Development side get first win of the season
SLIGO DEVELOPMENT TEAM 36 GALWEGIANS 12
Sligo Development Team earned their first win of the season last Saturday in Hamilton Park, when they took on Galwegians in the fourth round of the Connacht J1A league. Having already secured three losing points, Sligo were determined to move up the league table with a home win. The home side started strongly and opened the scoring after 10 minutes, with an Enda Gavin penalty in front of the posts. They continued their dominance in the Galwegians half and it was head coach Ross O’Boyle who led from the front, scoring the team’s first try from a well-worked maul.
The difficult conversion drifted wide, as the wind gusted across the pitch. Sligo continued to capitalise on their possession and only 6 minutes later, were rewarded with another try from a move which started within their own 22. Christian Nielsen showed great speed and to break through the Galwegians’ line. Nielsen, supported by Jack Gormley, continued his run up the pitch to score in the corner, much to the delight of the home crowd. Enda Gavin curled in the difficult conversion, to put 15points between the two sides. The Sligo defence remained solid and Galwegians were unable to break through at the half-time mark. Sligo retained possession from the restart and clocked up their third try 5minutes into the second half. A text-book line out, and a well-worked maul drove Michael McMorrow over the line and Gavin slotted home the extras.
It only took another 8 minutes before the home side earned the bonus point for scoring their fourth try. Philip Carter made a break up the wing and released the ball to Sean Wynne, who dotted down under the posts. This was followed five minutes later by a cheeky try from Liam McElhinney, who darted straight through the middle of a Galwegians’ ruck to touch down for the fifth time. Enda Gavin scored his fifth kick of the day to put Sligo 36points ahead of their visitors. The final 10 minutes of the game saw Galwegians gain a foothold, as Sligo made several changes in the team. The visitors scored twice in the dying minutes, but it was too little too late, as the home side ran out comprehensive victors, securing all 5points from the game and moving up to the middle of the table. Sligo Development Team travel to Castlebar on Sunday 28th October for game number five.
Sligo: Ross O’Boyle, Liam Mc Elhinney, Craig Adams, Christian Neilsen, David Cawley, Ciaran Cassidy, Sean Wynne, Jake Sexton, Eoin Mc Cormack, Garry O’Hehir, Jack Gormely, Enda Gavin, Sean Mullin, Connell, Philip Carter, Aaron Tansey, Patrick Saba, David Heath, Simon Coulter, Gary Golden.
Next Saturday will see the official opening of the newly-developed second grass pitch. This will take place at 12pm. Representatives from Connacht Rugby and the local authorities, as well as Sligo RFC dignitaries, will preside over the official opening. This will be followed by a pre-match lunch and the Sligo V Wanderers All Ireland League game at 2.30pm. All welcome.
Lights, Camera, Action
It was a case of “lights, camera, action” for the U16 and U18 girls last Sunday in Hamilton Park as they were the centre of attention A squad of twenty-five U13 players travelled to Galway last