Pack paves way as 'Wegians advance

GALWEGIANS got back to winning ways when they overcame Division 2 side UCD 29-16 in the 3rd Round of the AIB Cup in Dublin on Sunday.

College had the better of the opening exchanges, with Wegians being turned over far too easily on occasion. But the hosts failed to make the most of their early chances, and had to settle for an early 3-0 lead courtesy of a seventh minute penalty from out-half Niall Earls.

Having withstood the early pressure, the visitors Galwegians then started to make inroads, and in contrast to their hosts, they certainly made the most of the scoring opportunities which came their way. Their pack was mauling better, and they took the lead in the first quarter with a try by no. 8 Ambrose Conboy who powered home off a ruck to score near the posts.

A poor conversion miss left the lead 5-3, but early in the second quarter the Blues extended their lead when winger John Cleary received a sweet reverse pass to split the defence and score at the posts. The Wellpark man then added the simple conversion to put the Blues 12-3 in front.

Wegians continued to dominate the second quarter with the pack now very much in the ascendancy. Cleary added a penalty to stretch their lead to 15-3, and in truth they could have been further in front such was their dominance at this point. But in a rare foray into opposition territory, the students narrowed the gap with a second penalty from Earls right on the stroke of half-time to reduce arrears to 15-6 at the break.

The second-half began much like the first with UCD dominating the early exchanges, and another penalty from Earls soon reduced arrears to 15-9. However despite their dominance, once more the hosts were prone to errors, and this was to prove extremely costly as Wegians took full advantage.

When another UCD attack broke down with a pass going astray near half-way, Butler took full advantage to intercept and break through the middle. And although held up just short of the line himself, Wegians’ inside centre Dave Clarke was on hand to finish for a third try, which Cleary converted for a 22-9 advantage.

However the students continued to press, and their pressure was finally rewarded just after the hour mark when fullback Michael Twomey went in for a try in the corner, which was excellently converted by the prolific Earls to reduce arrears to 22-16.

It was now very much game on, and the students decided to go for broke. But their naivety and lack of experience was to cost them as they conceded a fourth try almost straight from the restart. When attempting to create an attack from inside their 22, an ill-judged chip ahead was intercepted by the alert Cleary who easily outpaced the defence to score his second converted try of the game near the posts to make it 29-16.

UCD were given a glimmer of hope in the final ten minutes when Wegians' scrum-half Ronan Dillon was binned for a high tackle. But try as they might to force their way back, the students were unable to make any further impression on the scoreboard with theBlues defence holding firm.

And so Wegians continue their impressive record in this competition, securing their fourth consecutive quarter-final appearance, where they will meet Division 1A form side Dolphin in Cork on November 21st.