Club Notes: Week Ending 20.04.14

This week’s club notes come from Midleton and Waterford City rugby clubs.

Midleton RFC

Courtesy of: Jason Boyle, Club PRO

Midleton 10 Armagh 12

For the last game of the season Midleton hosted City of Armagh at Townspark for the first time. Midleton get play underway and attack hard but give an early penalty. Armagh kick for the line but lose the lineout giving Midleton a platform to attack again. After about 15 minutes and it's a maul over the line for a try for Midleton, Mike Sinclair getting the honours. The next phase of play sees a lot of possession for Midleton but we are unable to convert it into scores. Then with about 35 minutes played its another push to the line and its another forwards try for Midleton; this time Jim Mackessy getting the try. Midleton 10 Armagh 0. Just before half time Armagh have an opportunity and move the ball wide to their backs for a wingers try. Midleton 10 Armagh 5.

The second half is a timid affair with neither side making much of their possession and it looks like the game will not see any more scores. However with about 5 minutes to go Midleton put themselves under pressure giving away a succession of penalties that sees Armagh threatening the Midleton line. It's a scrum to Armagh on the Midleton 5 meter line in extra time. Over 15 minutes pass with resets, yellow cards and tired bodies. Armagh eventually get the ball to their backs, spread it wide and get a try. With the conversion the game ends.

Last game of the season and certainly one the Midleton men would feel we should have won. The team have had a rollercoaster season with highs and lows. A big thank you to this team for their efforts, and looking forward we now have a platform to build on and to look forward to the next season when we will once again line out with pride for Midleton.

Youth festival

This was a big weekend at Midleton as we welcomed teams from across the UK and Wales as well as Ireland for our annual youth festival. Run over two days; this festival saw games from U11 to U16 played over 5 pitches and with the rain staying mostly staying away good fun was had by all. Well done to all who organised and ran the event, a credit to the club and the community.

Waterford City RFC

Courtesy of Damien Kennedy, Club PRO

Shannon 27
Waterford City 26

In a game that had everything City were just pipped at the post by Shannon in Shannon on Sunday evening. Conditions were perfect with Shannon playing a brand of fast paced rugby against our dominant set piece power game. Shannon struck first with some poor defence allowing them in for two tries and put them 12-0 up, City didn't panic and Simon O Hara found his way over to bring it back to 12-7, Shannon added a third try to make it 17-7 just before the 25th min . The rest of this half was to be all City, they were dominating in the scrum, with the forwards causing problems for the Shannon defence and a sweeping move from the backs put Aaron Whelan free and he bolted to the corner to score ,John Flynn converted to make it 17-14. Just on the stroke of half time Simon O Hara added his 2nd try and now City were in the lead 19-17. The 2nd half began with City coming close to scoring again but Shannon countered to score their 4th try and make it 24-19, they upped the pace and forced the penalty to put them 27-19 clear. City began to tire at this stage with stern defence keeping Shannon out on a number of occasions, with 5 mins remaining City threw the kitchen sink at Shannon and Jason Power finished off a superb team try which Aaron Foskin converted to make it 27-26 but it was not enough as the ref blew the final whistle on what was a superb game. What was encouraging for City was how they finished this game with a young front row of Stephen O Rourke , Andrew Condron and Paddy O Halloron who came off the bench and dominated their opposite number in the scrum, also James Halligan who made his first appearance for the 1st team and played very well.