Connacht J1A League

Creggs Rugby 43, Monivea RFC 17,

Creggs made it four wins from four and recorded their first winning bonus point of the season to move to within a point of leaders Connemara as the League now takes a 3 week break before resuming early November.

The home side turned in their best performance of the season so far particularly in the first half which saw them turn around 5 tries to the good and the bonus point already in the bag.

An early touchdown from Tom Callaghan was followed by a sensational solo effort from Shane Dowd, with second-row Ian Whittington adding a third with the game still in the first quarter.

On the half hour mark, Creggs secured the bonus point with a try right out of the top drawer, initiated by Shane Dowd on the right wing, carried on by Eoghan Coyle before the ball was flashed across the line for Ronan Dowd to cross in the left corner, Shane Purcell adding a conversion worthy of the try.

Monivea however did not capitulate and quickly clawed back 5 points but this was cancelled by a Brian Diffley try on the stroke of half time, Shane Dowd again the instigator.

Elliot Jennings matched Dowd’s earlier individual effort with a blistering run from his own 10 metre line 15 minutes into the second half and Danny Arnold completed the Creggs scoring finishing off a driving maul from the line-out on the right hand corner in the twenty-third minute of the second half.

Monivea to their credit never gave up the fight and two tries in quick succession galvanised their quest for a losing bonus point, which was to prove beyond them. That was down to impressive defence from the home team.

Creggs next League game is away to Tuam who on Sunday again proved to be troublesome opponents for Connemara with the All-Blacks just shading their encounter in Clifden.

The next outing for the Creggs First team is in the All-Ireland Junior Cup on Saturday week, where they have the toughest draw in the competition, away to Ashbourne RFC. The Meath team are the reigning champions and have won the title for last three years in-a-row.

Creggs Rugby: Shane Dowd, Eoghan Coyle, Elliot Jennings, Tom Callaghan, Chris Duignan, Shane Purcell, Andrew Callaghan, Tom Fleming, Maurice Buckley, Aidan Leech, Ian Whittington, Brian Donoghue, James Brandon, Pete Lohan, Brian Diffley, Danny Arnold, Sean Og Higgins, Kevin Brandon, Brian Cleary, Ronan Dowd.