Club Notes: Week Ending 10.04.16

This week’s club notes are courtesy of Newcastle West, Old Crescent and Waterpark rugby clubs.

Newcastle West RFC

Courtesy of:- Martin O’Sullivan, Club PRO

Race Night

Our major club fundraiser takes place on This Friday April 8^th with a Race Night in The Ballintemple Inn. Our last race night in 2013 was a brilliant night and helped raise much needed funds for the club for the following season. Sponsorship cards are now available so why not get your friends together and be like the owners and trainers for 1 night only. A great night is a certainty so spread the word and let’s gets a massive crowd to support the club on the night.

Newcastle west RFC Race Night, Friday April 8^th Ballintemple Inn, Churchtown Newcastle West.

Mini fixtures for next weekend

Youth fixtures for next weekend

Lotto

Results from Friday March 25^th Lotto Draw

Numbers Drawn 13, 14, 24 & 25 – NO WINNER

Lucky Dip Winners
Ger Collins, Cork Road
Mark Ahern, Ballygowan
Tim, Mag, Mush, c/o Lee’s Bar
Marian Burke, Ballyshane, NCW
Tom Griffin, The Square, NCW
Mag Sheehy, c/o Silver Dollar Bar
Marie Mullane, Strand
Promoters Prize – Richard Sheehy


Results from Friday April 1^st Lotto Draw

Numbers Drawn 10, 19, 21 & 23 – NO WINNER

Lucky Dip Winners
Ger Collins, Cork Road
Michelle O’Mahoney, Balliniska
Josephine Madden, Monegea Road
Ger Collins, Cork Road – YES, AGAIN!!
Billy Kilmartin, Ballygowan
Shauna Normoyle, MAG Motors
John Breen, Ballintubber
Promotors Prize – The Shamrock Bar

Next week’s draw will be in The Ballintemple Inn on Friday 8^th April, in conjunction with the fundraising Race Night. The jackpot stands at €;16,200.

Old Crescent RFC

Courtesy of:- Frank Larkin, Club PRO

Last Saturday was one of the momentous days in the history of Old Crescent RFC when the club was formally crowned champions of the Ulster Bank League Division 2C. The day came twenty years after our last All Ireland League triumph when we won Division Two.

Our promotion to Division 2B had been assured with our win over Navan the previous weekend but the icing on the cake was the fantastic display of winning rugby in front of the rapturous home fans in Rosbrien last Saturday.

It was an exciting clash between the top two teams in Division 2c. Even though our opponents Tullamore were nine points behind us, they still had something to play to secure home advantage in the promotion/relegation stages to come.

Crescent were quickly into their stride and five minutes after kick off Larry Hanly broke through the Tullamore defence and got the ball away to Padraig Quinn who scored in the corner. Shane O’Brien added the conversion out wide.

Ten minutes into the game, our visitors were awarded a penalty which they converted and a few minutes later they added a second penalty conversion to cut our lead to a single point.

However, our side were on the try hunt again shortly afterwards when No 10 Shane O’Brien kicked into space behind the Tullamore defeence. Larry Hanly secured the ball and following a few rucks and mauls Brendan Guilfoyle touched down and Shane added the conversion to restore our lead to 14 points to 6, midway through the first half.

Crescent now seemed to be on the charge in front of the vocal home support, but Tullamore had other ideas and scored two unconverted tries in quick succession, which put the visitors in front by 16 points to 14 at half time and put a stop to any early Crescent celebrations.

After this wake up call, Crescent were soon on the attack in the second half. Barry Neville show a quick turn of speed to beat the defence and touch down near the posts. Shane added the conversion to put us back in front. Tullamore added a converted penalty soon afterward to keep them in touch just two points behind.

Crescent continued to press forward in the quest our 11^th try bonus point of the season and their efforts were rewarded when Brendan ‘Gillie’ Guilfoyle made one of his typical charges and crossed the line for his second try. Shane again added the conversion to bring the score to Old Crescent 28 Tullamore 19, midway though the second half.

Tullamore needed at least a losing bonus point to hold onto second place in the table and deny Bruff home advantage in the play-off’s. They converted a penalty to bring them into losing bonus point range but we continued to do our best for our county neighbours. We seemed to have done enough with a superb drop goal by Shane O’Brien and a converted penalty from beyond the half way line by Barry Neville extended our lead to 12 points with less than five minutes remaining.

However, our visitors showed why they finished second in the table with a late converted try which gave them the losing bonus point guaranteeing them home advantage in the play-off’s. Final score, Old Crescent 34 Tullamore 29. Barry Neville was our well deserved Man of the Match.

Celebrations then broke out in earnest on and off the pitch, and continued late into the evening. Our own Ken Lyons, IRFU Committee Member, presented the Ulster Bank League Division 2C trophy and medals to our Captain Cathal O’Reilly and his gallant band of men in front of the largest home crowd of the season.

Our UBL season statistics are worth repeating. Played 18, won 15, lost 3, 11 try bonus points, 3 losing bonus points, 74 total league points. Points for 562, points against 265, points difference +297. Ours was the highest points scored by any team across all five sections of the Ulster Bank League.

Our Captain Cathal O’Reilly and every one of the 37 senior players who featured in our UBL campaign this season deserve our thanks and our congratulations, and of course our senior rugby management team, for giving us such wonderfully entertaining rugby throughout the season.

Next weekend, we come back down to earth with an away fixture against UCC in the Munster Senior Cup in the Mardyke at 2.30pn next Saturday.

Thurles RFC

Courtesy of Brian Scanlon, Club PRO

Thurles Women's RFC v St Marys Women's RFC

Thurles Women’s Rugby travelled to Old Belvedere in Dublin on Saturday to play St. Mary’s in the All Ireland Plate Final. The women’s team have gone from strength this year and are having a very successful year after winning promotion to Division One only a year ago, therefore securing a place in an All Ireland final was an amazing achievement for players and coaches alike. Unfortunately, Thurles could not see off the strong St. Mary’s side and lost on a 0 – 18 scoreline.

Right from the outset it was clear that the Dublin side had some strong and experienced players and Thurles saw themselves defending quite early in the game. Despite St. Mary’s winning a few penalties in advantageous positions time and time again they failed to score against a Thurles side that were holding firm. Niamh Coman, Linda Ryan and Miriam Harrison led a strong defence and showed the tackling power of a determined Thurles side.

For much of the first half St. Mary’s looked threatening but Thurles held them scoreless for much of the half. Only one try was scored in the opening forty minutes of the game, a true testament to the defensive skills of Thurles. The try was not converted but gave St. Mary’s a 0 -5 lead. A penalty right in front of the posts allowed St. Mary’s to extend their lead going in at half time.

The second half saw Thurles on the attack more and on a number of occasions players such as Jean Ryan, Megan Callanan and Laura Carroll made good carries and gave Thurles some good attacking phases. Joanne Harrison from a penalty made great ground and Thurles looked certain for a score but it wasn’t to be as the experience of St. Mary’s secured a turnover ball only yards short of the line.

St. Mary’s went in for two further tries in the second half and converted one of them to give them a 0 -18 lead. Even though Thurles were behind with a quarter of an hour to go, every player, including the replacements used gave it their all and defended with skill and determination. Players such as Maria Woodlock, Aisling O’Hagan and Ciara O’Dwyer putting their bodies on the line to pull off some amazing defensive play.
In the end Thurles Women came be proud of their efforts, hard work, determination and skill. All Ireland’s don’t come around every day and Thurles proved themselves worthy opponents to St. Mary’s. The supporters who travelled in massive numbers to Dublin were a huge support on the day. Thanks to all who travelled. For coaches Sean Lanigan Ryan and Sean Flanagan who have brought the team to amazing highs this year they have one week to prepare for the final game of the League. The League decider will be played in Tralee on Sunday and we wish the girls all the best as they prepare for yet another big day.