Big win in Division 1

SLIGO U18.5 29 BUCCANEERS 18.5 26

the half, with Sligo trailing by a mere 2points.

The second half was a hotly contested affair with Matthew Earley first to open the scoring, dotting down out wide to put the home side 10-7 up.

Buccaneers were quick to counter and retake the lead with a try but failed to add the extras.

The pace of the game was hectic, with lots of phases of play and Sligo enjoyed a period of dominance with Will Whelan getting the ball wide, spotting a gap in the Buccaneers defence and racing over the line to run the ball in under the posts.

Matthew Earley stroked the conversion over and the home side were 17-12 up with 15minutes to go. Buccs’ regained possession from the restart and went through the phases to eventually work the ball score under the posts to retake the lead from the home side.

Sligo maintained pressure from the restart and won the ball back through determined rucking.

Will Whelan was on fire, and his sidestep carved open the Buccaneers’ defence again to clock up his third try of the afternoon to give his side a 3point margin with 10minutes remaining.

This was quickly followed by another sweeping move across the pitch and a neat grubber kick from Hubert Gilvarry, was collected by Thomas Fox and he dotted down under the posts for his team’s fifth try of the game. Earley’s conversion added the extras and Sligo lead 29-19 with only 7minutes left. The game still had another few twists and turns to go, as the visitors made the most of a series of calls in their favour to drive over the line from a 5metre penalty. The conversion sailed over to bring it back to a 3point game. Sligo defended from the restart and their defence held strong in the final few seconds of the game, as a Buccaneers drive was held up over the line. The referee awarded the 5metre scrum and then blew the final whistle, much to relief of a large home crowd.

This epic win means that Sligo leapfrog Buccaneers into 4th position in the league. Their next game is a tough encounter away to league leaders Ballinasloe on Sunday the 9th of December.