of Division 1 of the U18.5 League after coming out on top in the top of the table clash in Sligo last Sunday afternoon. Both teams went into the game with 12 points from their 4 games and it was Creggs who came out on top after a very exciting contest.
Creggs were outstanding in the first half and got on the scoreboard as early as the 4th minute when Shane Purcell found a gap in the Sligo defence and had the strength to get over the line in the corner to give Creggs a 5 -0 Lead. Creggs continued to attach and up front Rian Biesty, Brian Maloney and Adam Finnerty were very impressive with ball in hand early on and out wide Domhnall Forrest and Dara Byrne were getting over the gainline all the time giving Eoghan Coyle good ball to use from the base of the rucks. Creggs Next two scores came from penalties from Purcell after Sligo were caught offside on both occasions stretching Creggs lead to 11-0 after 12 minutes.
Creggs continued to attack and Forrest and Mairtin Quinn were both unlucky not to score before Creggs next score came after 22 minutes when Shane Purcell gathered his own chip ahead to dive over the line which he converted to stretch Creggs lead to 18-0. Creggs were not finished there and they scored again just before the break with the score of the half when great work from David O Gorman, Matthew Curley and Biesty created great ball for the backs and the ball went through all the hands of the backs and Forrest offloaded to Purcell who scored again and converted for a 25-0 half time lead.
After an exceptional first Half by Creggs, Sligo made changes at half time and used their bench to great effect, and decided to keep the ball tight using their bigger pack in the second half to punch holes in the Creggs defence and they profited from this after only 5 minutes going over for a try which they converted reducing the deficit to 25-7. Creggs lost Coyle to injury early on and their resources were stretched as the bench available on the day was very small. Sligo continued to use their big forwards and scored again after 10 minutes of the second half bringing the score to 25-12. Creggs steadied the ship then and attached from a lineout and Brian Maloney took the ball a full 30 metres before being brought down, Mairtin Quinn picked at the base of the ruck and Sligo were penalised and Purcell stood up and scored to stretch the lead back out to 28-12. Creggs were comfortable then until the last play when Sligo went in for another score which they converted to leave the final score 28-19.
Creggs next game is at home to Connemara RFC in 2 weeks which they will need to win to guarantee a top 2 finish for a home semi final.