The Claremorris RFC Junior team encountered defeat on their first away game of 2014 as they were beaten by a better Ballinasloe team on Sunday.
The weather conditions were ideal for playing rugby and it was the hosts who made better use of the conditions and had three points on the board from their opening visit to Claremorris Colts RFC 22 after the Colts were penalised for hands in the ruck.
Ballinasloe were clearly on top in the possession stakes and two carbon copy tries extended their lead. Good work by their forwards saw their number 8 peel off the back on the ruck and crash over in the corner twice in 10 minutes to give the home side a 13-0 lead. The Colts finally managed to get some ball in hand but were not able to gain sufficient territory in the remainder of the half as Ballinasloe led 13-0 at half time.
The Colts were much improved in the second half and their defence in particular repelled the Ballinasloe defence on numerous occasions. However the lads in red and white try as they might just could not get their back unit functioning as they would like to get that all important score. Ballinasloe continued to exert their dominance late in the game as they ran out deserving 13-0 winners.
The Colts next Connacht league game is on Friday Jan 31st in Corinthians RFC.
Colts: I. O’Brien, K. Groake, D. Cosgrave, S Meehan, P Murphy, P. Finnegan, D. Bell, D. O’Connor, B. Deegan, L. Ronayne, F Leonard, A. McLoughlin, P. Kilboyle, M. Jennings, L. Griffith
Subs Used: K. Sheridan, P. Hahessy, D. Meehan, P. Cunnane, S. Devane