Sligo Rugby look to the play-offs

SLIGO RUGBY 17

RAINEY RFC 13

SLIGO Rugby finished out the regular Energia All-Ireland League season with an efficient win over Rainey RFC at wind swept Hamilton Park in round 18 of Division 2B on Saturday. The victory brings Sligo’s league points total to 59, with an impressive haul of 11 wins picked up along the way. Coupled with the Connacht Senior League and Cup double this has been a hugely impressive season for the team who will look on with confidence to the upcoming promotion playoffs where they will face UL Bohemians in the Semi final at Annnacotty on Saturday April 20.

With many other sports fixtures postponed, storm Kathleen was in full flow when the teams took to the pitch. Sligo, who lined up to play towards the Knocknarea end, into the teeth of the menacing wind, produced a whirlwind start of their own. Julian Leszczynski kicked off to the left and Rainey collected and immediately cleared downfield. Euan Brown collected the clearance outside the 22 and immediately moved the ball infield to Hubert Gilvarry. Gilvarry brought play almost to the 10 metre line before being hauled down. From the recycle, James O’Hehir carried strongly past the 10-metre line. At the next ruck Daire Byrne went to the blind side and linked with Gilvarry who broke the defence and gave Brown the space to race to the 22. Brown passed back inside to Brendan Cunningham and the scrum half raced to the line for the first try of the day. Brown’s conversion attempt was thwarted by the powerful wind.

The visitors re-grouped and used the breeze to pin Sligo back into their own 22 and the pressure told when a Sligo conceded a penalty in front of the posts. Raineys’ Scott Mclean booted the ball over the bar and it’s rumoured that it travelled so far in the wind that it landed on the end of the runway at Sligo Airport! 5-3 to Sligo with 5 minutes on the clock.

Thankfully a replacement ball was available and the match continued in earnest. Soon a pattern began to develop with Rainey using the wind to pin Sligo into the bottom right corner and Sligo trying to keep the ball in hand to make their way up the pitch. The lineouts were proving difficult for both teams with the short ball being the only viable option but at scrum time Kuba Wojtkowicz, Matthew Earley and Tom Gormley were getting the better of the visiting front row. The breakdown was keenly contested with Ciaran Cummins, Ambrose Bamber and Archie Maclean working hard at the coalface battling against both the visitors and the aforementioned Kathleen. Philip Carter was rock solid under the difficult high balls coming his way.

With 20 minutes gone Sligo increased the lead. Possession was secured at a lineout outside the visitors 10 metre line. Gormley carried from first receiver before the ruck was set on the 10 metre line. The ball was then moved wider to Ryan Feehily whose determined run brought play close to the 22. From the recycle Leszczynski switched play back to the left and placed a chip over the onrushing defence. Rainey collected the ball but Archie Maclean disrupted the attempted clearance and the loose ball was pounced on by the live wire Gilvarry. An outrageous side stepped parted the ways like Moses and the Red Sea and the fleet footed winger raced through to the line for Sligo’s second of the day. Brown struck an excellent conversion to push the score to 12-3.

The visitors responded immediately, and a well-practised lineout move yielded a try in the right corner for powerful flanker Mark Lee. Scott Maclean’s conversion attempt drifted wide and to the delight of the ball boys, this time the in-goal netting managed to keep the ball within the confines of Hamilton Park.

Just prior to the interval Sligo produced a killer blow. For a visitor’s scrum inside the 10 metre line, the Sligo pack turned on the power and drove over the ball. Cunningham picked and moved right before cleverly switching play with Gilvarry who broke to the left to feed the onrushing Ethan Faitua. Faitua powered his way to within 2 metres of the line before linking again with Gilvarry who crashed over and doubled his total for the day. Kathleen again won the conversion battle as Brown’s well struck attempt almost landed back on the 22. 17- 8 to Sligo going to the break

Following the resumption both sides looked to get a handle on controlling the play, but in reality it was the wind that dominated proceedings with handling difficulties to the fore as the teams began to tire in the highly challenging conditions. To the credit of the visitors, a single match point was required to ensure their division 2B status, and they fought to the end to claim the losing bonus point, ex Ulster prop forward Tom O’Hagan forcing his way over from a well worked lineout maul with 5 minutes left on the clock, to move the score to 17-13.

Sligo did make a concerted effort to obtain the 4 try bonus point right at the death and despite driving a scrum back over the Rainey tryline in the last action of the match, the visitors scrambled the clearance and the ref blew the long whistle for what was a fair result for both teams.

Sligo now take a week’s break before making the trip to Limerick for the promotion play-off semi-final. Interestingly, Sligo and U.L. Bohemians clashed in the same fixture last season, with Bohs’ coming out on top by a two point victory and then pushing on to win the promotion final. Sligo won’t need any motivation to reverse that result this season.

The Sligo supporters bus (the Magic Bus) will be travelling to the match and seats are available. A wholesome welcome and a great day’s entertainment is guaranteed . Contact Michael at 0868198540 for details.

Sligo; Euan Brown, Hubert Gilvarry, Ethan Faitua, Ryan Feehily, Philip Carter, Julian Leszczynski, Brendan Cunningham, Kuba Wojtkowicz Matthew Earley, Tom Gormely, Archie Maclean, Gary Duffy, Daire Byrne, James O’Hehir, Ambrose Bamber. Reps: Eoghan Lang, Ciaran Cummins, Rob Tiernan, Brian West, Cathal Finneran