The Colts U13 team traveled to Dangan to play NUIG on Saturday the 12th of November, last. The team was down three players and so 16 players made the journey south.
The NUIG team was made up of a considerably bigger pack. This however proved to be of no advantage to them in the first half. First to strike for the colts was scrum half Jack Melvin. Jack crossed the line mid-way through the first half and tacked on the two extra points from his boot. Ten minutes later , Jack Creighton, playing his first match in the number 8 jersey , scored another try for the Colts. The conversion was missed however and so the Colts reached the half way point 12 nil up.
The second half was to prove quite a different affair however. NUIG kept the ball in tight to their larger pack and used the hill and the wind to their advantage. Before long NUIG were leading 14 points to the Colts 12. The Colts responded with class and with seven minutes to go to full time , they were camped in the NUIG twenty two. Relentless pressure from Claremorris paid off and with two minutes to go, the Colts were awarded a penalty twenty metres out and off to the right of the NUIG posts.
Scrum half Jack Melvin was quick to elect to have a kick at the posts. Showing great calm under pressure, Jack slotted the ball through the sticks. 15 points to 14 for Claremorris. With 50 seconds to go, the Colts had to keep the head and run down the clock. NUIG came at them hard, but the Mayo boys put in the tackles and secured the win.
It was a very entertaining match and all sixteen players did the Colts proud. Roll on the next match against Monivea.