Club News Weekending 25.01.09

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Nenagh Ormond RFC Rugby Notes

Senior – Our Senior XV were due to resume league action in an away fixture against Sundays Well last weekend, however, this game was cancelled due to the weather conditions. Our Senior Seconds were also due to travel to Cork on Sunday last to play a friendly against Douglas but this was also cancelled.

Seniors are in action at home next Saturday when they play Barnhall in the league.

Senior Seconds are also in league action again this Sunday when they play Sundays Well at home at 2.30.

Ladies – Nenagh Ladies had planned to play a friendly match last Saturday but it was cancelled due to the weather. They play their final pool game in the league away to Youghal on Sunday next, 25th January.
Training continues Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm. New players always welcome. Contact Louise at 087 2201596.

Under 20s – Last week’s under 20s game was called off due to weather conditions. Our next game is on Saturday 24th January when we are away to Richmond at 12 noon. Training continues on Friday night at 7.30.

Underage Ormonds

UNDER 18’s: NORFC – 15 Waterpark – 0 (East Munster League)

A wet and stormy Sunday morning saw Nenagh take on their old rivals Waterpark RFC in the East Munster league at Lisatunny. In a hard fought game where back play was very much limited by the weather conditions, with the Tipperary team coming away with a much deserved win on a scoreline of 15 points to nil. This win saw the Nenagh outfit complete the double on their old adversaries and current league champions – effectively ending their league ambitions.

After a disappointing loss away to Kilfeacle last week, Nenagh were in determined mood not to let their drive for league success falter and started strongly from the off. The strong Munster traditions of rucking and mauling were to the fore throughout the match, and sustained Nenagh pressure saw them take an early lead through a well taken try from Captain Damien Cahalan (who played much of the match carrying an ankle injury). The team continued this pressure rugby throughout the first half, and came close on a number of occasions to increasing their lead, but were denied by good Waterpark tackling. Waterpark themselves threatened on one or two occasions before the break, but rugged defence and strong tacking from backs and forwards denied them any real opportunities.

Nenagh again started the second half strongly and were quickly rewarded for all of their hard work, when Rory Whelan barged over for a try to make the scores 10 – nil to Nenagh. It was never going to be a day for kickers, and Dean Wallace’s conversion attempt slipped narrowly wide, however this young man showed some very astute tactical kicking out of hand throughout the game, and moved his team forward at every opportunity. The forwards continued to drive through their opponents at every opportunity, with Cahalan and Whelan ably assisted by Kieran McCann, Andrew Kelly and Adrian Lewis, and were soon 15 – nil up after another try from the rampaging Rory Whelan. Nenagh were denied a fourth try on the stroke of full time, when Eddie Gleeson got over for what looked like a legitimate score, but in the end it didn’t matter as Nenagh ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 15 points to nil.

For those not in attendance at this fine match, it has to be said that this was a tremendous performance by our U-18’s, as conditions were at times atrocious, and it reached a time in the second half when it was difficult to distinguish one team from the other. But this great win was fashioned out of a strength and determinations which will stand these young men in good stead in the weeks ahead as they seek to lift the silverware that they so richly deserve.

The team on the day for Nenagh were as follows;
Forwards – Kieran Mc Cann, Keith Purcell, Adrian Lewis, Padraig Maxwell, Kevin O’Gorman, Andrew Kelly, Ritchie Nevin, Cathal Donovan, Damian Cahalan (Capt.), Rory Whelan, Paidi Curtin and Eddie Gleeson
Backs – Fergal Hayes, Sean Fogarty, Dean Wallace, John O’Dowd, Kevin Walsh, James Holland, Sean Hayes and Michael Long

We are at home to Cashel RFC next weekend, and training continues as normal in Tyone each Friday night at 7.30

UNDER 16’s: NORFC. – 26 Scariff- 0 (Friendly)

Nenagh Ormond entertained Scarriff U16’s in a friendly on Sundy morning last.
Played in difficult conditions the U16 side dominated the game from the start. Facing into the elements in the first half, the Ormonds dominated the set piece and controlled the ball well through their forwards. This enabled them to go in at half time 5-0 in front after a well taken try by Eddie Darcy. With the elements at their backs in the second period the Nenagh side dominated field position and scored 3 excellent tries by Austin Cummane , Cronan Gleeson and Kevin Seymour. Overall this was a very satisfactory display by the side in very difficult conditions. The focus returns to the League competition next week when Nenagh entertain Cashel in Lisatunny on Sunday Morning.

UNDER 13’s & 14’s:
Called off due to the weather.

UL Bohemian RFC Rugby Notes
Denis Ryan
PRO

UL Bohs gained a valuable win over Dungannon by 11-0 in the All Ireland League. Once again this was a game of two halves, but whereas last week in Athlone, UL Bohs had played satisfactorily against the wind in the first period and then failed to make any impression against Buccs after the changeover, this time they showed they had absorbed the lessons of that day.

The home side had the advantage of the strong wind in the first half, but failed to make sufficient use of the elements, and turned around a mere 3 points to the good. The UL Bohs scrum was under pressure, but when a series of penalty were awarded on the Dungannon line, they chose to take the visitors on in the tight rather than using the lineout, or even a kick at goal. Most supporters believed that such decision making would be punished after the break. Then when Dungannon had a man carded, UL Bohs ran the ball and still could not break down the stubborn defence.

However, whatever happened during the halftime team talk, the restart saw a much more purposeful UL Bohs side in action. Here now was a team which could retain possession for lengthy periods. David Foley snatched a few opposition lineout throws, and James O’Neill made thunderous charges from the backs of scrums and rucks. The dynamic pair of Paul Grennell and Tommy O’Donnell were everywhere, while Batt Duggan carried an amount of ball, aided by Richie Feeney and Mike Storey. Ryan Hartigan also put in some good tackles until having to retire injured, while his replacement Brian O’Hara showed as a player of real potential.

A major contributor to the cause was Aidan McNulty. Having kicked a penalty in the first half, he added another early in the second period-no easy feat in the conditions. However, it was in his overall play that he showed just what a footballer he can be, as he varied his game extremely well, looking for the break and offloading at crucial times to keep Dungannon out of the ‘red’ zone. In this he was well assisted by Chris Delooze, and later, Cathal Sheridan.

One expects stability under pressure from Munster legend Shaun Payne, but the other backs also showed up well in both defence and attack, with Mark Doyle and Tom Healy ready to improvise under the guidance of the more experienced Martin McPhail and Coleman Finn.

The crucial point came when, having retained the ball for a lengthy period, UL Bohs were rewarded with a penalty far out on the right wing. Many thought that Martin McPhail’s decision to have Aidan McNulty attempt a kick at goal into the teeth of the gale was ill judged, but it became a masterstroke. The ball held up in the wind, and while it was knocked on by a UL Bohs player just short of the line, the home pack caused major disruption at the resulting scrum. Tommy O’Donnell ripped the ball from the Dungannon defence; Cathal Sheridan fed James O’Neill who put Coleman Finn through the gap for a great try.

Try as they would, Dungannon were unable to break through the now impenetrable UL Bohs defence, who kept the line intact until the final whistle. In those closing minutes, Pat O’Regan joined the fray in the front row, while veteran Gordon Ryan got a great welcome when he made his appearance, although he did bring the average age of the pack up to about 23 years with his arrival. Appropriately, as the sides left the field, the heavens opened to release a final deluge of hailstones, but the UL Bohs supporters felt no pain as they basked in the satisfaction of a job well done by their young team.

On Saturday we welcome current league leaders Clontarf, and look forward to another extremely competitive game. We are mindful that they beat us last season with a score in the 11th minute of added time, so this year we are determined to keep going for the full 91 minutes, or however long the ref deems appropriate.

The U-20s played their league game against Bruff in the relative calm of the UL Bowl and got some fine tries, despite the gale force wind, in winning by 34-0. See report on http://www.ulbohs.com/. On Saturday they travel to Coonagh to take on Shannon, in what promises to be an extremely tight contest.

The 3rds Gleeson League game against Thomond was called off when the ref failed to arrive. Both sides were ready for the contest, despite the extreme conditions, but will probably enjoy the contest better on a more benign day.