The Colts under 13’s recorded a fine win over Ballina in the Under 13 Plate competition last Sunday morning. Leading 12-0 at half time the ‘Colts’ ran in another two tries in the second half to take the tie on a final score of 22-5.
After their heart-breaking loss to Buccaneers a couple of weeks ago, the Under 13 Colts embarked on their Plate competition journey with a first round tie against neighbours Ballina on Sunday 9th March. Still smarting from the reverse in Athlone, the team were determined to put on a performance for the parents and supporters who made the journey to Ballyhaunis and they got off to the ideal start. Some fine supporting play in the midfield with both backs and forwards involved, created an opportunity for Michael McHale to crash over the try line after two minutes to put his team ahead. Ciaran Hatcher-Devlin duly added the extras for a 7-0 lead; a lead the Colts were never to relinquish over the course of the tie.
The lead was further extended after robust forward play in the midfield presented another try opportunity for Michael McHale who scored out wide. The conversion was missed and the Colts took a 12-0 lead into the break.
Ballina started the second half with an intensity which was missing in the first 25 minutes but strong Colts tackling and rucking limited Ballina’s possession to areas of the pitch where they could not threaten the Colts line. The game was over as a contest in the 40th minute when Sean Walsh finished a fine cross field move to score his first try for the Colts and Michael McHale’s try on 47 minutes gave the Colts an unassailable 22 point lead with minutes to go in the game. Ballina scored a late consolation try which was just reward for the intensity of their second half performance.
Team: Iarla Jennings, Blaic Cleary, Michael McHale, Bogdan Gadek, John Sullivan, Oisin O’Connor, Patryk Grabowski, Takechi Oe Kilkenny, Conrad Dixon, Michael McNamara, Sean Walsh, Alan O’Dea, Ciaran Hatcher-Devlin, Colin Commins, Aaron Hughes Subs: Thomas Higgins, David O’Connor, Harry Freney, Harry Burke