With a big game against Old Wesley coming up on Saturday at Crowley Park (2.30pm ), Galwegians’ Ulster Bank League campaign endured a terrible start when suffering a 37-14 defeat away to Ballymena at Eaton Park on Saturday.
The former All Ireland champions Ballymena served immediate notice of their intentions when flanker Jordan Foster scored a try within two minutes. However Wegians got right back into it when a strong rolling maul created the platform, and a skip pass from centre Brian Murphy fed winger David Symes who dived over in the right-hand corner to level the game.
The game was fairly evenly contested early on, but with perfect conditions for a free-flowing game, the hosts regained the lead through a ninth minute penalty and a second try through prop Tim Small, which was converted. Fullback Darragh Leader saw a 25th minute penalty rebound off the post, but a minute later he was on target to reduce the margin to 15-8.
Just before the break a sweeping backline move from the Ulstermen saw Callum Paterson cross over for a third try. Leader reduced arrears with his second successful penalty shortly after the restart, but moments later the Ballymena backline did the damage again, with a try courtesy of Bryan Young.
Wegians were given a lifeline when their hosts were reduced to 14 men. Leader reduced the gap to 11 points, but the Blues were unable to inflict any further damage when flanker Eddie Earle was binned on 56 minutes. Ballymena snuffed out any hope of a Wegians comeback with their fifth try just after the hour mark, the second try of the game for open-side Foster, with a sixth try by Connor Smyth just before the finish.
Galwegians XV: JNaughton, C Muldoon, D McHugh, D Nolan, M Towey, A Ryan, E Earle, E Rooney, B Lee, R Shaughnessy, R Moore, B Murphy, J Harimate, D Symes, D Leader, Subs:C Gaffney, R Parata, R Fitzgerald, DMcCabe, P Griffin.
