Galwegians take a bonus point but still in major battle to avoid the drop

UL Bohemians 16Galwegians 10

Galwegians came away with a losing bonus point for the second time this season against UL Bohs after their Ulster Bank League Division 1b game in Annacotty on Saturday.

Playing with a slight wind advantage, ‘Wegians took an early lead courtesy of an eighth minute penalty from out-half Tadhg Leader. The Blues continued to dominate the opening quarter, but Leader was just wide of the target in the 15th minute with a second effort at the posts.Despite their territory and possession, the visitors could find no way through a well-marshalled Bohs defence, and one sensed that their inability to put points on the board would prove costly.

The hosts drew level when they took advantage of a rare sortie into opposition territory just after the half-hour mark, when ‘Wegians were penalised on their own 22, Bohs out-half Ed Torrie landing the penalty.

This seemed to finally inject some urgency into ‘Wegians play, and they went on to score almost straight from the restart. It came following a good blindside break by Leader who found winger Matt Dever in space, and the promising youngster dived over in the left-hand corner for the game’s opening try.

An excellent conversion by Leader struck the woodwork but crucially bounced over the crossbar, giving the Blues a deserved 10-3 half-time lead.

The lead did not last very long, as the hosts were level two minutes into the second-half. Having been curiously omitted from the starting XV, Bohs Irish U-21 star JJ Hanrahan had been brought on just before the break, and he soon made his mark when he seized on some confusion in the ‘Wegians defence to race through the middle on a swerving run and score near the posts, with his conversion levelling the contest.

With the momentum now going their way, Hanrahan should have given his side the lead five minutes later but he scuffed an easy penalty opportunity. However just before the hour mark he did manage to put his side in front for the first time with a difficult penalty, albeit after ‘Wegians were very harshly penalised at a scrum on their 10 metre line by ref Dave Keane.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.