Galway city’s two All Ireland League rugby clubs Corinthians and Galwegians secured comfortble wins in their division 2A fixtures at the wekeend.
Corinthians returned to winning ways with a fine 30-6 win against a dogged Midleton outfit at Cloonacaueen on Saturday, while Galwegians ran in seven tries in a 43-0 victory over DLSP.
Galwegians found their form against Corinthians the previous week, and their dominant scrum was once again influential in their second successive win, the Crowley Park side has jumped up to sixth place
Corinthians remain in the top four despite having suffered two recent defeats, but on Saturday the home outfit were in dominant form again, scoring three tries, although failing to grab a bonus point against visitors Midleton.
Midleton, playing against the elements in the first half, were first to score when outhalf Paul Daly struck a penalty after 10 minutes after Corinthians were penalised for bringing down a maul. It took 25 minutes before Corinthains responded with a penalty from outhalf Mick O’Flynn.
After Daly was wide with another penalty, Corinthians gained the upper hand. O’Flynn added another penalty before Corinthians struck for their first try in the 35th minute. From a drive, hooker Kevin O’Byrne made good ground before finding captain Finn Gormley in support, and fullback Darrin Classen finished off for a fine touchdown, with the outhalf adding the extras.
A try-saving tackle by Midleton’s fullback Kieran Burns denied O’Byrne a second Corinthian try, but O’Flynn potted a resulting penalty to give his side a 16-3 half-time lead.
Midleton’s pack started to get a foothold in the second half, and Daly converted one of two penalty attempts to close the gap, but an intercept try by centre James Buckley, which O’Flynn converted, sealed the game for the home side.
Midleton never gave up, but failed to make an impression as the home side scored their third try from Classens. Corinthians next outing is at home to Greystones on December 1.
Corinthians: D Classen, E Daly, J Buckley, F Gormley (cpt ), B Dixon, M O’Flynn, S Bruce, M Byrne, K O’Byrne, T Toolan, G Warde, D Phelan, A Casanova, M Flynn, A Conneely. Subs; M Lee, A Glynn, U Dillane, E Flynn, C Murphy.
Conacht domestic results: Ulster Bank League div 1B, Malone 12 Buccaneers 24; Div 2B, Sligo 26, Ards 0; J1A, Monivea 11 Tuam 6; Ballina 6 Westport 9; Galwegians 11 Corinthians 5; OLBC 3 Loughrea 3; J1B, Ballinrobe 7 Corrib 10; Castlebar 27 Buccaneers 0; Ballinasloe 15 Dunmore 6; Ballyhaunis 10 Creggs 5; J1C, Sligo 2nds 16 Carrick 10; Gort 27 Connemara 2nds 0; UCG 12 Galwegians 3rds 13; Monivea 2nds 20 Portumna 0; Junior: Castlebar 23 Sligo 0; Tuam 26 Ballina 10; Womens League: UCG 19 Tuam 17; Carrick 0 Buccaneers 24; U19 division 1, Buccaneers 11 Galwegians 3; U17: Buccaneers White 14 Creggs 17; Dunmore 34,Tuam 0; U16 League div 1, Castlebar 52 Monivea 12; Schools Senior Connacht Premier League, Sligo Grammar 14 Garbally College 8; St Gerald’s Castlebar 13 Colaiste Iognaid 28; Schools U16, St Muiredach’s 52,Davitt College 12.
