TEENS ARE BEATEN IN A THRILLING DECIDER AT DEXCOM STADIUM
SLIGO Rugby Club’s Girls U-18 team lost last Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Connacht Girls U-18 League Division One final at Dexcom Stadium (formerly The Sportsground) in Galway.
In blustery conditions brave Sligo were beaten by Creggs RFC, 32-26, in what proved a thrilling encounter.
The outcome was tough on Sligo, who defeated
SLIGO Rugby Club’s senior men’s team are maintaining their push to reach this season’s promotion play-offs in Division 2B of the Energia All-Ireland League.
Last Saturday’s effective 25-17 away defeat of Belfast Harlequins came a week after a slick home win over Skerries – only the second time in this AIL campaign that Sligo have recorded back-to-back victories (they previously won two games in succession back in October).
Sligo’s sixth win from 12 games reinforces fourth place (a play-off berth) with six games
STANDINGS
D 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 25 17
Creggs earlier in the campaign. The beaten finalists had a four-point lead, 19-15, with less than 20 minutes remaining but two unconverted tries from Creggs left Sligo chasing matters and facing a six-point deficit, 25-19.
Another try from the eventual champions – this five-pointer was converted – left Sligo 13 points adrift, 32-19.
SLIGO’S REMAINING GAMES
But there was still fight left in Sligo and a series of pick-and-go rucks culminated in Ellen Hunter getting over the line for Sligo’s fourth try. A conversion then cut the margin to six points but time ran out.
Creggs, wind-assisted in the first-half, went in front early on through an unconverted try. Sligo responded with a stream of attacks and then full-back Ciara Kerrigan’s powerful surge ended with a fine try to level matters at 5-5. But Creggs hit back with two tries – both unconverted – saw them go 15-5 ahead.
Then it was Sligo’s turn to find a response. A try from the excellent Ellie Filan, with Eva White landing the conversion, left just three points between the sides, 15-12, at half-time.
The second-half would prove just as intriguing and it looked as if Sligo had finally taken charge when clever handling released Orna Murphy for her side’s third try of the day to put
ENERGIA AIL DIVISION 2B
Saturday, February 10 – Sligo v Dolphin (Hamilton Park, 2.30pm); Saturday, February 17 – Malahide v Sligo (Estuary Road, 2.30pm); Saturday, March 2 – Sligo v Instonians (Hamilton Park, 2.30pm); Saturday, March 23 – Wanderers v Sligo (Merrion Road, 2.30pm); Saturday, March 30 – Dungannon v Sligo (Stevenson Park, 2.30pm); Saturday, April 6 – Sligo v Rainey (Hamilton Park, 2.30pm)
left in the regular season. Tries from Hubert Gilvarry, Philip Carter, Brendan Cunningham and Brian West set up this victory at Deramore Park, with kicker Julian Leszczynski supplying one conversion and a penalty.
There was the added delight of a try bonus point as Sligo are now 10 points clear of fifth-placed Rainey, although third-placed Galway Corinthians are 13 points ahead in the standings.
Harlequins opened the scoring with an unconverted try after 13 minutes but the Porter Ford-sponsored Sligo rallied and within 10 minutes were 7-5 ahead when Hubert Gilvarry’s try was converted by Julian Leszczynski.
Sligo, who would remain in front for the rest of the game, notched a second try in the 26th minute – this time Hubert Gilvarry provided the killer pass for Philip Carter, who had given the ball to Gilvarry for his earlier try.
The Harlequins maul was a profitable outlet and this led to a second try before the break, with Sligo still ahead, 12-10.
Hubert Gilvarry (1 try), Finn Bamber, Ethan Faitaua, Ryan Feehily, Philip Carter (1 try),
Julian Leszczynski (1 con, 1 pen), Brendan Cunningham (1 try), Matthew Earley (c), Ben Hynes, Tom Gormley, Archie Maclean, Ciaran Cummins, Brian West (1 try), James O’Hehir, Ambrose Bamber
Replacements: Matthew O’Hara, Eoghan Lang, Rob Tiernan, Daire Byrne, Euan Brown
Sligo ahead for the first time. A second conversion from Eva White extended this lead to four points. Creggs, however, went on to score three more tries (they scored six in all) and so Sligo’s title dream was crushed. Sligo were without a number of players for this decider, including Poppy Garvey and Lauren Hunter.
Maya Donaghy, Mimi Lee, Caragh Cooke, Sara
Mostafa, Louise Robertson, Grace O’Connor, Ellen Hunter, Ellie Filan, Nessa O’Sullivan, Eva White,
Alanna Connolly, Faílenn McLoughlin, Saoirse
Lawley, Sarah Maye, Ciara Kerrigan, Lilly Barber, Brooke Deighton, Sadhbh Hanley, Melissa Higgins, Ailbhe O’Rourke, Lara Clinch, Rebecca Doherty,
Orna Murphy, Liana Heffernan, Linda Klavina
Squad players unavailable for the final: Poppy
Garvey, Lauren Hunter, Mollie Ronan, Sophie Pearman