Scrum half Blade grabs two tries in critical win for Galwegians

Galwegians 33  

Ballynahinch 16

GALWEGIANS got back to winning ways with a much-needed bonus point victory against bottom-of-the table visitors Ballynahinch at a blustery Crowley Park on Saturday.

This was a must-win game for both sides, and the hosts had the advantage of a strong first-half wind. There were early penalty opportunities for the respective teams to open their account, but kickers Shane O’Leary for Wegians and Christopher Quinn for Ballynahinch misjudged the breeze with their first attempts at the posts.

Despite playing into the elements, it was the Ulster men who made the brighter start and they took the lead in the ninth minute when flanker Peter Brown burst through the cover to saunter over for the game’s opening try. Quinn had no problems with the swirling breeze this time to tag on the conversion.

The lead proved short-lived, however, as Wegians responded well. Four minutes later a blind-side break by scrum-half Caolin Blade near halfway brought play right up to the line, and following a few pick and gos, centre Brian Murphy dived over near the posts for his side’s first try. O’Leary added the extras to level the game.

But Ballynahinch took up where they left off and resumed their attack. By the end of the first quarter, they were back in front, with two penalties from Quinn putting them 13-7 to the good, as Wegians were falling foul of referee Eddie Hogan-O’Connell.

The Blues needed to keep the scoreboard ticking over, and their potent backline always looked the more likely to cause damage. They struck again on 25 minutes following an excellent penalty touch-finder, when quick line-out ball saw it sped wide for O’Leary to take a great line and crash through the centre and score under the posts. His simple conversion put the hosts ahead for the first time.

Despite this setback, the visitors continued to dominate the remainder of the half with their pack in the ascendancy. However the game swung on two key moments either side of half-time. With the visitors pressing on the Wegians line, they were awarded a kickable penalty in the 39th minute, but opted to go for the scrum where they fancied their chances of gaining a seven-pointer. And despite missing their influential lock Dave Nolan in the blood bin, a magnificent defensive scrum from the Blues saw them win a relieving penalty.

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