Ballyhaunis win Mayo rugby derby in Castlebar

RARELY was picking a player-of-the-match easier than in this instant. Ballyhaunis scrum-half Rowan Gouws scored four tries in a performance where he popped up wherever there was a hint of space or a gap, and he would dart through it thanks to his blistering pace.

The South African player-coach was simply on fire on matchday one. Ballyhaunis came off the back of winning the Curley Cup. The pre-season competition is named after one of the club's co-founders and it's now the second time in-a-row that the East Mayo men have claimed the trophy.

It was an emotional occasion for them. And they might have been forgiven for celebrating this win accordingly. But the players showed they were as fresh as a daisy and up for the fight in Castlebar, against a team, that won silverware themselves.

Under new head coach David Newman, the boys from the county town won the Curley Plate. And after relegation last season, Castlebar were intent on starting their adventure in the Connacht J1B League on a positive note.

But it was the guests from Ballyhaunis who dominated the first half. Their powerful and experienced forward pack won two penalties in the first two scrums. And in general, their flawless and energetic set-pieces gave them a good platform to attack from.

Number 8 and captain Fintan Crawley marshalled the troops and led by example. A resolute ball carrier, who runs hard and gets over the gain line. In general, the Ballyhaunis forwards are imposingly tall. Naturally, they were a constant threat in the air at line-outs and poached a couple of them.

Crawley produced the scene of the day, as he played a perfect overhead kick for Gouws rushing after him in support. The kick got the perfect bounce, yet, it wasn’t an easy catch but the able Gouws made it look easy to walk home for the try.

Scrum-half Gouws scored three tries for Ballyhuanis to give them a 22-10 lead at half-time. Castlebar, helped by being a man up for ten minutes, due to a yellow card for full-back Jack Deegan, came alive, finally. They closed the gap to a single point midway through the second half: 24-25.

But it was Gouws to the fore again who danced through Castlebar’s defence, breaking several tackles, leaving defenders in the dust, to score a sucker punch of a try. Then with only six minutes left, winger Daniel Hill crossed the line for Ballyhaunis’ fifth try.

At least a small consolation for Castlebar, they secured a losing try bonus point, when Orann Bourke touched down in the corner.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.