Club Notes: Week Ending 06.12.15

2nd December 2015 By Munster Rugby

This week’s club notes come from Bantry Bay, Newcastle West, Thurles and Waterford City rugby clubs.

Click here for Bantry Bay Club Notes

Click here for Newcastle West Club Notes

Click here for Thurles Club Notes

Click here for Waterford City Club Notes

Bantry Bay RFC

Courtesy of:- Damien Hicks, Club Head Coach Women’s Rugby

Bantry Bay U18 Girls Match Report

Result was Bantry Bay 26- listowel 12.

Last Sunday saw our U18 girls go head to head with Listowel in the Munster league Semi Final. From the off we knew it would be tough. Just how tough we soon found out as through an intercept in the first 60 seconds, Listowel crossed under the post. They converted to lead 7-0. The BBRFC girls kept the heads up and settled by putting together a few phases which put Listowel under pressure. With all the pressure The Bay girls were awarded a penalty and they decided to run it. Clare took it on and with a big drive supported by the other girls, she crossed the line which Enya duly converted. This really settled the girls and they started to play their style of rugby. They seem to thrive under pressure and kept their focus and really started to put the phases together. There were huge hits put in by all the team and not 1 girl shied back. Through great teamwork and good phases, Yvonne crossed the whitewash and Enya once again converted. Listowel were not giving up at any point and kept the pressure on BBRFC at all times. It was a very even contest. Clodagh got the ball out the wing and powered through with her tell tale pump of the hand. She crossed the line and again Enya in flying form converted right on halftime. The Bay girls led 21-7 at half time. With Bantry down to 14 players for awhile Listowel took advantage and crossed the line but were unable to convert. This brought the sides to 21-12. Our forwards really did work hard for each other making some hard yards with ball in hand allowing the backs to make some good headway but crossing the line was eluding them. Yvonne was given an inch and took a mile by crossing in the corner. Enya was unlucky not to convert this one. Again Listowel came and it was through determination and will and good discipline that BBRFC foiled their attempts to cross. It was tough, it was emotional but it was worth every minute of it. Player of the day goes to each and everyone of the 19 girls who were present today. I asked and they delivered.

How this team has developed is unbelievable. The work and dedication put in by these girls is second to none and they deserve so much credit.

Final score Bantry Bay RFC-26 – Listowel RFC- 12.

Thank you to Listowl RFC for a tough game today you played some good rugby.

A big thanks to Joanne McCarthy for doing first aid to day it was greatly appreciated.

A big thanks to all the supporters who turned up today, the weather wasn’t the best but your support was greatly appreciated by all the team thank you from all.

Saturday 12 December is the date of the final with venue to be announced shortly please put the date in the diary and come and support.
Team-
1.Danielle Murphy,
2.Eimear Downey,
3.Rachel O Sullivan,
4.Ellie Hutchinson,
5.Grace Crowley,
6.Caroline Downey,
7.Eilis Cunney,
8.Clare Coombes,
9.Rachel Crowley(capt)
10.Enya Breen,
11.Tara Cunney,
12.Yvonne O Shea,
13.Laura Cato,
14.Clodagh Burke,
15.Fiona Cronin,
16.Mary Hilda Hurley,
17.Andrea Stock,
18.Jessica Cronin,
19.Kate Sheehan.

Bantry Bay Senior ladies match report-

Bantry Bay v Youthal/Dungarvan

The senior Ladies team was out today for a away game v Youghal/Dungarvan. The ladies are still learning with every game and today played some fantastic rugby in tough conditions.

With a few players playing out of position they started well but youghal showed there experience and ran in a couple of early try’s but Bantry fought back to score a well worked team try spreading the ball out to Roisin to score her first try of the season. Just before the halftime whistle the Bay ladies conceded a penalty close to the line and with quick hands youghal got across the line and again converted to make the score 21-5 at halftime.

The one thing with the Bantry ladies there heads never drop and regrouped and went out firing on all cylinders again and with each team attacking for awhile the Bay finally put a few phases together and Aileen crossed the line. 21-10. In the end youghals experience told and ran in another 2 try’s and the game finished 31-10 to Youghal.

There was so many positives to take from this game for the Bantry ladies with most of the team playing only there 4th game. I have no doubt that the skills this team posess and hard work they are all putting in results will come sooner rather than later. If someone had said to me at the start of the season would I be happy with 2 wins after 4 games I would said yes I would be delighted and I am very happy with the way the team is developing. Next game is against Richmond Rabbits to be played in Bantry on the 6th November. Please come out and support.

New players are always welcome no experience required if interested please contact Damien Hicks 0863872877.

Newcastle West RFC

Courtesy of:- Martin O’Sullivan Club PRO

First XV – Munster Junior League Div 1

The weather delayed our return to action on Sunday last. We travel to Clonakilty this Sunday in our last fixture before the Christmas break. We will update details on Facebook and Twitter later in the week, but as it stands the fixture goes ahead.

Fixture: Clonakilty RFC V Newcastle West RFC v Sunday Dec 6^th in Clonakilty @ 2.30pm

Sympathy
Club offers it’s condolences to Pat Darcy and family on the untimely passing of his mother Florrie. A very proud West Limerick woman and one of Ballyloughane’s best pupils. Each week she read the Weekly Observer with a special focus on Old Mill news and the Newcastle West RFC notes. She was always happy to see mention of her grandsons Sean and Thomas in the match reports and joy that her son Pat (active member and notary coach of many under age team of NCW RFC), his wife Alice and twin daughters Emma and Sarah were always among the cheering supporters of Sean and Thomas’ teams. A charming woman with great interest all that was near and dear to her. May she rest in peace.

Munster V Leicester Tigers
Please book your tickets for Munster vs Leicester Tigers in Thomond Park on 12-Dec-2015. Thinking of a Christmas present for that Rugby fan in the family, why not buy a 2 match pack and cover both Leicester and Stade Francais match in Mid January. Please ring Pat Daly (087 2421682) or Martin O’Sullivan (087 8322731) after 7 pm or simply e-mail ncwrfctickets@gmail.com to secure the tickets.

Mini Rugby season has begun. New Volunteers & Players needed.
The 2015/16 is in full flight and all children wishing to partake in rugby should join their age group at our mini rugby training: u6 – u12 every Sunday 10:30 to 11:30 with mini blitzes once a month either at home or in a club in Limerick. This year to enhance the service and goodwill we need people to volunteer to help out in player registration, serving tea & coffees. A roster will exist to divide the tasks among the volunteers. Mini and Family Membership will be taken in Clubhouse every Sunday during Minis training from 10:30 am 11:30 am. Plenty Newcastle West branded stock available in our club shop, come ask while in Clubhouse for your Sunday cuppa !!

Youths and U20 Rugby Training in full swing
Calling all u13 to u20 players, please contact or respond to texts from your coaches to attend your teams training. With the success we had at underage last season we are hoping to equal if not better the success this year. If you want to be part of a winning team & club come to training and get noticed.

Mini fixtures for next week
Please check with Coaches if last Sunday’s blitzes to be played this Sun 06-Dec as they were abandoned last weekend due to inclement weather.

Age	Date	Host	Team 1	Team 2	Team 3	Team 4
U8	06-Dec	Newcastle West	Copsewood Gaels	Richmond	Bruff	Young Munster
U10	06-Dec	Bruff-Bears	Bruff-Bulls	Presentation	St. Mary’s	Newcastle West

Youth fixtures for next week

Date	Time	Fixture	Team 1	v	Team 2	Pitch
05-Dec	14:30	U20 Div. 2	NCW/Estuary	v	Kanturk	Cullinagh
06-Dec	11:00	U13	Thomond	v	NCW/Estuary	Fitzgerald Park
06-Dec	11:30	U15	NCW/Estuary	v	Garryowen	Killeline
06-Dec	12:30	U14	NCW/Estuary	v	UL Bohs	Killeline
06-Dec	11:30	U18 Friendly	Old Crescent	v	NCW/Estuary	Slattery Park

Lotto

Results from Friday Nov 27^th Lotto Draw

Numbers Drawn 13, 14, 17 & 30 – NO WINNER

Lucky Dip Winners
Michael O’Connor
Pat Lenihan, Portland Drive, NCW
Mick Lambert, c/o Lee’s Bar
Rian Mulcahy, MAG Motors
Nora Hennessy, Goat St, NCW
Des Doherty, c/o Market Barber, NCW
Johnny O’Sullivan, Cullinagh, NCW
Promotors Prize – Silver Dollar Bar

Next week’s draw will be in Fitz’s Bar on Friday Dec 4^th . The jackpot stands at €12,800.

Thurles RFC

Courtesy of:- Brian Scanlon, Club PRO

Thurles RFC Vs. Tralee RFC – Munster Junior League

Thurles RFC 46 – 18 Tralee RFC

The Thurles First XV made the long journey down to O’Dowd Park, Tralee early Sunday morning, they travelled with a high level of uncertainty as to whether the game was in fact going to take place, with ‘Storm Clodagh’ in full force on the way down, it was a terrible day for driving, let alone trying to play an important League game and with our Second XV game in Abbeyfeale falling foul to the weather the previous day, Thurles didn’t know what to expect on arrival at the Kerry venue.

The game got underway and Thurles started playing into the gale force wind, such was the strength of the wind, it didn’t seem as if Thurles would venture too far past the half way line in the first half. Credit to the Tipp men, they got stuck in and traded blow for blow with Tralee as Aidan Dwyer traded a penalty with the opposition kicker for a 3-3 score line early on.

Despite the strong wind, Thurles were mounting the pressure on the home side with attack after attack, with both Shane Moloney’s, Colm Skehan and Joey Kelly making some great yards in the opposition half. Tralee eventually caved into the pressure, after some excellent work by the Thurles pack, Skehan went crashing over to put the Tipp men ahead with an unconverted try, 3-8.

From the kick off, the Thurles pack secured possession through Phil Kelly, who with the help of brothers Dave & Joey worked their way back up the field, the ball was delivered to the backs and from there Shane Lanigan-Ryan pierced a hole through the Tralee defence, with the option of centre partner Shane Moloney on the left & winger Adrian Bourke on the right, the ball went to space on the right and Bourke sped over in the corner for another try, with the difficult kicking conditions, this conversion also went astray, 3-13.

Thurles were motoring now and from the restart, Skehan gathered and presented clean ball to scrum half Irwin, who delivered to the backs to clear their lines, the ball was excellently cleared and seemed to hit touch, but Adrian Bourke was awake and saw that the ball had in fact stayed in play, he gathered brilliantly raced down the wing, he drew the cover and passed excellently to Lanigan-Ryan who in turn found the oncoming Paddy Phelan in support who raced in out wide to increase the score to 3-18.

Tralee restarted once again & Nicky Irwin gathered and offloaded to the oncoming Skehan who beat a number of players before setting up good clean ball to set up another attack. A highlight of the last number of weeks in watching this Thurles team has been the link between the backs and forwards, it has been a pleasure to witness. The ball reached the hands of Peter Coman who was having an excellently game, he got the better of his man again before being stopped in his tracks by the covering defence, the Thurles forwards were waiting for ball from their Out-half & got their wish with Ger McCormack, Rory O’Dwyer & Ciarán Ryan powering their way up the field in supporting of each other. The ball went through the centre again and secured again by excellent work from the forwards, Irwin delivered again and having been heavily involved in two earlier tries it was Shane Lanigan-Ryan who sliced his way through the cover to touch down under the posts for a try of his own which also gifted the much sought after bonus point, which was converted by Dwyer to bring an end to the half with a scoreline of 3-25 to Thurles, an excellent first half performance given the conditions they faced.

It was Thurles who kicked off the second half and looked to pin the home side back in their own half, they did just that, with excellent pressure in defence they forced Tralee to knock with near 10 minutes gone in the second half. From the resultant scrum, the ball shot out and it was Aidan Dwyer who reacted quickest, he raced down blind side selling dummies to the Tralee back row before drawing in the full back and excellently passing to Ciarán Ryan who was supporting like all good back row players should be, to speed over out wide, the conversion was added to increase the score to 3-32.

The Kerry men were battling hard all day and to their credit didn’t give up at any stage, they were rewarded with a try of their own when a skyward ball from their out half got held in the wind and fortunately landed in the hands of their speedy winger who took full advantage of the havoc the high kick had caused in the wind to touch down out wide. The kicker couldn’t defeat the wind from the conversion and the score remained 8-32.

The next quarter of the game saw Tralee carry on their purple patch but Thurles took the pressure & with some great defence the 3 Kelly brothers, McCormack and Ciarán Ryan in particular putting in some great hits, forced the turnover once again and the boot of Dwyer landed the ball inside the Tralee 22. From this platform, Thurles went on the attack again, going through the phases right to left on a number of occasions before the ball found Adrian Bourke once raced over for his second try of the game, the conversion was added to put some more light between the sides, 8-39.

Thurles introduced Ollie Delaney at scrum half, Declan O’Rahilly on the wing and Dwayne Stanley came on and particularly impressed around the field when introduced for the injured Rory O’Dwyer midway through the second half.

Approaching the final quarter of the game, Thurles were found guilty of taking the foot off the pedal, with the miserable conditions and long journey home to face them, few would have blamed them but this lapse in concentration allowed Tralee in for 2 more tries out wide, both went unconverted but reduced the deficit to 18-39.

Thurles though, to their credit awoke from their power nap and put the pressure on again from the kick off, they forced the turn over again inside the Tralee 22 with Joey Kelly taking the credit, the forwards and backs combined brilliantly yet again and it was prop forward Ger McCormack who offloaded excellently in the tackle to the oncoming Aidan Dwyer, who with a bit of work to do, touched down to the right hand side of the posts, he added the extras himself to bring the final score to 18-46.

This was an excellent display from Thurles, despite a lot of factors against the team on the day, the attitude and discipline shown by the squad of players was second to none and will please the Thurles management.

Numbers for both Firsts and Seconds have been excellent for the past number of weeks and we hope to see this continue in the build up to the Christmas break, the rewards of the high numbers training in the past month or more have been evident in the excellent performance of both the First and Second XV in recent weeks, long may this continue. Training continues for the First and Second XV on Wednesday and Friday Nights, on the field and ready to go for 7.30pm, New Players always welcome. .

Our next fixture is in the Munster Junior League at home to Mallow on Sunday 6^thDecember, all support would be greatly appreciated for this important game as it is our last League Game before Christmas, we also face Cobh Pirates at home in the Semi Final of the Challenge Shield prior to the Christmas break, these are two massive games in our Season and all support would be welcome to compliment the great work being done on and off the field.

Thurles Scorers: Adrian Bourke (2 Tries), Colm Skehan, Shane Lanigan-Ryan, Paddy Phelan, Ciarán Ryan (1 Try Each), Aidan Dwyer (1 Try, 2 Conversions, 3 Penalties).
Thurles Squad vs Tralee: 1. Ger McCormack 2. Dave Kelly 3. Rory O’Dwyer 4. Phil Kelly 5. Joey Kelly 6. Ciaran Ryan 7. Paddy Phelan 8. Colm Skehan (Capt.) 9. Nicky Irwin 10. Aidan Dwyer 11. Peter Coman 12. Shane Moloney (Killinan) 13. Shane Lanigan-Ryan 14. Adrian Bourke 15. Shane Moloney (Holycross) 16 Shane Nugent 17. Adam Troy 18. Dwayne Stanley 19. Declan O’Rahilly 20. Ollie Delaney.

Waterford City RFC

Courtesy of:- Deirdre Barry, Club PRO

Senior Squad – Waterford City v Ennis
After a stop start season City’s first team were again frustrated at not being given the chance to gain any momentum as Ennis conceded their league game on Sunday. This means that City will travel to early season pace setters Abbeyfeale for only their third game in nine weeks. Abbeyfeale have surprised everyone this year and City will be hoping last year’s 13-5 victory ensures they are ready.

J2 League – Waterford City 7 v Waterpark 3

Tries: Tom Bowe Conversion: Aaron Foskin

MOM: Stephen Walsh (pushed by James Halligan)

Local derbies are always a tight affair and City was keen to extend their current winning run against their near neighbours following last season’s 15-7 and 27-11 victories. However, with the wind and rain blowing in Kilbarry, this was never going to be a classic but would be decided by old fashioned will, determination and defense.

City, not for the first time this season could have been accused off not utilising the wind at their backs and didn’t pin Waterpark down in their own half. The conditions made handling the ball difficult although City thought they had scored through some great inter play between Aaron Whelan and Aidan Power only for this to be ruled out for a forward pass. City continued to pressurise, playing structured rugby but that elusive last pass, coupled with falling foul of the referee at the breakdown cost us the chance to convert opportunities. At half time the score was 0-0 with the sideline and supporters wondering if City would be left to rue the strong wind at our backs.

The second half saw Waterpark take an early lead through the impressive Isaac Daly after City again infringed at the breakdown. The next 38 minutes saw City control the game which delighted coach Peter Jones. With breakdown problems resolved and a shortened lineout making use of our ball carriers, City began to punch holes in the Waterpark midfield. In the 46th minute after 7 phases of play from a successful lineout, Tom Bowe was on fly half Aaron Foskin’s shoulder to power his way over the line to continue his excellent recent form. City continued to pressurise Waterpark, and when Waterpark used the wind, the back three of Stephen Walsh, James Halligan and Thomas Stephenson were outstanding at fielding kicks and running back with real purpose. It wasn’t until the 76th minute that Waterpark exerted sustained pressure on the city line until the impressive Halligan made a tremendous man and ball tackle, saving a certain try with city winning a penalty at the resultant breakdown. Skipper Eamon O’Keeffe put his sevens boots back on and set off on a 95 meter run to the Waterpark try line. However from good Waterpark defense, Cities line was not to be breached for a well-deserved victory.

Well done to all, next week our senior team play only there third game in nine weeks when they travel to early season pacesetters Abbeyfelae with our J2 side welcoming Dungarvan/Youghal.
As always, many thanks to all of our supporters and sponsors Done Deal and the Kingfisher club.

Mini’s News
Next Sunday December 6th, we have a minis blitz away to Carrick (home team) and Dungarvan. Kickoff is at 10.30am, please be at the clubhouse for 9am for a 9.15am departure.
On December 20th Santa will be visiting the clubhouse in Kilbarry. There will be light training from 11 to 11:30am followed by a festive gathering in the clubhouse. Please bring catering.

A Night at the Dogs!!
Waterford City RFC has their biggest fund raiser coming up on Friday 18th December. A Night at the Dogs…… As it’s the Christmas season we would like all our members to come and join us in what promises to be a festive/fun night for everyone. This night is for all of our members from Mini’s to Youths to Senior’s, our Veterans, and Coaches and to all their families. Please come and support our night. Tickets on sale Sunday morning’s in the clubhouse and at each training session, Family Tickets €20, Adult Tickets €10. Thanks for the Support – WCRFC Committee. We are also looking for sponsorship, to sponsor a Race on the night is €100 and to advertise in our booklet is €50. Any and all raffle prizes are also welcome.

Fixtures for next week:

Senior Squad – Abbeyfeale v Waterford City in Abbeyfeale – KO 2.30pm
J2 Squad – Waterford City v Dungarvan/Youghal in Kilbarry – KO tbcThank you to everyone for their support from our sponsors Kingfisher and Done Deal to the family and friends of all squad members. We have worked hard to build a family at the club and here is today’s pre game video for the squad.