Galway Bay, Under 13's made the journey to Westport for game 3 of the Divison 1A League with Westport.
On a weekend, where Cold and Inclement weather was to the fore, Saturday was a miserable, hard cold day with no respite.
Sunday , Match day, did brighten up, although, cold heavy downpours were prominent throughout the day.
Pitch conditions at Carrowholly were poor because of the heavy rainfall. The pitch although firm, The surface had become wet, muddy, with a saucey surface making ball handling difficult and challenging for both teams.
Westport had met Galway Bay last year in an under age blitz at Creggs..Those games are short in game time and Galway Bay were too mutch for Westport on that occasion.
This would be their first meeting in a competitive fixture...
Before kick off for the first half , The weather brightened up , with rain showers at bay.
Westport got off to a good start and hit the ground running with an early try in less than two minutes. Connor o Regan broke the line and made a gallant run for the Galway Bay try line, only to be tackled to the ground short of the line. Westport support arrived and Connor Olson got over the line to secure the try for Westport. Number 10, Ben Foy added the conversion.
Westport were up by 7.
Restart and play resumed with even play by both teams adjusting to the difficult conditions. Galway bay were awarded four scrums in play up to 12 minutes of the first half.. Westport applied strong pressure and were dominant in this facet of play
Westport were doing the attacking and applying pressure on Galway Bay who were finding it difficult to deal with the attacking pressure from the home team.
On sixteen minutes, sustained pressure saw Hugh Molloy score his first try for Westport, Ben Foy added the conversion successfully. After the restart, Even pressure by both teams, playing good rugby in the conditions, but Westport were up for this match and were dominant throughout the first half. Their tackling was tenacious and they tore into rucks with determined aggression. They were also strong and effective in pushing the opposition in the scrums. Westport were awarded three scrums in this half, won two and lost a critical one as the half closed. Galway Bay were awarded four and although they were pushed about, they still retained the ball.
Westport won their only lineout. Galway Bay were awarded four , won two and lost two to Westport.
Almost by half time, Sustained pressure by Westport had Westport up at Galway Bay's try line, where Westport were awarded a scrum, But this time The Galway Bay, boys said NO ! and pushed Westport back to retrieve the ball and the relief of the half time whistle.
It finished at half time.
Westport 14.
Galway Bay 0.
Connor o Regan was playing well as was , scrum half, Jack Malone and fly half, Ben Foy. Both of these boys handled a lot of ball to get width in Westport's attack...Westport enjoyed dominance in this half due to the combined effort and determined approach of their players.
Second half.
Westport started where they left off attacking and applying pressure and making ground into opposition territory.
Hugh Molloy gained his second try in under 5 minutes of the second half and Ben Foy added the conversion. Westport were now up 21 to nill.
While the first half was blessed with sunshine, A heavy downpour would mark the second half to drench spectators, players and yours truely, in his effort to do the match report got his paper wet.
I do have a liking for a decent pen with fine ink that writes well. The fine ink smeared on the wet paper and my scribble was hard to make out as a result. A lot to be said for the age old bic biro , that hasn't changed in decades and may have been a better weapon to combat wet paper...tut tut tut.
Back to the action, Westport were dominant and clearly in command now, building in attack and pressure and by the 8th minute, Geoffrey Bourke would cross the try line and score his first try for Westport .The conversion attempt was not successful.
Westport 26.
Galway Bay 0.
Despite their setback, Galway Bay stuck to the task, but just couldn't make a breakthrough to gain advantage and tenacious tackling by Westport kept them at bay.
10 minutes into the second half, A tremendous run by the determined , Barry Mc Donnacha , had Barry cross the try line, close to the touch line for a fine individual try..
Rory Breatnach was now playing at Number 10, Rory took a difficult conversion attempt and failed to score..
Westport were running their bench with subs coming on and adding fresh energy to the cause.
Continued pressure by Westport on the restart had them attacking again. But a brave Galway player gained poession and broke the line , strong, composed and confidant legged it for the Westport try line to score a fine individual try..
The conversion attempt was on target. It would be , Galway Bay's only score of the game .
Score line now. Westport 31 to Galway Bay 7.
Westport continued with dominance and pressure and Hugh Molloy got his third try on 17 minutes of the half.
Rory Breathnach nailed the conversion attempt to put Westport further ahead by 38 to 7. Westport would continue to attack to see the game out and a deserved win for the Westport boys.
Despite the conditions, both teams played an entertaining game of rugby .
Westport had a drive and determination to them and never let up from start to finish. All of their players contributed to the effort in what was a fine team performance.
Connor o Regan.
Connor Olson
Ben Foy
Jack Malone
Billy McGrath
David Maloney
Anthony Mc Neela
Geoffrey Bourke
Those boys impressed !
Westport had two young men playing two outstanding performances in their each and own right.
Barry mc Donnacha and Hugh Molloy.
Barry was Captain on the day and put in his usual busy shift, scored a fine try and was always involved in general play . A Strong Performance from Barry.
Hugh scored three tries. Tackled relentlessly, Drove at the opposition and carried ball into strong opposition and still made yards .rucks and lineouts.
Always involved, Hugh is the heartbeat of this Westport team who is a Leader, who Leads by example..
A difficult call for , Man of the match. But on a day, when he scored three tries and his absolute workrate.
I award the honour to Hugh.
My man of the match.
Barry can be proud also...
Westport were awarded one scrum in the second half by my reckoning. They retained that.
Galway Bay got four and retained all four.
Only two lineouts , which were for Westport and won by them..
My wet paper may not be completely accurate. But I write what I see...
Westport's next outing is a trip to Loughrea next Saturday, where the second in the League . Loughrea host Westport in the final round of Division 1A League. Loughrea have been winning matches with respectable score lines and will be favourites for their clash with Westport.. This win for the Westport boys will bolster belief and confidence in them going into this next challenge...They will be underdogs with nothing to lose. If they play with the same passion and drive as they did against Galway Bay, Then , they will ask questions of Loughrea , and answer, Questions of themselves . We can only ask that they do their best.
That winning feeling brings a certain joy and satisfaction to ignite , hope and ambition to raise desire to go again and achieve more success. Satisfying also for the coaches', that the boys are improving and taking responsibility in the team effort.
Your support on Saturday will be appreciated .
And Finally.. We wish Galway Bay , good Luck and success in their remaining competitive matches..
In fine voice...all together..!
UP THE BULLS !
On a weekend, where Cold and Inclement weather was to the fore, Saturday was a miserable, hard cold day with no respite.
Sunday , Match day, did brighten up, although, cold heavy downpours were prominent throughout the day.
Pitch conditions at Carrowholly were poor because of the heavy rainfall. The pitch although firm, The surface had become wet, muddy, with a saucey surface making ball handling difficult and challenging for both teams.
Westport had met Galway Bay last year in an under age blitz at Creggs..Those games are short in game time and Galway Bay were too mutch for Westport on that occasion.
This would be their first meeting in a competitive fixture...
Before kick off for the first half , The weather brightened up , with rain showers at bay.
Westport got off to a good start and hit the ground running with an early try in less than two minutes. Connor o Regan broke the line and made a gallant run for the Galway Bay try line, only to be tackled to the ground short of the line. Westport support arrived and Connor Olson got over the line to secure the try for Westport. Number 10, Ben Foy added the conversion.
Westport were up by 7.
Restart and play resumed with even play by both teams adjusting to the difficult conditions. Galway bay were awarded four scrums in play up to 12 minutes of the first half.. Westport applied strong pressure and were dominant in this facet of play
Westport were doing the attacking and applying pressure on Galway Bay who were finding it difficult to deal with the attacking pressure from the home team.
On sixteen minutes, sustained pressure saw Hugh Molloy score his first try for Westport, Ben Foy added the conversion successfully. After the restart, Even pressure by both teams, playing good rugby in the conditions, but Westport were up for this match and were dominant throughout the first half. Their tackling was tenacious and they tore into rucks with determined aggression. They were also strong and effective in pushing the opposition in the scrums. Westport were awarded three scrums in this half, won two and lost a critical one as the half closed. Galway Bay were awarded four and although they were pushed about, they still retained the ball.
Westport won their only lineout. Galway Bay were awarded four , won two and lost two to Westport.
Almost by half time, Sustained pressure by Westport had Westport up at Galway Bay's try line, where Westport were awarded a scrum, But this time The Galway Bay, boys said NO ! and pushed Westport back to retrieve the ball and the relief of the half time whistle.
It finished at half time.
Westport 14.
Galway Bay 0.
Connor o Regan was playing well as was , scrum half, Jack Malone and fly half, Ben Foy. Both of these boys handled a lot of ball to get width in Westport's attack...Westport enjoyed dominance in this half due to the combined effort and determined approach of their players.
Second half.
Westport started where they left off attacking and applying pressure and making ground into opposition territory.
Hugh Molloy gained his second try in under 5 minutes of the second half and Ben Foy added the conversion. Westport were now up 21 to nill.
While the first half was blessed with sunshine, A heavy downpour would mark the second half to drench spectators, players and yours truely, in his effort to do the match report got his paper wet.
I do have a liking for a decent pen with fine ink that writes well. The fine ink smeared on the wet paper and my scribble was hard to make out as a result. A lot to be said for the age old bic biro , that hasn't changed in decades and may have been a better weapon to combat wet paper...tut tut tut.
Back to the action, Westport were dominant and clearly in command now, building in attack and pressure and by the 8th minute, Geoffrey Bourke would cross the try line and score his first try for Westport .The conversion attempt was not successful.
Westport 26.
Galway Bay 0.
Despite their setback, Galway Bay stuck to the task, but just couldn't make a breakthrough to gain advantage and tenacious tackling by Westport kept them at bay.
10 minutes into the second half, A tremendous run by the determined , Barry Mc Donnacha , had Barry cross the try line, close to the touch line for a fine individual try..
Rory Breatnach was now playing at Number 10, Rory took a difficult conversion attempt and failed to score..
Westport were running their bench with subs coming on and adding fresh energy to the cause.
Continued pressure by Westport on the restart had them attacking again. But a brave Galway player gained poession and broke the line , strong, composed and confidant legged it for the Westport try line to score a fine individual try..
The conversion attempt was on target. It would be , Galway Bay's only score of the game .
Score line now. Westport 31 to Galway Bay 7.
Westport continued with dominance and pressure and Hugh Molloy got his third try on 17 minutes of the half.
Rory Breathnach nailed the conversion attempt to put Westport further ahead by 38 to 7. Westport would continue to attack to see the game out and a deserved win for the Westport boys.
Despite the conditions, both teams played an entertaining game of rugby .
Westport had a drive and determination to them and never let up from start to finish. All of their players contributed to the effort in what was a fine team performance.
Connor o Regan.
Connor Olson
Ben Foy
Jack Malone
Billy McGrath
David Maloney
Anthony Mc Neela
Geoffrey Bourke
Those boys impressed !
Westport had two young men playing two outstanding performances in their each and own right.
Barry mc Donnacha and Hugh Molloy.
Barry was Captain on the day and put in his usual busy shift, scored a fine try and was always involved in general play . A Strong Performance from Barry.
Hugh scored three tries. Tackled relentlessly, Drove at the opposition and carried ball into strong opposition and still made yards .rucks and lineouts.
Always involved, Hugh is the heartbeat of this Westport team who is a Leader, who Leads by example..
A difficult call for , Man of the match. But on a day, when he scored three tries and his absolute workrate.
I award the honour to Hugh.
My man of the match.
Barry can be proud also...
Westport were awarded one scrum in the second half by my reckoning. They retained that.
Galway Bay got four and retained all four.
Only two lineouts , which were for Westport and won by them..
My wet paper may not be completely accurate. But I write what I see...
Westport's next outing is a trip to Loughrea next Saturday, where the second in the League . Loughrea host Westport in the final round of Division 1A League. Loughrea have been winning matches with respectable score lines and will be favourites for their clash with Westport.. This win for the Westport boys will bolster belief and confidence in them going into this next challenge...They will be underdogs with nothing to lose. If they play with the same passion and drive as they did against Galway Bay, Then , they will ask questions of Loughrea , and answer, Questions of themselves . We can only ask that they do their best.
That winning feeling brings a certain joy and satisfaction to ignite , hope and ambition to raise desire to go again and achieve more success. Satisfying also for the coaches', that the boys are improving and taking responsibility in the team effort.
Your support on Saturday will be appreciated .
And Finally.. We wish Galway Bay , good Luck and success in their remaining competitive matches..
In fine voice...all together..!
UP THE BULLS !
