RUGBY: Battling Sligo get bonus point with gutsy show
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B – Round Three Sligo Rugby Club 33 Wanderers 43
WHEN A TEAM concedes seven tries at home the alarm bells usually sound. But Sligo Rugby Club’s senior men’s team, although beaten 43-33 at Strandhill’s Hamilton Park last Saturday afternoon, have more positives that negatives following this defeat to Wanderers in an Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B game.
Sligo got five tries of their own, including a brace from Philip Carter and one each by Kuba Wojtkowicz, Daire Byrne and team captain Matthew Earley, and these scores ensured a try bonus point for the hosts. What’s more, had they squeezed the losing margin to seven points or less then a losing bonus point would have been theirs. It was 19-7 at half-time – Sligo’s first-half try came from Daire Byrne – and then Wanderers stepped it up to go 33-7 in front. Matthew Earley’s try gave the home fans something to cheer for, with Euan Brown adding the conversion. Wanderers added two more tries – in between these scores was a five-pointer from Philip Carter – and when Carter notched another try the bonus point in the bag.
Sligo’s fifth try came from Kuba Wojtkowicz and it was heartening that Sligo kept going, despite the scoreboard and the odds being against them.
Next up for Sligo is an away fixture on Saturday week, November 4, against Belfast’s Instonians, the current Division 2B leaders who have a 100% record after three rounds. Ominously for Sligo and everyone else in this division, Instonians already look unstoppable and they amassed 134 points from their first three wins. Sligo have had a tough schedule of late. Since August 19 they’ve played eight games, including four games in the province on their way to Connacht Senior League success, a Bateman Cup semi-final where they secured
STANDINGS
P 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
F 134 113 127 111 76 94 67 50 47 83 a moral victory against Terenure and then three games in Division 2B of the Energia All-Ireland League. They’ll welcome a weekend off in order to reset.
Sligo Rugby Club (senior men’s team v Wanderers): Philip Carter (2 tries), Darragh Feehily, Ethan Faitaua, Finn Bamber, Louis McVitty, Euan Brown (4 cons), Brendan Cunningham, Kuba Wojtkowicz (1 try), Matthew Earley (c) (1 try), Tom Gormley, Ben Donald, Archie MacLean, James O’Hehir, Gary Duffy, Daire Byrne (1 try)
Replacements: Ben Hynes, Martino Quiroga, Brian West, Andrew Ward, Conor Creaven
READY TO CATCH: Ben Donald prepares to win possession for Sligo in this lineout against Wanderers during last Saturday’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B fixture.