Mayo rugby club gets campaign boost with Dangan victory
Castlebar travelled to Dangan, Galway, to take on an NUIG side looking for their first win in the league and the clash ended 24-17 in the Mayo club's favour.
On a mild November afternoon when the midges bothered the spectators under the bushes, NUIG made a gallant effort to reverse their poor form so far in the league.
They worked hard to impose themselves on a Castlebar team who were finding it hard to get going.
Pressure on the visitors brought the first points for NUIG when Cian Cleary converted a penalty from the left hand side.
This spurred Castlebar into action and in the 11th minute Luke Walmsley crossed after excellent forward work from Castlebar for a try that went unconverted.
From the restart, College stormed downfield, catching the Castlebar men out of position, and Cleary crossed following great pressure exerted by his colleagues for a try which he converted himself.
NUIG winger Rex Aghabueze was causing lots of problems for the visitors and he twice threatened the Castlebar line, only to be bundled into touch. Castlebar sighed with relief when he went off injured with an apparent knee problem.
Luke Walmsley added three well taken penalties from distance to leave the half-time score NUIG 10, Castlebar 14.
Castlebar started the second half with a lot more purpose than the first. They exerted pressure on NUIG in waves and after five minutes forced a scrum under the posts.
From here and with wonderful link play, James Balaski was set free on the wing to go over in the corner for an unconverted try. Castlebar kept at it and on 15 minutes Balaski was set free with a wonderful crossfield kick from Walmsley to again go over in the corner. Walmsley was on hand to convert.
NUIG worked hard from there on and put Castlebar in all sorts of trouble. Castlebar, however, defended stoutly until the 27th minute of the half when Jack Fitzgerald crossed for NUIG for a try, which Cleary converted.
Castlebar worked hard to try and get the bonus try but NUIG defended stoutly and denied them.
Castlebar had great performances throughout the field but Ronan Ipek, Christopher Cusack, Zack Wright, Keppa Cherrington, Luke Walmsley and Rory Murphy stood out for the winners.
Next up for Castlebar is a home game in round 5 of the J1 League against Creggs on Saturday, November 30, at 7.30 p.m. in Cloondeash.
NUIG: Maitias Ó Gríofa, Oscar Soden, Callum Wall, Tireoin McCabe, Leo Layden, Jamie Walsh, Shane McDonnell, Blayze Molloy, Cian Cleary, Ben Clarke, Rex Aghabueze, Hugh Guest, Daniel Bent, Eoghan Cullen, Jack Fitzgerald.
Replacements: Liam Melia, James Carroll, Jules Lelievre, Aaron O'Halloran, Brian Bergin.
Castlebar: Liam Hegarty, Christopher Cusack, Ronan Ipek, Keppa Cherrington, Aaron Wootton, Jack Ormsby, Donnacha Flynn, Rory Murphy, Zach Wright, Luke Walmsley, Connor O’Neill, Luke Staunton, Barry Walsh, James Balaski, Stephen Rogan.
Replacements: Joseph Howley, Fergal Durkan, Richard Sweeney, Damien Togher, Orann Bourke.