The Rugby Roundup

This weekend saw a smaller number of fixtures from what we have become used to, with the U15 boys, U16 girls, U17 boys and South East Galway Warriors playing. The scheduled Senior team match against Galwegians 2nds was postponed.

U16 Girls back in Sizzling Form

Under the Saturday night lights, the U16 girls of Loughrea delivered an impressive display in their Division 2 league clash against Ballinrobe. An early score from Grainne Brady, swiftly converted by Hayley Glynn, set the tone for Loughrea, who stormed into the game with confidence. Ballinrobe responded fiercely, pressing hard on Loughrea’s line in a sustained offensive push. However, Loughrea’s defense stood resolute, turning back every attempt with tenacious tackles.

The breakthrough came when Ally Cannon seized her moment, breaking free for the first of her remarkable four tries on the night. This was the team’s first outing since their last fixture against Gort/Monivea, and their hard work in training was evident in both their solid defensive stance and seamless ball handling.

With a player of the match performance from Niamh Brady, and contributions from across the team, including the substitutes, Loughrea notched up a stunning 10 tries. Try-scorers included Addison D’Arcy, Julie Earls, Rhea Sestak, Siofra Cooke, and Eabha Mitchell, with Hayley Glynn converting four of them to round off the scoring. Loughrea’s dominant performance secured them a commanding 58-7 victory, underscoring their potential as serious contenders in the league.

U17 Boys Make the Semi Finals with Victory over Ballinrobe

The U17 boys from Loughrea wrapped up their Pool A league campaign with a Sunday morning showdown against Ballinrobe, overcoming tricky wet conditions that gradually improved as the match progressed. Despite the slick surface, Loughrea made an early statement, with quick scores from Connor Fallon and Tommy Smith setting the tone for the home team. Ballinrobe responded with some determined phases, but Loughrea’s defensive strength held firm, taking them into halftime with a solid 19-0 lead.

The second half saw a spirited comeback from Ballinrobe, who narrowed the gap with two converted tries and a penalty. However, Loughrea stayed composed, building on their lead as Connor Fallon completed a hat trick and captain Heshan Bowatte crossed the line to add another try. Conversions from Donal Nugent brought the final score to 31-17, securing a satisfying victory for Loughrea.

The team now awaits the outcome of Pool B to determine their semifinal opponents, set for November 30 or December 1.