Sligo kickstart campaign with comeback win
Sligo RFC’s first XV secure second victory of the season
Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B – Round Six Wanderers FC First XV Sligo RFC First XV 19 22
B
ACK in business? Time will tell. With two of their three defeats having painfully resulted from the concession of late scores, Sligo RFC’s first XV decided to dish out this particular bittersweet punishment – rather than take it – when beating Dublin side Wanderers 22-19 away last Saturday.
Sligo went into this Energia AllIreland League Division 2B fixture with just one win from their previous five games and on the back of a 35-15 home loss to leaders Greystones. When Wanderers went 19-15 in front with their try of the day at Estuary Road (their second converted try), Sligo appeared in jeopardy and regulation time was running out.
But Sligo dug deep and won possession from a lineout. Eoin Ryan’s gathering of the ball led to another forceful maul that rumbled over the line and Shane O’Hehir touched down. Hubert Gilvarry’s conversion put Sligo three points clear, 22-19, and then it was a matter of holding on – excellent defensive work from Tom Gormley, who was making his 50th All-Ireland appearance for Sligo, and Daire Byrne helped the visitors get the bonus point win.
Sligo, urged on by the vocal ‘Magic Bus’ crew who took the train to the capital, scored the first of their four tries in the opening 10 minutes. A dashing run and finish from Ryan Feehily put Sligo on the scoreboard, with the Naomh Eoin hurler having been given possession by Hubert Gilvarry.
An unconverted try from the breeze-assisted Wanderers erased Sligo’s lead with 25 minutes played. But Sligo, who utilised their pack to take the game to Wanderers (with their opponents also favouring multiple mauls), regained the advantage with another try. A lineout set up a pack surge and Ross Hickey was the player who got over for Sligo’s second five-pointer. Sligo, who led 10-5 at the break, lost this lead when the hosts scored a converted try in the early stages of the second-half.
Yet again, Sligo responded. Positive play from the likes of
Jason East, Kuba Wojtkowicz,
James O’Hehir and Connacht Academy player Donnacha Byrne opened the door for the backs. Euan Brown set up Finn Bamber and, although held up, the subsequent ruck saw Hubert Gilvarry release Cathal Finneran for his second try in as many games. Sligo were ahead, 15-12, but this contest had so much left to give and Sligo, thankfully, finished with a flourish for what could yet prove a turning point in this so far up and down season. Sligo have a week off – their seventh round fixture in this season’s Division 2B is a home clash with bottom of the table Enniscorthy on Saturday week, November 26 (Hamilton Park, 2.30pm).
Enniscorthy have loss five of their six games so far – their only respite from these defeats was a 12-12 away draw with Malahide on October 15. So far they’ve conceded 181 points – an average of 30 points per game.
Meanwhile, Sligo RFC’s second XV were 19-7 winners at home against their counterparts from Ballina
STANDINGS
Greystones Corinthians Harlequins Dungannon Rainey Old Boys Malahide Wanderers
Sligo Galwegians Enniscorthy
INPUT: Cathal Finneran, scored a vital try against Wanderers in last Saturday’s Energia All-Ireland League fixture.
P 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
W 6 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 0 0
D 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1
L 0 2 1 3 3 2 3 3 5 5
F A Diff BP 174 70 104 4 214 168 46 6 133 90 43 3 160 125 35 6 120 116 4 4 84 101 -17 2 139 134 5 4 106 134 -28 3 105 3 81 0 5 2
RFC in a Connacht Junior League Division 1B game played last Sunday at Hamilton Park, Strandhill.
Sligo scored three tries against their closest rivals – geographically – in this competition. Scoring tries were David Bergin, Louis McVitty and Ben Hynes. Kicker Sean Gilvarry landed two conversions.
This was a third win from four games for Sligo, who are next in action on Sunday week, November 27, when they are away to Ballyhaunis (first XV).
Elsewhere, Sligo RFC’s Boys U-18.5 team were 15-0 winners at home over Galway Corinthians last Sunday in a Connacht Boys U-18.5 League Division One fixture. Sligo, who scored two tries, have so far beaten Ballina and Corinthians in this competition.
Sligo RFC First XV (v Wanderers): Calum Goddard, Cathal Finneran, Finn Bamber, Ryan Feehily (1 try), Darragh Feehily,
Euan Brown, Hubert Gilvarry (1 con),
Kuba Wojtkowicz, Matthew Earley (c),
Tom Gormley, Eoin Ryan, Rob Holian, Ross Hickey (1 try), Brian West, Donnacha Byrne Replacements: Jason East, Shane O’Hehir (1 try), James O’Hehir, Lewis McVitty, Daire Byrne
Energia All-Ireland League
Update