Galwegians lost their second game in this season’s AIL campaign and their first home fixture when they came up short, losing 15-27 against UL Bohs at Crowley Park on Saturday.
The Blues started well, opening the scoring in the second minute when outhalf Morgan Codyre struck a penalty near the 22. However the visitors soon got into their stride, and hit the front after 11 minutes when prop Joey Conway burrowed his way over from close in after a sustained period of pressure.
Wegians used the wind to dominate territory, but the visitors had the lion's share of possession. The Blues came close to scoring, only to lose the ball with the line at his mercy, but eventually they regained the lead when Codyre cleverly switched the play to send winger Ewan Strang over in the right corner. The outhalf added the extras to give the home side a five-point cushion.
After Codyre was forced off with injury, and sub Brian Murphy was was sin-binned for obstruction, the visitors levelled the game on the stroke of half-time when sub flanker Niall O’Shea dived over near the right corner from the base of a ruck. Outhalf Robbie Bourke missed the conversion, but struck a penalty within a minute of the restart. They added a third try on 49 minutes through fullback Joe Murray for a 10-point lead.
Wegians responded gamely, but centre Dave Clarke missed three penalties for Wegians, including one that bounced back off a post. And the game was put out of reach on 70 minutes when Ireland U20 James McCarthy sealed a bonus point try, which Bourke converted for good measure.
Although the Blues never gave up and Strang completed his brace out wide in the 72nd minute they were unable to grab a late losing bonus point.
Galwegians now face Queens in Belfast on Saturday, while in division 2B Corinthians, who lost away to Greystones 33-7, host Sunday's Well at Corinthian Park on Saturday (2.30pm ).
Galwegians XV: Rory Gaffney; Ewan Strang, Adi Donovan, Dave Clarke, Daniel Faulkner; Morgan Codyre; Stephen Browne; Fiachra Finnegan, Christy Reilly, Ryan Lomas; Anthony Ryan (captain ), Eoin Tarmey; Ronan Moore, Paul Hackett, Michael O’Donnell. Subs: Conor Kyne, Ciaran Gavin, Matthew Mullins, Brian Murphy, James Kennedy
