I was at the home Ospreys game as I'd not been to the Sportsground all season (don't live in Galway) and was sort of surprised by it all. seemed to be a decent crowd at it (a few hundred maybe - good chunk were probably STH as they get in free), and the level of rugby was pretty good in parts, and really poor in others - seemed almost like a training game, which for the amount of injuries Connacht get I suppose it probably is. The other thing that jumped out was a good few of the subs for Connacht were really young - looked like Leaving Cert kids, good to see them getting brought into the system.

Was a decent way to kill an hour or two while the missus was off shopping, would definitely do it again if there was no other game on over the weekend. Would recommend it to anyone who's stuck for a rugby fix!

it was only a fiver, but whenever I've looked at similar B&I fixtures around Scotland it's always been at least £10 (mainly due to it being smaller clubs, Edinburgh Accademicals for example, who wouldn't have any other revenue sources like the Pro12 teams so they need to make the most of it)

Eagles lose 54-14 to Ospreys Selection

Tries from McKeon and Conroy, conversions from McKeon and Luke Carty

Shelflife wrote: Thats a crazy price to watch the Eagles.

It was a €5 last weekend for walk ups .

It is, it's about a fiver cheaper than their Championship match prices....
It's a mickey mouse competition in which all teams put out scratch sides, should never be more than a tenner for a ticket in Pounds or Euro...

Return train, couple of pints and a burger and you're up around £50....

Given the result, glad I didn't go (I was actually too busy at the weekend anyway, so not really staying away in protest )

Eagles Lost 34-3
JHW amongst the try scorers for London Irish

Thats a crazy price to watch the Eagles.

It was a €5 last weekend for walk ups .

Any UK based Clan heading up to the Madstad tomorrow for the Eagles B&I Cup match with London Irish...?

Tickets: www.lidirect.co.uk/events-choose-seats-f...id=503&pid=1&vid=320

One stand open (West Stand) but £27 a pop for reserved seats to sit in a 3/4 empty barn, with transport/refreshments on top may prove a bit pricey for non LI season ticket holders...
There are unreserved seats at in a section at either end of the West Stand as well for £18, you are right in the corner of the ground though.

Lam And Parata Pair Up In Connacht Eagles' Midfield
21 October 2016 13:25

Connacht Eagles back Mitch LamMitch Lam, the son of Connacht head coach Pat, will make his second successive appearance for the Eagles this weekend© James Crombie/www.Inpho.ieHead coach Mossy Lawler has named his Connacht Eagles team ahead of round 2 in the British & Irish Cup and the trip to play London Irish at Madejski Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

There are six personnel changes to the side that lost 23-10 to Cornish Pirates in the opening round five days ago. With alterations to the senior team to play Zebre, the reshuffled Eagles back-line sees Dave Panter drafted in from Corinthians to start at full-back.

Luke Carty, younger brother of senior out-half Jack, swaps the number 15 shirt for 10 this week, while Mitch Lam, who kicked eight points last Sunday, lines out at inside centre.

Winger Adam Leavy and scrum half Conor McKeon from the Connacht Academy are also brought in to the youthful back-line.

Cronan Gleeson and Pat O'Toole are both promoted from the bench to start in the front row, while experienced lock Lewis Stevenson is named in the second row where he partners this week's team captain Daniel Qualter.

Commenting on the clash with the Exiles, Mossy Lawler said: "It's another big challenge this week as we head over to London Irish with a very young and relatively inexperienced group, but the team are determined to put in a performance we can be proud of.

"There were some positive aspects to our game last week, despite the loss, but we know we will need to build on these and improve across the board to give us a chance on Saturday."

CONNACHT EAGLES (v London Irish): Dave Panter (Corinthians); Adam Leavy (Galwegians), Rory Parata (Galwegians), Mitch Lam (Galwegians), Ed O'Keeffe (Galwegians); Luke Carty (Buccaneers), Conor McKeon (Buccaneers); Cronan Gleeson (Nenagh Ormond), Pat O'Toole (Corinthians), Jason East (Galwegians), Lewis Stevenson, Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers) (capt), Marc Kelly (Galwegians), James Connolly (Corinthians), Stephen McVeigh (Buccaneers).

Replacements: Shane O'Hehir (Sligo), Ja Naughton (Galwegians), Sean Masterson (Corinthians), Josh Pim (Galwegians), Stephen Kerins (Corinthians), Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers), Joe Murphy (Corinthians).

West Briton Newspaper wrote: Cornish Pirates make winning start to cup campaign in Ireland
By Rhod_Mitchell | Posted: October 16, 2016

Connacht Eagles 10 Cornish Pirates 23
by Nigel Walrond

Cornish Pirates got their British and Irish Cup campaign off to an impressive start with a hard-earned victory on the west coast of Ireland.

Tries by Sam Simmonds, Dan Lee and Jake Parker, and eight points from the boot of fly-half Laurence May, secured the win at the Sportsground in Galway, but the margin could arguably have been even bigger.

It was a very physical game that was once again watched by former Pirates high performance manager Chris Stirling, during his three-week break back in the UK from New Zealand.

Before the match kicked off, there was a minute's silence in memory of Munster coach and former Ireland international Anthony Foley, who died on Saturday night.

Pirates made 10 changes from the side that lost to Yorkshire Carnegie in the Championship seven days earlier, with Matt Evans, Alex Dancer, Laurence May, skipper Chris Morgan and Dan Lee the only survivors.

The Cornishmen got off to a flying start with a try after only five minutes, with a well-worked move finished off by dual-registered Exeter Chiefs flanker Simmonds, who ran an aggressive line, side-stepped two defenders and slid over beside the posts.

May's conversion attempt missed in the windy conditions, and Connacht responded eight minutes later with a fairly straightforward penalty by opposite number Mitch Lam.


The Connacht second-string side, who did not win a game in the British and Irish Cup last season, enjoyed a good spell of pressure and took the lead in the 23rd minute with a try by Jordan Conroy, converted by Lam, but Pirates hit back swiftly.

No.8 Lee touched down after a catch-and-drive line-out, but May's conversion went across the face of the posts, leaving it all level at 10-10.

Pirates had a chance to score a third try as half-time approached, but Canadian international full-back Matt Evans was held up over the line.

Deep into first-half injury time, Connacht's Georgian tight-head prop Saba Meunargia was yellow carded by referee Ben Blain for collapsing a scrum five metres from the home try line, but the Pirates failed to take advantage of their extra man by eventually knocking on at the base of another scrum, making it honours even at the break.

Lam missed a penalty attempt early in the second half, but the Pirates nudged their noses back in front at 13-10 just before the midway point of the second period with a penalty from May after a yellow card for Connacht hooker Jack Dinneen.


Lam missed a second penalty chance a few minutes later, but May made no mistake with his own opportunity in the 63rd minute to extend the visitors' advantage to six points.

Another try opportunity went begging for the Pirates eight minutes from time when winger Jack Arnott bamboozled the defence with a superb run, but instead of trying to score himself, he unselfishly threw out a pass to the unmarked Alex O'Meara, and the ball eluded his team-mate and went into touch, to the huge disappointment of the visiting camp.

However, with three minutes of normal time to go, the Pirates made the game safe with a try that had an element of good fortune about it, with a helpful ricochet providing a score for second-half replacement Parker, with May converting for a 23-10 lead.

Pirates had a late scare, but Evans put in a try-saving tackle to ensure it was a happy long trip home for the Cornishmen.

The other match in Pirates' group this weekend saw London Irish win 25-14 at Ospreys Premiership Select, who are the visitors to the Mennaye Field next Sunday.

Connacht: Poolman, Parata, Ili, Griffin (capt), O'Keefe, Lam, Kerins, East, Dinneen, Meunargia, Cannon, Qualter, Kelly, Connolly, McVeigh.
Replacements: O'Toole, Gleeson, Masterson, Pim, McKeon, Carty, Conroy.

Cornish Pirates: Evans, Arnott, Hendrickson, Dancer, O'Meara, L May, Pope, P Andrew, Channon, Gendall, Morgan (capt), Pascoe, Bolwell, Simmonds, Lee.
Replacements: Innard, J Andrew, Parker, Stevens, Day, Cargill, Bartlett.

Referee: Ben Blain.

Connacht: Try: Conroy; Con: Lam; Pen: Lam.

Pirates: Try: Simmonds, Lee, Parker; Con: May; Pens: May (2).

Yellow cards: Connacht: Meunargia 40, Dinneen 57.


Read more at www.westbriton.co.uk/cornish-pirates-mak...#AWL1jhbPB3m0VY7l.99

Ft Eagles 10 Pirates 23

Do you think Cannon, Connolly, and Parata are ready to step up, just in case?

HT 10-10 should have conceded a penalty try before ht

if someone can get down to the Sportsground again and give us an extended summary, it would be great.
Focus on Poolman/Ili who might play in Parma next week if TOH needs a rest. And newcomer Cannon

So I guess Robb’s not ready yet, don’t think he’s 24th man (Stevenson could be). Ili will play on Sunday only if he comes in for less than 20 against Toulouse I guess, so it doesn’t make sense to keep the other back (Peter) in the fridge if he is fit...

Brennan is not fit yet? Overall that’s one of the strongest Eagles team I saw on the paper. Very few U20’s. Maybe for the 1st time we could expect knock-out stages, as we’re able to build a very strong XV even with 15 players unavailable.

Do you know who is this East guy at LH prop, and Conroy/Pim by the way?

I know we're missing most of the props and locks from the academy through injury, but strange to see no Maloney, Romaine, or Brennan in the 23.

Not bad, but expected Griff to be with the first team.

CONNACHT EAGLES (v Cornish Pirates): Danie Poolman; Rory Parata, Stacey Ili, Eoin Griffin (capt), Ed O'Keeffe; Mitch Lam, Stephen Kerins; Jason East, Jack Dinneen, Saba Meunargia, James Cannon, Daniel Qualter, Marc Kelly, James Connolly, Stephen McVeigh.

We're starting to look pretty desperate for props, then, even for cover in the main squad. I'd be happy to have news about Soroka...
Aidan can play, Eagles aren't just about Academy, promising club rugby players in the province are allowed to take part