Connacht J1C League

Creggs Development 13, OLBC 10.

Creggs Development team recorded a third consecutive Junior 1C Connacht League win in a hard fought game against OLBC on the 4G pitch, Saturday evening in Creggs.

The opening exchanges were frantic as both sides attacked at every opportunity but robust defending and handling errors limited the number of scoring opportunities on offer.

Gradually, the game settled down with two evenly matched teams working hard to gain control. OLBC have a massive pack of forwards but the Creggs eight used their mobility to good effect to avoid unnecessary setpieces and kept the ball moving whenever possible.

Creggs conceded a penalty in the 23rd minute after sustained pressure by OLBC, but remarkably the kick sailed wide from a very kickable position.

Bouyed by this let-off, Creggs attacked from deep to win a penalty which out-half Mark Brandon slotted to give the home team a 3-0 lead, before Brandon added a second penalty on the stroke of half-time to 6-0 up.

As expected, OLBC began the second half in determined fashion and they dominated the third quarter with some powerful forward play allied to some excellent handling by their backs, which yielded a fine try in the 58th minute for the Galway city team.

Creggs then looked to be in serious trouble when two players were sin-binned but the 13 men defended with great determination to limit OLBC to just one try during this critical period.

Restored to 15 players, Creggs upped the tempo to regain control and a super charge out of defence by Sean Og Higgins led to Enda Naughton receiving the ball on his own 10 metre line and he demonstrated great power and pace to scorch past four defenders before touching down under the posts for a brilliant try.

Mark Brandon’s conversion put Creggs 13-5 ahead, but OLBC hit back almost immediately with a well-worked try in the right corner to reduce the deficit to 3 points.

Creggs finished strongly to close out the game camped in the opposition 22 with the addition of fresh legs from the bench a vital factor in this victory.

Creggs Rugby: Martin Quinn, James Mc Nally, Luke Meehan, Michael Holland, Ryan Horan, Mark Brandon, Rory Collins, Brian Coady (Capt.), Danny Arnold, Tommy Curley, Sean Og Higgins, Damien Nolan, Eugene Fleming, Alan Brandon, Mike Feeley, Matthew Curley, Chris Collins, Enda Naughton, Damien Miskell, Edward Clinton, Enda Tully, Kenneth Heane, Jamie Ryan, John Mc Donnell.