Wins for Galwegians and Corinthians in AIL
There were wins for Galwegians and Corinthians in Division 1b of the Ulster Bank League on Saturday.
Galwegians remain on top of the pile when they followed up their opening bonus point win over Trinity College last weekend with an equally impressive five-point haul against the eight-time former League winners Shannon on the Thomond Park back-pitch on Saturday.
The Blues fell behind to an early penalty, but took command of the game through first-half triesw from last year’s Division 2a player of the year, Jerome Harrimate; and the in-form Matt Dever, both of which were converted by Dave Clarke for a 14-6 half-time lead.
They stretched further ahead early in the second half with Harrimate claiming his second try of the game, and while Clarke was off target with that conversion, he found his radar again soon after when converting Brian Murphy’s bonus point-clinching try for a 26-6 lead.
Shannon reduced the deficit with a converted try, but Clarke landed a penalty eight minutes from time to leave them 29-13 ahead. However the hosts rallied late with tries in the 77th and 80th minutes, but ’Wegians had done enough to hold on for a 29-25 win.
Corinthians bounced back from their opening day 20-0 defeat away to Ballymena to get also record a bonus point win, running in five tries against Malone in Cloonacauneen.
They made a poor start, and the visitors were 11-0 ahead midway through the first half, but Corinthians showed admirable spirit to haul themselves back into the game, and from 11 points down, they actually went into the break with their noses in front.
James Buckley scored two tries, and James Connolly added a third, with Miah Nikora converting two of the scores to leave Corinthians 19-14 ahead at the break, a Malone penalty late in the half stopping the flow of scores at the other end.
Corinthians secured the bonus point 10 minutes into the second half when Eoghan Masterson scored an unconverted try, and Jamie Dever added a fifth, also unconverted, for a commanding lead. Malone replied late on with a try and a penalty, but it wasn’t enough to overhaul Corinthians.