Claremorris Colts virtually guaranteed their place in the Connaught U17 League final with a very impressive victory in Tuam last week.

Played in perfect conditions but bitterly cold, Claremorris got out of the blocks fast and put together a number of phases of passing rugby putting the home side on back foot. The pressure eventually produced reward when Liam Walsh broke a tackle to release William Gantley who in turn offloaded to Bradley Hughes who beat two Tuam defenders to score the opening try. Jack Roynane added the two points from the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

From the restart Tuam put the visitors under pressure and won a scrum. However from the resulting scrum when they tried to play the ball through hands they were forced in a knock on which Jack Ronyane kicked long which allowed Claremorris win the turnover after good work from Daniel Mcallister and Alan Thornton.

The Colts then won a penalty which Liam Walsh took quickly to release Brian Quinn who used his pace to run at the Tuam defence to score Claremorris’s second try which Jack Ronayne converted to leave scoreline 14-0 after 15 minutes.

Claremorris continued to attack and a combined tackle from Bradley Hughes and Daniel McCallister forced a penalty which Jack Ronayne converted to leave a score of 17-0 heading for Half time.

On the restart Claremorris won a turnover which Jack Ronayne kicked downfield. Jason Kelly put in a super chase to tackle the Tuam player and win possession. He then fed Dylan Jennings who drove forward before offloading to Bobby Douglas who beat two defenders and finding Steve McGreal who scored under the posts. Jack Ronayne again converted to leaving Claremorris leading 24-0.

As the half wore on the Colts stole a Tuam lineout and won a penalty which Jack Ronayne took quickly after spotting the home defence asleep and released Dylan Jenninhs who made good ground before feeding Jason Kelly to score another try. Again Jack Ronayne maintained his 100% record and converted to leave a scoreline of 31-0.

The home side never give up and attacked in numbers and would have scored a try only for a great tackle by Bradley Hughes. Tuam won a number of penalties inside the Colts 22′ and only for some great defending would have got a reward for their efforts.

Claremorris eventually lifted the stalemate when Tomas Morris made a quick break and passing to Liam Walsh before Brian Quinn found  Tomas Morris again to score in the corner.

When of the last acts of the game saw Tomas Morris again make a line break with Conor Jordan on his shoulder who fed Bradley Hughes and on to Wiliam Gantley before Steve McGreal went over for the final try of the night as the Colts ran 41-0 winners.

Colts: B McGing, K Murphy, A Thornton, D Jennings, D McCallister, H Kane, J Kelly, S McGreal, L Walsh, J Ronayne, C Jordan, B Hughes, W Gantley, R McLoughlin, B Quinn

Subs: T Morris, R Merrick, B Douglas, J McDonagh.