Pearson wants Sligo to be a force in 2B
THEY may be the new kids on the block, but Sligo Rugby Club head coach Paddy Pearson wants his side to make their time in Division 2B of the AIl-Ireland League count.
Following on from their double success last season, Sligo will face a number of not so familiar faces as they enter the fourth tier of the AIL for the first time.
Gone for now, are trips to Omagh, Bruff and Thomond while Sligo will this year prepare to visit Skerries, Belfast Harlequins and Sundays Well.
The Hamilton Park outfit get their league campaign underway late next month with a trip to the Irish Independent Park, formerly known as Musgrave Park to take on the latter.
Last April’s 37-0 win over Thomond on the final day of the 2017/18 2C campaign still lingers around the Strandhill venue.
But Paddy, who moved here from New Zealand in 2008, says it’s time to forget past victories and create more history.
“We will be pushing for top four”, he states. “Really, there’s no point in entering a league and not trying to go as far as you can.”
Pearson has added Australian Jason Havea to the ranks, while Thomas Gormley returns from his stint in Limerick with Old Crescent and Matt Davey also returns to the club.
Sligo are currently two games into their Connacht Senior League season which got underway with a defeat to Ballina before a much improved performance saw off Galweigans on Saturday afternoon last.
Reflecting on that loss to the Mayo men, Paddy says: “It was a bit of a poor showing from us against Ballina.
“There was a slightly different approach from us as I think we needed to take two steps back before we could take one forward.
“But saying that, we were off the pace. They wanted it more and ended up shading the game.
“Those games are about finding our shape, giving all the lads a run out and getting them to know each other.”
The league season doesn’t get underway until September 29th with that trip to Sundays Well before Sligo welcome Dungannon to Strandhill on October 6th.
But an ambitious Paddy already believes his side have what it takes to compete with the best 2B has to offer.
He says consistency will play a big part in Sligo’s journey.
“There’s no real reason why we can’t compete if we have a full strength team out in every game”, he notes.
“We have a tough run at the start and then we’ve a few games as home and we’re back on the road again after that.
“So the key here and in the senior leagues I think is momentum.
“We’ll certainly be looking to do well no matter who we play against.
“There are a few teams there that we’ve played before.
“Some haven’t really changed and a lot of the players in this league are extremely experienced as they would be hanging around for a while.
“There’s no weak teams, they’re all solid so we have to be at our best to get where we want to be.
“So it’s going to pay off to stay consistent.” Paddy has previous experience of coaching a Sligo team having lead the development team over the last few seasons.
“It’s not much different really”, he continues. “Finding players is a little tougher but I’d rather go through contacts in the game and people I know instead of agencies.
“When you go with people you know, it’s easier because you know what you’re getting, whereas with agencies it can get a little messy.”
Sligo’s provincial league journey continues this Saturday with a trip to Buccaneers. Kickoff 2.30pm.