Galwegians 22
Bective Rangers 13

GALWEGIANS opened up their account in the Ulster Bank league Division 2 with a three try victory over Bective Rangers on a bright, mild autumnal day at Crowley Park on Saturday.

Wegians got off to a perfect start when after six minutes full back Darragh Leader bamboozled the cover defence by running with the ball in two hands and rounding the full back to score under the posts, having been set away by an exquisitely timed pass from out-thalf Dave Clarke. The talented young out-half added the extras for a 7-0 lead.

However despite apparent superiority, Wegians were unable to impose their will on a determined visiting team, who worked their way back into the game. Bective out-half Barry Lynn landed a 20th minute penalty to reduce arrears, and in a tense, error-strewn half, he added a second just before half-time when Wegians flanker Jonathan Gardiner was penalised for tackling a lineout jumper in the air.

Leader attempted to restore the four-point lead with a long-range penalty against the breeze on the stroke of half-time, but it landed just short of the posts, giving the Blues a lead by the narrowest of margins at the break.

Wegians started the second half at a gallop and forced a yellow card infringement from the Dublin side which saw their openside flanker Dave Daly spend 10 minutes in the bin. Leader slotted the ensuing penalty to restore a four-point margin.

The home piled on the pressure with the extra man advantage, but Bective held firm. However, the sky blues scrum was becoming more dominant as the match progressed and their superiority was rewarded with a penalty try.

On 55 mins following sustained pressure on the Bective line. Leader converted for a 17-6 lead, and Wegians kicked on from this score and extended their lead two minutes later. Following a turnover in loose play, scrum half Barry Lee’s brilliantly weighted pass set Ronan Moore away on the 10 metre line and the winger scorched over in the corner.

Wegians spent the last quarter camped in the visitors 22 but were unable to add the bonus point try as luck just would not go their way. They seemed to score try number four when Rooney touched down after a series of pick and gos under the posts, but unfortunately referee Barry O’Connell was unsighted and a curious lack of communication with the perfectly placed touch-judge saw him bizarrely award a scrum to the visitors.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.