Historic First League Game for Ballincollig Underage

Ballincollig recently fielded an U18 side for the first time in the club’s history and the team played their first league match against Mallow

Ballincollig welcome the set-up of an underage ladies rugby team, coached on Monday’s between 5:30 and 7:00.  The team has come through the hard work and commitment of coaches Theresa Nolan and Robbie Ormond. Currently the girls are coming from Coachford Community College, Colaiste Choilm and Ballincollig Community School.  On Saturday the 10th November 2007, the first affiliated underage ladies side in Ballincollig RFC Club history, played their first official league game in a new structure.  The game was against Mallow, whose ladies are 3 years playing and some older than our girls, but the knowledge and skills learned by these ladies at this stage, will stand to them and the standard of the senior game as they move up the ranks.  It was so heartening to see, from a senior perspective, so many girls out there enjoying themselves.  The game itself, was a blooding, and given the home side’s inexperience there was no set pieces, bar rudimentary line-outs, and the first half bear hugs running to full contact in the second half.  Coaches were delighted with the development of these girls, they were prepared and trained for tackling and the offloading was a joy to behold.  Despite the harrowing scoreline (5-45), the home side and family spectators came away with a feeling that this is something special happening in this team and only going to get better!  For girls wishing to join in the action, we are looking for girls between 14 and 18 can join in training on Mondays, and contact coach Theresa Nolan on 086 391 9184.  Training Update: Based on Saturday’s game, the girls were given provisional positions and the feedback is that initial scummaging session should have the seniors running!

Ballincollig Ladies Slip Up At Home
Ballincollig 5 Waterpark 10

In a direct reversal from the same away fixture, Ballincollig lost at home to arch rivals Waterpark, and now sit second in the league table due to points difference. If Ballincollig Ladies wish to get to the All Ireland Play Offs, and secure a home game, rather than a trip to Ulster or Leinster, they need to regain the top spot, by winning the remaining games, while keeping look out for points difference and bonus points.
 
Team Points P W L D BP1 BP2 WO PF PA Difference
Waterpark 19 5 4 1 0 2 1 0 96 27 69
Ballincollig 19 5 4 1 0 2 1 0 91 54 37
Nenagh 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 39 68 -29
Youghal 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 5 82 -77

Whilst the team had begun to have a familiar look to it albeit still settling on positions the great thing about sport is you never know what team the opposition will field on the day.  In this case the home side was missing some pack regulars- Hooker Trish Drinan and Prop Denise Jennings, with Siobhan O’ Leary and Linda Kennedy stepping in.  If the new look front row was stabilized by experienced Fran Whooley, then the same could be said by Anna Healy’s no. 8 role in the back row, shepherding relative new comer flankers Maudie Murphy and Ger Gallahue.  Some mixing up in the backs also with the welcome return of Davina Fenton whilst Anne Marie Kelly returns to full back, Karen Fitzpatrick, Kate O’Brien and Lillian Whooley were missing on the day.  The first half was where the scoring action was, and to be fair the best of the rugby from the home side as well.  The first 10 minutes were end to end action culminating in a try for Waterpark, after some loose play, and narcolepsy in Ballincollig’s defense.  The play then went into the Waterpark 22, where after a couple of determined efforts by the forwards, Dely Stevenson flashed it wide to the backs, and the ever impressive Aoife Deasy, came thundering in from an unfamiliar full back position to score in the corner, it’s worth noting here that three tacklers fell away from her determined line.  Unfortunately Waterpark came back at us, and further sleep induced defense resulted in another try, though also unconverted. 10-5 was the score was to stay, though at half time, coaches encouraged focusing on the defense, and Ballincollig took this to the nth degree. The second half marked the deterioration of the set-piece, particularly the scrum, with Dely and Anne-Marie struggling to get any type of quality possession and as a result, we were camped inside the 22 for most of the half.  Despite that there was some impressive defense, with Ciara Prendergast holding up a try, that would have resulted in us losing the bonus point.  Unfortunately the try that was but wasn’t awarded in Nenagh by Ger Gallahue that would have given us a bonus point, that would have us still on top of the table, as we would have had one more that Waterpark.  Next up, a break for a couple of weeks, until the 2nd December, where we have Nenagh at home.

Linda Kennedy (1), Fran Whooley (2), Siobhan O’Leary (3), Ciara Prendegast (4)
Joanne Browne (5), Maudie Murphy (6), Ger Gallahue (7), Anna Healy (8),
Dely Stevenson (9), Anne Marie Kelly (10), Aoife Deasy (11), Karen Fitzpatrick (12), Anne Marie Kelly (13), Kate O’Brien (14), Barbara Whooley (15)

Subs:, Grainne Burke, Audrey McSweeney, Linda Holland, Trish Drinan