Galwegians stretch their lead at top of table

Galwegians increased their lead at the top of Div 1b of the Ulster Bank League thanks to a 34-25 win over Malone on Saturday.

However despite bagging six tries, they made hard work of overcoming their dogged opponents who threatened to spoil the party in a topsy-turvy second half.

After returning to winning ways last week at Corinthians, ’Wegians started with intent and they took the game to their opponents right from the off, and they opened the scoring after eight minutes when some excellent handing by Conor Lowndes and Jerome Harrimate sent full-back Ciaran Gaffney over for the opening try.

That score was converted by Lowndes and, almost from the restart, the Blues bagged their second try when some more swift backline play saw the in-form Colin Conroy make a break from inside his own half, and his sheer pace outwitted the defence to cross near the right-hand corner.

The unconverted try saw Galwegians lead 12-0 after 10 minutes, but Malone soon got over their shaky start, and they opened their account with a 12th  minute try through Ross Kane, and while Josh Pentland missed the conversion, he was on target with a penalty to leave the score 12-8.

’Wegians utterly dominated the second quarter, but Conroy had a try disallowed for a forward pass; while Lowndes was off target with two penalties. But a third try for the home team was not long coming, with Lowndes touching down for an unconverted try; and the bonus-point fourth try came from Ja Naughton just before the break for a 22-8 half-time lead.

The visitors were back on level terms when Adam Liddell got in for two tries early in the second-half, both of which were converted; and the visitors hit the front through a Josh Bingham drop-goal.

However the home side regained their composure and Lowndes raced in for his second, and his side’s, fifth try; and Matt Dever added a sixth, which was converted, to seal the win. Next week Galwegians have a chance to further cement their position when they play host to another Belfast side, the struggling Belfast Harlequins who currently languish bottom of the table after their defeat away to Corinthians on Saturday.