The first XV’s unbeaten start to the Energia AIL 2B North season came to a disappointing end on Saturday, as they went down 32-26 to Malone in Belfast.
The second journey up the M1 in as many weeks wasn’t made in vain however, as the pair of bonus points in scoring four tries and finishing within seven points of the victors made a reasonable 12-point return from a possible 15 from the opening block of three games. And yet, it could have been more…
With both teams on maximum points from their opening two league outings, this one had all the makings of another entertaining affair and it certainly lived up to that billing. An early try and a penalty from former Leinster full-back Chris Cosgrove had the home side 8-0 to the good inside the first quarter but Skerries hit back in style thereafter, with three tries in quick succession.
First, a break by captain, Kevin McGrath down the right set Hugo Lennox into the 22 and his quick feet did the rest as he finished under the posts and Jack Litchfield added the extras. It was deja vu a couple of minutes later when another surge on the right saw Lennox return the favour to McGrath, who touched down in the corner to give Skerries the lead for the first time in the match.
Further pressure saw a Malone goal line dropout returned with interest as Mike Ryan made the initial break and teed up back row colleague, Peter O'Neill to saunter under the sticks, and Litchfield's conversion made it 8-19.
Crucially though, Malone struck back almost immediately and two further tries either side of the half-time break put them back in the ascendency, as Skerries struggled to build on their momentum.
Indeed, the visitors had to wait until the 68th minutes to add to their score, when a lovely set-piece play off an attacking scrum deep inside the 22 sent McGrath cutting through for his second and leaving Litchfield to make it a one-point game at 27-26.
Malone crossed again entering the final few minutes but the missed conversion meant the restult was still there for the taking. Unfortunately for the traveling Skerries faithful, their push for the final score fell short.
Saturday's game concludes the first block of three fixtures in the new AIL season, so the lads will have a deserved week off before entertaining another unbeaten team in Clogher Valley at Holmpatrick on October 24th.
Massive thanks as ever to our sponsors, Linesight, Halligan O'Connor Property Consultants and Progressive Credit Union, to Gerry Weldon for the match photos, and to all those who made the journey to Gibson Park. 🐐
