Senior Rugby

Creggs win away to Galwegians in League

Connacht Junior 1A League

Galwegians RFC 19, Creggs Rugby 34.

Creggs maintained their pursuit of leaders Connemara with this bonus point win over Galwegians in Galway on Sunday. This was however Creggs least convincing performance of the season and having bagged the bonus point with just over half an hour played, things began to unravel thereafter.

CONNACHT JUNIOR 1A LEAGUE TABLE

5 minutes into the game Creggs out-half Shane Dowd sliced through the home defence to touch down in the right corner. Then on the quarter hour mark a number of backs joined the maul for a pushover try grounded by Maurice Buckley in the opposite corner, 10-0.

Then on the half hour this was repeated with Buckley grabbing his second try and Creggs struck again to secured the bonus point from the re-start with the best score of the game when a deft backs move involving both Shane and Ronan Dowd, sending Chris Duignan over in the corner. None of these converted so at the break, the teams turned around with Creggs 20-0 ahead.

A small indicator of trouble up ahead came when Ronan Cahill, coming in for the injured Peter Lohan, was sin-binned within seconds of entering the fray.

So Creggs began the second half a man down but that did not slow their attacking game and within 5 minutes of the restart, extended their lead when Aidan Leech crossed for a try which Shane Dowd converted.

However, 3 minutes later Galwegians hit back with a converted try and Creggs then ran into further disciplinary problems, losing both Dowd brothers to the sin bin almost simultaneously.

Galwegians taking advantage of their numerical superiority, added a second unconverted try before Creggs hit back with a sixth try – the second for Duignan, capped by a magnificent conversion from Tom Flynn.

The game ended badly for Creggs with Shane Dowd sent off for a second yellow and Wegians crossed again for a second converted try before the final whistle sounded.

The teams meet again in Creggs this weekend and the Creggs management will be concerned at the fall off in performance as the game progressed, the indiscipline which cost four yellow cards and one red (with none picked up by Galwegians) and the penalty count was 18 to 8.

Most significantly the normally air-tight defence was at best passive and at worst very poor, seeing the concession of three soft tries to opponents who were prone to spilling the ball in contact.

Connemara beat Buccaneers narrowly on Sunday in a high scoring match which yielded their ninth bonus point of the season so Creggs must address all of these issues and cannot afford any lapse as the League plays out.

In the meantime, Creggs continue in Connacht J1 League action with their game in-hand against last Sundays opposition Galwegians again. This has been re-fixed from earlier in the season for Sunday next in Creggs at 2.30pm. If Creggs could repeat the victory from last Sunday with a bonus point, it would leave them just one point behind Connemara, an a big home tie to look forward to a week later. However, after the poor second-half last Sunday, there’s a lot to do in the coming days and there will be no complacency come Sunday.

Creggs Rugby: Ronan Dowd, Luke Meehan, Thomas Flynn, James Brandon, Chris Duignan, Mark Brandon, Shane Dowd, Sean Og Higgins, Maurice Buckley, Aidan Leech, Tom Oates, Brian Donoghue, Brian Diffley, Peter Lohan, Kevin Brandon (Capt), Brian Coady, Ronan Cahill, Michael Feeley. Andrew Callaghan, and Tom Callaghan.

Creggs Development Team away v Portumna

Connacht J1C League

Portumna RFC 26, Creggs Development 10.

The Creggs Development team travelled last Sunday to play Portumna RFC in the Connacht J1C League.

They came up against a tough opponent but the Creggs lads battled bravely to the end despite being reduced to 14 players for over an hour following an early red card.

Portumna were strong in all facets of play and deserved their win but Creggs refused to capitulate in the face of intense pressure and finished with a fine try by winger Jamie Ryan which Michael Holland converted in the 75th minute.

The South Galwaymen caught Creggs off guard with two early tries, both converted for a 14-0 lead, before out-half Michael Holland kicked a penalty from 35 metres.

Portumna utilised their numerical advatage to good effect with their big pack competing stongly for possession and their lively backs a constant threat.

They added two further tries before Creggs staged a fightback culminating in Ryan’s try where he intercepted a pass deep in his own half and outpaced the home defence for a super score.

The Creggs players performed with great spirit and take a break from competitive action next weekend before hosting OLBC the following weekend in Creggs. Training on Tuesday (8pm) and Friday (8.30pm). New and returning players, always welcome.

Creggs Rugby: John Scroope, David Hoare, Conor Gore, Barry Egan, Jamie Ryan, Michael Holland, Matthew Browne; Tommy Curley, Enda Tully, Eoghan Cahill, Damien Nolan, Alan Glennon, Tommy Devine, Dylan Keaveney, Graham Curran, Mattie Corcoran, John Devine, and John Duffy.

Youth Rugby

Creggs Under-18’s win League Final warm-up

Creggs RFC 38, Monivea/ Westport Combination 14.

Creggs Under-18.5’s had a challenge match last Sunday in Creggs against a Monivea RFC/ Westport RFC Combination

Creggs rested practically all their Roscommon CBS players and still managed to win the game by 38-14. It was a good exercise to give the full squad a game in preparation for their Connacht League Final.

Creggs Under-14’s pushed Ballinasloe in tight game

Connacht Under-14 Division 1 League

Creggs RFC 19, Ballinasloe RFC 27.

Report coming soon

YOUTH Team’s (Boys) FIXTURES

Creggs Under-17 Boys play Connacht League Semi-Final

Creggs Under-17 Boys will travel to play favourites Ballinasloe RFC in the Connacht Under-17A League semi final next Sunday at 12pm in Ballinasloe. Having lost to the same opposition last season at this stage by only 2 points, the Creggs lads will be hoping for better luck and a victory this time around.

Creggs has on a great run of victories in recent months, and are undefeated since early November last, when they went down by three tries to one to Ballinasloe. However, with a full team next Sunday and in their great for, the Creggs lads could pull off a big win. Please support the lads!

YOUTH Team’s (Girls) FIXTURES

Big weekend for Creggs Girls Rugby

Creggs Girls Youth Rugby Teams will have their first ever Girls Youth Cup games this weekend.
Creggs Under-14 Girls will play Galwaegians RFC away in Galway next Saturday at 12.30 in the Connacht Under-14 Girls Cup.
Then, the Creggs Under-16 Girls play a strong Ballina RFC outfit on Sunday at 5pm in Creggs.
Please support both of the Creggs Girls teams this weekend.

N.B. – Always check CreggsRugby.ie for any late changes to the fixtures.

YOUTH Team’s (Boys & Girl’s) TRAINING

Creggs Under-14 & Under-16 Girls Training on Monday nights at 7.30pm.
Creggs Under-13 & Under-14 Boys training on Tuesday nights at 7pm.
Creggs Under-15 Training on Thursday night at 7pm.
Creggs Under-16 Training on Friday evening at 6pm.
Creggs Under-17 & Under-18’s Training on Thursday nights at 8pm.

MINI Rugby

Creggs Mini’s of all ages ( Under-6’s, Under-7’s, Under-8’s, Under-9’s, Under-10’s, Under-11’s and Under-12’s) will train in Creggs on this Saturday at 11am.