Lineout woes for Wegians

Galwegians 5     

Clontarf  17

GALWEGIANS slumped to disappointing 17-5 defeat at home to second-placed Clontarf at Crowley Park on Saturday.

This was a frustrating result for Matt Brown’s men as for long periods of the game, they were more than a match for their illustrious opponents. But it was the visitors’ ability to take their chances which ultimately proved the difference.

Playing with the aid of a swirling first-half breeze blowing towards the clubhouse end, the ‘Tarf forwards exerted a lot of early pressure. However they met their match in Wegians who defended stoutly.

Clontarf out-half David Joyce missed a kickable penalty on nine minutes before finding his range on to put them 3-0 in front. Despite facing the elements Wegians had their chances as well, including a 5m lineout which had them in prime position, only for the visitors to steal possession from the throw-in and relieve the pressure.

Joyce missed another opportunity to double his side’s lead on the stroke of half-time, and at this stage Wegians were looking good and well placed to kick on.

The Blues dominated the opening 10 minutes of the restart, but an equally resilient Clontarf defence held them at bay. Failure to take their chances would cost the hosts dearly, with the lineout the most disappointing aspect of their game where the visitors had complete supremacy throughout. Wegians were somewhat unlucky in that the wind changed direction and seemed to favour Clontarf in the second-half.

The game was decided in a three-minute spell in the third quarter when the north Dublin side scored two tries in quick succession. Following a charge-down of Wegians’ out-half Aidan Moynihan’s attempted clearance, the visitors set up camp near the opposition line, and their impressive forward unit patiently went through the phases before young tighthead Vakhtang Abdaladze – capped by Ireland at Under-18 and Under-19 level in recent years – forced his way over for a 50th minute try.

Joyce converted well from the right, and moments later it was a case of deja vu. An excellent break by centre Matthew Darcy near halfway set up another siege on the try-line, and this time it was loosehead Ivan Soroka who burrowed over, with Joyce once again adding the extras.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.