Sligo narrowly beaten in Athlone
BUCCANEERS SLIGO RFC 35 34
SLIGO’S 2018/19 All Ireland League 2B preparation continued with a trip to Dubarry Park, Athlone to take on Division 1B Club Buccaneers RFC in a pulsating Connacht Senior league encounter on Saturday.
With both sides scoring five tries it was the home outfit that came out on top by a single point in a game that entertained from the first whistle to the last.
On a calm, balmy afternoon Buccaneers kicked off playing towards the clubhouse end.
Sligo came quickly out of the blocks and put pressure on their hosts with some strong carrying early on.
The Buccs’ defence held firm but Sligo’s endeavour was rewarded with a Jack Keegan penalty after 12 minutes.
The locals responded and a prolonged period of possession was finished with a try wide on the left after 25 minutes.
The well struck conversion put four between the sides.
Sligo rolled up their sleeves and competed well at the kick off, forcing the turnover, and gaining a foothold in Buccaneers territory.
The visitors began to work their pattern and the patience was rewarded when powerhouse Rob Holian burst through to touch down under the posts despite concerns about ‘crossing’ from the home faithful. Keegan converted and Sligo were back in front.
With two minutes remaining in the half Buccs’ picked up an almost identical score to Holian’s effort and this time it was the Sligo followers that were concerned about a crossing infringement. Bucc’s went into the interval 14-10 into the lead. Following the resumption, Sligo again upped the tempo and a break down the left by Jack Keegan allowed the centre kick ahead for the excellent Philip Carter to collect and score in the corner, to put Sligo back in front by the narrowest of margins.
The visitors were now full of confidence and moved further ahead when debut reserve scrum half Brendan Cunningham darted down the left of a five yard scrum to pick up his first senior score for Sligo.
Niall Gray added the conversion having taken over the kicking duties from Keegan who was forced to retire with a thigh strain.
Bucc’s again responded and a converted try put a single score between the teams again, before Sligo again pushed the lead out to 8 when Matt Davey took a super line to collect an excellent Cunningham pass to finish on the right.
The home side again replied with another converted score to move back within a point, before taking the lead with 2 minutes left with another converted try when a speculative kick ahead was misread by the Sligo cover.
Sligo refused to die and worked their way back up the pitch into the scoring zone.
The powerful Sligo scrum, despite losing the influential Shane McGuiness with an unfortunate leg injury, won a number of penalties but the referee refused to go to the posts.
Sligo eventually breached the line with Shane Boyle crashing over out wide but unfortunately the last kick conversion drifted wide and it was Bucc’s who were celebrating.
Having picked up the try bonus and losing bonus points Sligo lie second in the senior League table with a final home match versus Corinthians remaining.
A win could possibly earn second place in the league for Sligo which in turn would earn a home draw in the Connacht Senior Cup so it’s all to play for in Hamilton park next Saturday.
The match kicks off at 2.30.