BANDON RFC 24

MALLOW RFC 36

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

BANDON suffered their fourth loss in six Munster Junior League Division 1 games after slipping to defeat against high-flying Mallow on Sunday afternoon.

Before a scrum was set, the West Cork club was in the news with confirmation their Director of Rugby and head coach, Régis Sonnes, had agreed to become the next head coach of the Spanish Rugby Women’s national team.

Against that backdrop, home side Bandon produced a typically battling effort and matched Mallow’s four-try haul.

Alas, an inability to recover from a five-point interval deficit plus too many unforced errors meant the hosts suffered their fourth loss of the league campaign.

Bandon had their moments, not least being held up on the Mallow try-line on three separate occasions. Padraig Galvin, Daniel Lane, Kain Donnellan and Ralph O’Mahony were the pick of the home side’s best performers.

This was Mallow’s day however, and deservedly so. The visitors’ powerful pack, out-half Riley Harrison’s accurate kicking plus Jimmy Glynn, Sam Glynn and David Breen’s pace sent the winners into joint-second place alongside Clonakilty and behind leaders Kilfeacle and District.

Shortly after the final whistle, Régis Sonnes preferred not to talk about his new international role but instead focus on a young Bandon team’s continued development.

‘Mallow are a very strong team, you know, with big players, maturity and experience,’ Sonnes told The Southern Star.

‘We are still learning. We are improving. Today, we lost, yes, but scored four tries. We could have scored one or two more. We were a bit unlucky, two times, on their try-line.

‘But, you know when we lose to a better team, like today, this I can accept.’

Bandon kicked off nine points behind their second-placed opponents in the Division 1 standings. An in-form Mallow had lost only once in the league prior to this clash, and got off to the perfect start.

Despite playing into a strong wind, Sean Galvin galloped through Bandon’s rearguard and crossed the whitewash inside five minutes. Riley Harrison’s conversion made it 7-0.

Backed by a strengthening wind, Bandon’s response was positive as their pack forced a series of indiscretions. Dylan Barr missed one penalty attempt and Mallow hit back.

A flowing move ended with Tomas Maldonado touching down in the corner. Harrison’s missed conversion meant Bandon were 12 points behind midway through the opening half.

A resurgent Bandon would have moved ahead but for two heroic Mallow defensive efforts. The visitors twice held up try attempts during a frenetic spell.

Bandon’s Jack McNamara went off injured but his replacement, Kain Donnellan, made his presence felt by taking advantage of a poor 22-drop out and forcing his way over. Dylan Barr’s conversion made it 12-7 at the interval.

Mallow went straight on the attack once play resumed. Left-winger Jimmy Galvin scored an opportunistic try, intercepting a Bandon attempt to exit their half, before Riley Harrison’s conversion extended the visitors’ advantage.

Creditably, the West Cork club redoubled their efforts and Padraig Galvin was on hand to finish off a move that began with a Gearoid O’Leary line-break.

Now 19-12 behind following Barr’s missed conversion, Bandon were unable to prevent their opponents from adding to their total. Sam Glynn made a burst from the base of a scrum where the ball was moved wide for Tomas Maldonado to cross for his second try.

A missed conversion offered Bandon hope but Mallow used the elements intelligently as Riley Harrison walloped over a wind-assisted penalty from the halfway line.

27-12 behind, the hosts emptied their bench only for another Harrison penalty to stretch Mallow’s lead. A revitalised pack delivered instant results as repeatedly taking down Bandon’s rolling maul saw the award of a penalty try with 12 minutes to go.

Another Harrison penalty made it 33-19 before Peter Galvin scored Bandon’s final try as the clock ticked down. A missed conversion was punished by yet another Mallow penalty which Riley Harrison floated between the posts to complete a 36-24 victory.

Scorers 

Bandon: Tomas Maldonado (2 tries), Sean Glynn (1 try), Jimmy Galvin (1 try), Riley Harrison (2 cons, 4 pens).

Mallow: Kain Donnellan (1 try), Padraig Galvin (1 try), Peter Galvin (1 try), 1 penalty try.

Bandon: Olan Crowley; Conor Nash, Gearoid O'Leary, Harry Hall, Colm McCarthy; Dylan Barr, Johan van der Westhuizen; Padraig Galvin (captain), Scott Kingston, Conor Egan; Rhys Hughes, Daniel Lane; Joshua Brady, Ralph O'Mahony, Jack McNamara.

Replacements: James Collins O’Brien, Jacob Brennan, Peter Galvin, Kain Donnellan, Niall Burke, Ben Donegan, Mark Slattery.

Mallow: David Breen; Barry Taylor, Sam Glynn, Dylan Walsh (captain), Jimmy Glynn; Riley Harrison, Santino Bravo; Steven Finn, Darragh Clifford, Chris O’Regan; Daniel Lucey, Owen Glynn; Bryan Henry, Tomas Maldonado, Sean Glynn.

Replacements: Stephen Hayes, Aaron Holland, John Forrest, Dylan Harold, Sean O’Riordan, Conor Ellis, Charlie Blake.

Referee: Jack Kingston.