Ballyhaunis RFC claim the spoils in Mayo derby
Ballyhaunis made a winning start to the Connacht Rugby Junior One (B) season as they recorded a 39-29 victory away to Castlebar.
An understrength Ballyhaunis were under pressure during the opening exchanges of the clash at Cloondeash, and a youthful Castlebar garnered an early lead thanks to a well-taken penalty.
Gradually, Ballyhaunis began to win some vital possession, and this led to Rowan Gouws crossing the whitewash for a well-worked try.
The purple and gold continued to up the tempo and Scott Finlay’s penalty on 24 minutes extended the visitors lead.
Fintan Crawley worked tirelessly for the Ballyhaunis cause and his quick thinking resulted in Gouws receiving possession and the latter bolted towards the goal line and claimed his second try of the joust. Finlay added the conversion and suddenly the east Mayo men held a 12-point advantage.
Castlebar tried their best to find a way back into the tie but struggled against Ballyhaunis’ stronger and more experienced pack.
Gouws was in sparkling form for the visitors, and he registered an incredible first half hat-trick of tries, with Finlay once again unnerving from the subsequent conversion.
A brave Castlebar scored a converted try before the break, yet Ballyhaunis led 22-10 during the half-time musings.
The Castlebar half-time pep talk appeared to have worked wonders, and they dominated the opening 25 minutes of the second period. During that spell the deficit was reduced to just a single point, 25-24, with Finlay’s penalty after 55 minutes proving crucial for an under-siege Ballyhaunis.
Castlebar seemed on course for an amazing comeback, but Ballyhaunis managed to launch one crucial attacking foray which culminated in Gouws acquiring his fourth try of the tie, with Finlay duly adding the conversion.
Castlebar couldn’t launch another comeback, and Danny Hill added Ballyhaunis’ fifth try of the afternoon late on, with Finlay adding the subsequent placed ball strike.
Towards the end of the game, Castlebar did snatch a bonus point try, which was some consolation for their gallant efforts on the day.