Galwegians will seek to maintain their recent Ulster Bank League form when they travel to Limerick to face Old Crescent on Saturday (2.30pm ).
Since finding their form, Galwegians have steadily closed the gap on the top four, but they will need to maintain that momentum at Rosbrien if they want to keep in touch with the league leaders.
Last Saturday they overcame strugglers Midleton by 31-13 as expected on the form book. However they were forced them to dig deep when at one stage they were reduced to 13 men before finishing comfortably and claiming a vital bonus point.
In difficult weather, the home side led 10-0 after 10 minutes with all points delivered by Tadhg Leader. After a second minute penalty, he then stretched the lead when grabbing the opening try and converting.
However in thw 13th minute centre Brian Murphy was sent off by referee Mark Patton for foul play, and Midleton’s Jeff Hitchmough struck the resulting penalty to open their scoring.
Wegians, with the wind, capitalised when Midleton lock Fionn McSwiney was sinbinned and prop Jason East beat three tackles from 10 metres out to barge over for his third try in three games. Leader’s conversion stretched the lead to 17-3.
Yet again Midleton hit back. A try on half time by winger Joe Ryan, converted by Hitchmough, narrowed the gap to 17-10, and an early second-half penalty brought them within four points. Worse followed when outhalf Dave Clarke was sinbinned on 47 minutes, reducing the home side to 13 men.
.Galwegians, however, showed great character when needed. On 52 minutes Leader scored his second try, following an excellent break by the prominent Ja Naughton, and John Cleary converted. Two minutes later Midleton No 8 Aidan McCarthy was also sent to the bin and Wegians capitalised with a penalty try, which Leader converted for a 31-13 victory.
Galwegians: T Leader, P Finn, J Cleary, B Murphy, C Conroy (cpt ), D Clarke, B Lee, J Naughton, C Muldoon, J East, A Ryan, B McClearn, R Fitzgerald, I Muldoon, E Rooney. Subs, E Earle, P Griffin, J Gardiner, G O’Brien, G Brady.
