Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_01_11/GA_1101_E1_158.pdf 

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158

SPORT

January 11 2007

Connacht host Bath tomorrow evening
Connacht, after a disappointing month, resume European action on Friday when they host English premiership outfit Bath at the Galway Sportsground. With Connacht's hopes of qualifying for this year's quarter-finals sunk after their defeat in France to Montpellier, tomorrow evening's clash with pool leaders Bath is of less consequence than Michael Bradley's side would have hoped. Connacht need a win after their Christmas disappointments to Ulster and Munster. Despite strong displays in the two interprovincials, Connacht were unable to convert possession into scores, and Bradley will want to see his side get back to winning ways before the resumption of the allimportant Celtic League. Bath travel to Galway for the first time. Unbeaten to date, they look odds on favourites to qualify as pool leaders, despite slipping up to rivals Harlequins in the domestic league last weekend. Connacht should have come away from the Recreation Grounds with the victory, and as a result they owe themselves a performance which, if strong enough, should give them their second victory in Europe. Connacht are stretched as a result of injuries. Keith Matthews and John Muldoon were the latest victims after their clash with Munster, while Gavin Williams and David Gannon are also casualties at present. Add in some knocks to captain John Fogarty, Ryan Strudwick, and Ray Ofisa, and Bradley has been forced to make several changes, while also keeping an eye on the forthcoming Celtic League fixtures. As a result Adrian Flavin is likely to start in the front row with Stephen Knoop and Brett Wilkinson, who has agreed a new two-year contract with the province. With Gannon out of action, Michael Swift would come in to partner Farley, while Brendan O'Connor is the likely replacement for John Muldoon at blindside. In the backs Ted Robinson and Conor McPhillips will start on the wing, with John Hearty in the centre, although Darren Yapp, who is to undergo minor knee surgery next week, will start on the replacement benches. The biggest change is a positional move with Paul Warwick taking over at outhalf and Mark McHugh moving to the centre. Warwick played at No 10 against Bath in England, and McHugh's move to inside centre is an interesting switch that will certainly add a new dimension to Connacht's game plan. With mounting injuries Galwegians' outhalf Peter Durcan will be included among the replacements alongside fellow development squad member David McGowan. Coach Michael Bradley is adamant that Connacht intend to win this fixture despite its irrelevance in terms of European qualification. "We are out of Europe and this match has no meaning in terms of winning the competition, but it is a home fixture for us against a side who were European Cup semifinalists with a fine tradition in rugby," he says. "We have a strong record and reputation in Europe, and while our reputation has not been dented this year, our record currently stands at one out of four. We should have beaten Bath and Harlequins earlier and didn't. This is our opportunity to put the record straight . " It's really a one-off fixture against a famous club that boasts a great

Connacht will be without John Muldoon against Bath. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy

tradition. They are travelling strong and that is a big challenge. We really want to beat them at home."

Connacht: D Riordan, T Robinson, J Hearty, McMHugh, C McPhillips, P Warwick, C O'Loughlin, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop, M Swift, A Farley (cpt), B O'Connor, M Lacey,

C Rigney. Replacements: J Fogarty, B Sturgess, D McGowan, R Ofisa, C Keane, P Durkan, D Yapp.

Wegians destroy Dolphin at Crowley Park
Galwegians 45 Dolphin 15
Galwegians will be hoping to repeat last weekend's seven-try bonanza when they host Dungannon in the AIL Cup first round on Saturday. The Crowley Park outfit enjoyed a bonuswinning performance against Munster side Dolphin in a resumption to All Ireland League last Saturday. The victory propelled Galwegians up the league ladder to mid table as they overtook their opponents and put themselves into a challenging position in division one. In their third win of this season's campaign, Galwegians were the stronger all-round outfit, enjoying superior power and pace in both backs and forwards. And with the strong wind advantage in the first half, they made it count, racking up 28 points and a bonus point for a comfortable lead. Galwegians found their stride and the breakthrough try came after 15 minutes when centre Anthony Barrett took a flat pass at speed from outhalf Peter Durcan to carve open the midfield cover before finding Conor McPhillips with a long pass. The Connacht winger, who went on to bag two tries, had the pace to outstrip his cover and cross for the opening try, which centre Nick Wakely converted. Five minutes later Wakely added to the Galwegian tally when blocking Dophin fullback Ed Mills attempted clearance before crossing for a try. Galwegians maintained control with Connacht players Matt Lacey and Brendan O'Connor excelling. O'Connor was in the thick of the action all day, winning the kick-offs, while Lacey grabbed Galwegians' third try after 25 minutes. Although Wegians' prop Denis O'Brien was yellow carded on 30 minutes, Dolphin failed to capitalise, and just before the break Wegians bagged the bonus point. O'Connor broke the cover before finding a supporting Wakely, who scored his second of the day, bringing his tally to 18. Dolphin enjoyed something of a revival in the second half, but it was never going to be enough, particularly after opting for a Barry Keeshan penalty on 51 minutes rather than the try line. Instead it was Galwegians who put the game beyond reach when O'Brien, back on the pitch, added the fifth try. The visitors battled gamely, and they grabbed two tries in a 10-minute spell. Lock Dave Harty charged down a kick from Wegians' outhalf Peter Durcan in the 63rd minute, before substitute wing David Griffin finished a move on the left, which Keeshan converted to reduce the defcitit. Wegians finished in style with two tries in the last minutes. McPhillips, who finished the game playing as replacement scrumhalf, finished off John Cleary's blindside break, before Barrett deservedly got on the scoreboard when he raced through the cover from turnover ball for his fifth of the campaign. Galwegians: K Hickman; J Cleary, N Wakely, A Barrett, C McPhillips; P Durcan ( P O'Toole 65), L Stringer ( J Wakely 65); D O'Connell, C Muldoon, D O'Brien , L Scahill, A Browne ( D Boyd 65), A Conboy (cpt), M Lacey, B O'Connor ( L Casserly 60). Dolphin: E Mills ( D Griffin 63); D O'Connell, P Owens, J O'Mahony (J Purcell 63), K Lynch; B Keeshan, G O'Keeffe; F Gately ( R McKinnie 53), K Murray ( Shane Heffernan 63), J O'Sullivan, R McGrath (cpt), (Pomeroy 53), D Harty, G Finn, D Murphy, A Daly.
Peter Durcan could feature for Connacht tomorrow evening. Photo: Mike Shaughnessy

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Referee: McDowell (Ulster).

Simon