Club News Weekending March 30th 2008
24th March 2008 By Munster Rugby
All the latest news and reports from clubs all over the province
UL BOHEMIAN RFC
Denis Ryan PRO
The presence of the Munster Schools Senior and Junior Cups recently won by Castletroy College failed to inspire UL Bohs to hold on for what would have been a valuable victory against Dublin visitors Blackrock College, going down by 20-23. As is becoming an all too familiar a story, the winning score was touched down in the very last seconds of added time, to halt the home side’s celebrations.
Playing with the aid of a strong wind, Blackrock commenced at a furious rate and scored a good try in the corner. While they missed the conversion, they made amends almost immediately. The restart was blown back by the gale, and when UL Bohs were penalised in the resultant scrum, Fionn Carr, the visiting full back controlled the long distance kick well to open up an 8-0 lead.
The home side began to get more possession, and good interplay between backs and forwards was rewarded when Martin McPhail cut through the centre to touch down beside the posts. Fergal Lawler put over the conversion and further UL Bohs pressure almost yielded another try, but the ball was lost on the line. A wind assisted clearance brought play back to the home goal line, and only some determined defence kept the line intact.
The 7-8 in favour of ‘Rock at the break appeared inadequate because of the strength of the wind, and it seemed UL Bohs would soon open up a gap. This impression was confirmed when Lawlor put over a good penalty to snatch the lead. However, a mix up in the UL Bohs back line gave ‘Rock a foothold in the ‘22’, and from a resultant penalty, Kyle Tonetti put over the penalty. The visitors applied more pressure, and only a devastating tackle by Coleman Finn saved another score. UL Bohs worked the ball back downfield, and good interplay brought the action to the ‘Rock end. It looked as if the attack was petering out when Fergal Lawler picked up the ball from the back of a ruck and skipped over the line, untouched. His conversion put UL Bohs into a 17-11 lead.
The visitors responded quickly, and Paul Ryan got over for a try which the outhalf Kyle Tonetti converted to put ‘Rock ahead by 18-17. Play moved from end to end. Lawler’s attempted drop goal came off an upright and Ian Hanley collected the rebound to touch down beside the posts. The ref, however, had blown for an infringement. Scrumhalf Chris Delooze was given a yellow card for obstruction, but still UL Bohs kept up the pressure. With time almost up, UL Bohs got a penalty and when Fergal Lawler put the ball between the posts, the home supporters were ready to celebrate. The restart was collected and dispatched back into the ‘Rock half. At this stage UL Bohs appeared to expect the final whistle, but the ‘Rock full back took a quick throw, the UL Bohs runners missed the first up tackles, and suddenly the scrum half outpaced the cover to touch down at the posts. The conversion was missed as the ref blew for full time, leaving the home supporters wondering how, yet again, victory was snatched from them with the last move of the game.
UL Bohs: Ian Hanley; Martin McPhail (Capt); Mark Butler; Coleman Finn; Jamie English (Shaun Payne 40); Fergal Lawlor; Chris Delooze; Kevin Flanagan; Mike Long (Batt Duggan 60); Mike Storey (Richie Feeney 45); Anthony Hartigan; Ryan Hartigan (Cathal O’Neill); Tommy O’Donnell; John Ed O’Connor; James O’Neill.
Blackrock: Fionn Carr (Shane Monahan 55); Alan Henry; Brian Canavan; Gary Browne; David Rowan; Kyle Tonetti; David Madigan (David Moore 60); Kieran Moroney; Shane Byrne; Royce Burke-Flynn; Paul Huntly; Des Dillon (C); Zac Farivarz; Jayden Hill (Paul Ryan 60); Paul Graham
Scorers: UL Bohs: Try Martin McPhail. Fergal Lawler try, 2 cons, 2 pens.
Blackrock: Tries: B Canavan, P Ryan, D Moore. F Carr pen. K Tonetti pen, con.
Yellow card: C Delooze UL Bohs (72)
Ref: J Peake, Ulster
In the U-20 All Ireland Cup quarter final, played in Stradbrook, UL Bohs got some measure of revenge when beating Blackrock by 9-5, having led by 6-5 at the break. This result gives UL Bohs a home semi-final.
In the Women’s All Ireland Bowl, UL Bohs got the better of Boyne by 40-7 to maintain their fantastic record of winning at least a trophy a year.
Garryowen took the honours in the Webb Cup game played in Annacotty, emerging victorious by 16-7. The absence of key players due to Easter domestic duties proved too great a handicap but the players were satisfied with the overall performance.
We wish a speedy recovery to Cathal Garvey who was seriously injured playing for Wanderers at the weekend. A player who has given great service to UL Bohs in the past our thoughts are with Cathal, his father Ambrose our Club Registrar and all his family and we hope to see him up and about again before long.
KINSALE RFC
Maria O’Mahony PRO
The tangible and significant progress of Kinsale Womens’ XV side was shown in a thrilling high scoring game against Galbally. Galbally pipped Kinsale with a last-gasp try in late injury time to win 37-33. The Kinsale players can be proud of their efforts and achievements and are making great headway in this their first season.
2nd XV had great win over keen rivals Bandon, in the J3 Cup 1/4 final, winning 14-0 at home. Tries were scored Ian Connolly and Gordon Sullivan with both conversions by James Lynch.
2nd XV have a break next weekend before stepping up for the J3 Cup Semi-Final in 2 weeks time.
Next week sees the 1st XV making the long trek to Scarriff in east Co Clare. This will be the first time Scarriff and Kinsale will have met – Scarriff already taking Killarney’s scalp. Kinsale will need to be careful, but should have enough guile and experience to get a result. The lessons of the Munster Junior Cup will not be forgotten. The following week ( Sunday 6th April ) sees the prospect of another battle royal ( home fixture ) – this time against Crosshaven – in the 1/4 final of the County Cup.
CLONMEL RFC
Majella Ryan PRO
All-Ireland Cup – 22/03/2008
Clonmel scored their most emphatic victory yet with a 21-5 win over Highfield in the All-Ireland Cup Final. On a blustery day in Navan, Clonmel made light of conditions to come away with this famous and well-deserved win.
From the kick-off Clonmel were under severe pressure from a well-organised Highfield who were contesting the final for the second year running. Playing with a strong wind to their backs Highfield didn’t let the occasion get to them and came out of the blocks much quicker than Clonmel and asked serious questions of their defense. After a 15 minute spell of intense pressure Clonmel conceded a penalty which Highfield elected to kick. The resulting penalty was missed and for all their dominance Highfield failed to score. From the drop out Clonmel put Highfield back into their half and kept them there for the remainder of the 40 minutes. Clonmel pack started to dictate play and slowly but surely Highfield’s confidence started to dwindle. After a series of scrums, picks from the bottoms of rucks and mauls Laura Healy crashed over for a try that was well-deserved. The half-time whistle followed shortly leaving Clonmel 5-0 ahead.
Clonmel felt in confident mood and it showed from the start of the second half as Clonmel kept Highfield pinned back in their half with the aid of a strong breeze. Highfield could do little to relieve the pressure and when a way ward kick was caught brilliantly by Rebecca Hallahan she danced her past a number of defenders and set up what was to be a wonderful try. Bernadette Carrigan, Jean Lonergan, Sadhbh Dromey and Helen Quirke were all involved and it was Quirke who got the final touchdown in the corner. The conversion missed Clonmel led 10-0 and were looking completely in control. Natasha O’Keefe, Jean Lonergan, Kate O’Loughlin, and Laura Healy were really dominating up front while the backline were enhancing their reputations as a defensive unit by not letting Highfield break the gain line once. A chip over the top by Niamh Briggs allowed Bernadette Carrigan to touchdown in the corner. Highfield to their credit never gave up and tried running ball from their own 22, Clonmel’s defence stood strong as Highfield were penalised for holding on on a number of occasions. Niamh Briggs slotted two penalties to help Clonmel into a 21-0 lead. However for the last 15 minutes Clonmel’s concentration and discipline slipped as Highfield gained yards up the field and after a succession of penalties crashed over for their only score of the match.
This was to be Clonmel’s day as shortly after the referee blew the final whistle and on a day when the whole squad played out of their skins Clonmel were crowned All-Ireland Cup Champions!!
OLD CRESCENT RFC
Pat Rickard PRO
We had three minutes of darkness on Saturday last but we survived!
It was two minutes into injury time of our last away game of the season and despite an excellent performance from our side with Mark Ryan in particular outstanding we found ourselves one point down and the reality of relegation staring closely at us. We made a substitution bringing on the ever green Steven Touhy with the intention of getting a drop goal to secure the priceless victory. But we did not get the opportunity to go for the drop goal and soon found ourselves defending in our own 22. We retrieved possession and began to run the ball at the Ballynahinch XV. As if by magic we broke through their defence to score in the corner. Steven Touhy added the difficult conversion to give our side not only a victory but also a winning bonus point to take us out of the bottom two for the first time since Christmas.
This weekend our AIL season comes to a close with the visit of our near neighbours Young Munster to Rosbrien for the biggest game for both club since the turn of the century. Our visitors need a victory to ensure promotion to Division 1 and our side need at least 2 points from the game to guarantee survival in Division 2 next season.
We would appeal to all our members and supporters to come to Rosbrien early on Saturday to support the team. Gates will open at 12.30pm and kick off is at 2.30pm.
The only other side in action last weekend were the 3rds who hosted Harvard Business School RFC on Saturday evening. It was an most enjoyable game played in a excellent spirit with our side running out winners by 27 points to 5.
This weekend they travel to Newcastle West on Sunday to play in the O’Carroll Plate with kick off at 2.30pm.
The under 20s are also in action this weekend in the North Munster League on Saturday with Bruff the opposition in Bruff on Saturday at 12.30pm.
Our under 18 side go on tour to Wales this weekend and we wish them every success on their trip.
Under age training resumes after the Easter break with mini at 10am and youths at 11am.
SHANNON RFC
Andrew McNamara PRO
“We have arrived”. That was one Dolphin supporter’s summation after they maintained their unbeaten home record at our expense. It’s perhaps an indication of our standing in the grand scheme of things , but in truth that fact is little consolation for a rather disjointed and below par performance. From the start we were chasing the game, and despite a much more cohesive second half , we got more or less what we deserved on the day. A losing bonus point was better than nothing and it could prove very valuable when the final tally is added up. It’s also a point that keeps us tentatively in second place but with Garryowen hot on our heels another slip up could prove detrimental to our hopes of a home semi final. Our first half performance was probably our worst 40 minutes of rugby for some time with the number of turnovers far in excess of what’s acceptable, and at 10 nil down a much better effort would be needed to gain some sort of a foothold in the game. The lads did up the tempo and fresh legs from the bench added renewed impetus and we drew level after Dave O’Donovan’s penalty and then Stephen Kelly’s scintillating try from close on the half way line. It looked likely that a draw would be the result after a further exchange of penalties, but Dolphin struck a hammer blow with two minutes to go with a well worked try. With very little time to strike back we were consigned to our third defeat. This weeks training schedule will be based on righting the numerous wrongs of last week and hopefully UCD will not have the opportunities afforded to Dolphin last Sunday. It’s another big game in the context of our defeat and UCD in Belfield has never been an easy fixture. A Supporters coach is leaving Thomond Park at 9.30 and Tadgh Crowe can be contacted on 087 6524958.
The thirds game against Ennis in the O’Carroll plate was rescheduled for this Saturday in Ennis at 3pm while on Sunday the seconds face UL/Bohs in a friendly at 3pm.
This Sunday Our U/16’s travel to Newcastle west while the U/10’s host a blitz in Coonagh and also in Coonagh the U/18’s reunite the entire squad including all the schools tied players with a game between themselves.
Another reminder about the club Lotto. Anyone who has yet to get involved are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Direct debit details and prepayment options are all available and details are up on the website.
The club’s annual Golf classic take place on the 12th and 13th of May and we have tee times still available and anyone interested can contact Jack Keane at jack@cratloewood.com for further details
