Disappointment in Dungannon
NEXTUP
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B – Round Two Dungannon 29 Sligo 10
TWO games in, it’s back to the drawing board for Sligo RFC’s first XV. Although buoyed by their opening round win on the Saturday before last at home to Wanderers, last Saturday’s 2910 away loss to Dungannon was a sobering experience.
Sligo held a seven-point interval lead at Stevenson Park, 10-3, but failed to score again and conceded four tries in the second period, with two of these five-pointers coming in the last 10 minutes.
Euan Brown’s 20th minute penalty brought Sligo level after
Cunningham then got involved, as did Euan Brown, and winger Stefano Giantorno went over to put Sligo
8-3 ahead. Brown’s subsequent conversion increased Sligo’s lead to seven points. This then began a tale of two halves – with Sligo unable to build on that firsthalf foundation.
The second-half was one of frustration, with lineout issues and not enough possession undermining Sligo’s cause.
Still, the visitors’ scrum was adequate and industry at the breakdown earned several penalties.
STANDINGS
ENERGIA AIL DIVISION 2B 2021-22 SEASON W L A 2 0 15 1 0 42 1 1 38 1 1 43 1 1 44 0 1 59 1 1 46 1 1 36 1 1 68
0 2 78
Greystones Blackrock Wanderers Harlequins Dungannon Ballina Sligo Corinthians Galwegians Malahide
Dungannon opened the scoring earlier in proceedings with a penalty of their own.
One of Sligo’s better moments yielded their only try. The score originated in a lineout, with a maul bringing Sligo close to the try line. Scrumhalf Brendan
BP Pts 2 10 1 7 1 5 0 5 1 5 1 4 0 4 0 4 0 4 1 2
MALAHIDE (HOME)
SLIGO have often relied on the setting of Hamilton Park for inspiration and they’ll do so again this Saturday as Dublin outfit Malahide come to Strandhill for a round three fixture that is significant for both teams (2.30pm start). Sligo, obviously, want to bounce back from their away loss to Dungannon, while Malahide are chasing their first victory after losses to Belfast Harlequins (28-24) and early pacesetters Greystones, who beat Malahide 50-7 on Saturday last.
Dungannon’s revival began with a try from a maul five minutes into the second-half and 10 minutes later they hit the front with their second try of the day.
The improved winners would add to more tries to their tally, leaving Sligo with a lot to work on this week ahead of this Saturday afternoon’s hosting of Malahide.
SLIGO’S SCORERS
15 POINTS: Euan Brown (3 pens, 3 cons); 5 POINTS: Stefano Giantorno (1 try), Guilherme Coghetto (1 try), Enda Gavin (1 try), Philip Carter (1 try)
Sligo RFC First XV (v Dungannon): Guilherme Coghetto, Stefano Giantorno (1 try), Enda Gavin, Josh Reeves, Philip Carter, Euan Brown (1 pen, 1 con), Brendan Cunningham, Eddie Coyle, Matthew Earley, Pedro Bengalo, Eoin Ryan, Rob Holian, Matthew O’Hara, James O’Hehir, Daire Byrne
Replacements: Craig Trimble, Jake Sexton, Michael Broaders, Finn Young, Calum Goddard