Club Notes: Week Ending 21.02.16

16th February 2016 By Munster Rugby

This week’s club notes come from Bantry Bay, Thurles and Waterford City Rugby Clubs.

Bantry Bay RFC

Courtesy of:- Damien Hicks

U18 Girls

Our U18’s played St. Marys in the Munster Shield Final. We knew this was going to be a tough game going into it but within minutes Enya punished St. Marys for a lapse in concentration and crossed the whitewash. There followed a lot of forward action with both St. Marys and BBRFC looking for the next score. Our forwards were meticulous in their clearing out of the rucks and they turned over 75% of them. Our girls were edging closer to the St. Marys try line with each play of the ball. From a ruck Rachel C saw a gap and ran in a try to bring it to 10-0 at HT.

Photo: Colbert O’Sullivan

This seems to be a lucky scoreline for the girls as it was the same margin they led the Munster League Final at HT. BBRFC came out in the 2nd half all fired up and seemed to want to answer some questions. Within 2 minutes Rachel passed the ball out to the backs who do what they do so well, spreading the line, and Yvonne saw some space and was gone. Scoring BBRFCs 3rd try which Enya duly converted. This scoreline of 17-0 seemed to settle the girls and they turned into the well oiled machine we have come to love. You could feel the tension in the air as the Bay girls went on the hunt for another try. St. Marys put up a defensive wall and Stephanies kicking was on point for St. Marys and she kept giving them breathing space.

This did not deter the BBRFC girls, in fact, it seemed to spur them on even more. They tried out some new game plays they have been practicing in training and again Yvonne punished St. Marys for a lapse in concentration which Enya converted. From 1 to 19 these girls played for each other and as a team. They are determined and always willing to learn. Well done girls on a massive achievement. Double Munster Champs 1. Danielle Murphy 2. Eimear Downey 3. Rachel O Sullivan 4. Andrea Stock 5. Grace Crowley 6. Caroline Downey 7. Mary Hilda Hurley 8. Clare Coombes 9. Rachel Crowley (capt) 10. Enya Breen 11. Clodagh Burke 12. Yvonne O Shea 13. Laura Cato 14. Jessica Cronin 15. Fiona Cronin 16. Eilis Cunney 17. Kate Sheehan 18. Emma Hurley 19. Gina Goesling 20. Ellie Hutchinson (absent today) 21. Olivia Harrington (absent today) Thanks to Ann Murphy for first aid.

#clubproud #BBRFC #rugbyalltheway #girlsontour

U15 Girls

The u15 girls also made the journey to Limerick to play Youghal in the Munster Bowl Final. This was a fantastic achievement for the Bay girls and there coach Mike Lithgow.
The Bantry team were made up of a few experienced players and a lot of inexperienced players who every game are growing in stature.

Both teams wanted to get there hands on some silverware and they had a great battle with some fantastic try’s from both sets of players and with 10 mins to go Youghal fort back to within a score but the Bay girls dug deep and Ran in 2 quick try’s.
This gave the Bantry Bay girls a deserved and hard fort victory and the Munster Bowl Title.

U18s

Bantry under 18’s travelled to the familar Mahon grounds today for game against Fethard in another leg of the Pan Munster competition. Sticky! under foot conditions made for a tough game for both teams.The West Cork side were relentless in their tackling providing tough opposition for a sharp Fethard side, a number of interceptions by the oppositon in the first half were quickly rectified by tough tackles. Bantry were first on the score board with a try by Fionn. Tadhg crossed the line for the second try.With the score 10/nil at the break, teams had to give it their all in the second half to carve out a win.

Paidi Sullivan crossed the white wash and added to the points with a conversion early in the second half. With Bantry now feeling a little more comfortable, Fethard soon opened their scoring with a converted try. Bantry knew that they had to dig deep to hold onto this game, tough tackles and great defence by the Bantry side throughout ensured that this game would not be lost. Coached today by Eugene and Tony this team won on a final score line of 17/10 and progress to the quater final in the pan Munster Competition. A game next week against Tralee will decide 1st and 2nd in the group. A great position to be in for the West Cork side. Thanks to the parents who came to support the team today. Many thanks to Andrews Centra Bantry for their assistance with welcome post match refreshments.

U16’s

Bantry Bay RFC under 16 team travelled to Mahon today for another leg of the Pan Munster competition. With a near full squad of players and recent impressive performances from this team, coaches Donal, Sean and Phil had good reason to be quietly confident.The west Cork side were unphased by the venue as they are well familar with playing here.Bantry were impressive today with scores coming from a selection of players who are usually instrumental in the hard work creating the scores rather than scoring. Luca, Ferghal and Ethan crossed the white wash with great tries, Paidi and David also added to the score board. Cormac’s kicking was impressive.
The entire squad played today and had a comprehensive win. This team’s progression in the Pan Munster competition is very impressive. Although denied game time earlier in the competition this team has evolved and bonded well together and are looking forward to the final stages of the competition. Many thanks to the parents who travelled today ,your presence always enhances the players. Thanks to the coaches Donal, Sean and Phil their support and encouragement of the team is admirable. Thanks again to Ger for the team Admin.Sincere thanks to Andrew’s Centra Bantry for their assistance with post match refreshments.

U14’s

Bantry scored the first try early in the first half scored by Louis Dunne after good work from the Bantry forwards.
Some hard running by Ted Wiseman led to another try .
Bantry kept up the pressure and a try by Hugh Fitzgerald Resulted making it a try apiece for our prop forwards.

Our forth try came Liam O Donovan started in our half with a mazey run to score in the corner .
After half time muskerry came more into the game scoring a try After some good work from the pack Another Bantry try came from a run from our own half from Aidan O Sullivan to score .
Two more try’s by muskerry followed by another from on Liam o Donovan to finish off the the scoring and bring Bantry victory on a score line of Bantry Bay 36- Muskerry 17.
Conditions were tough and both teams gave a good account of themselves with a very sporting match and great hospitality as always shown by Muskerry Rfc.

Match reports from coaches.

Thurles RFC

Courtesy of:- Brian Scanlon, Club PRO

Highfield RFC too strong for Thurles Women

Thurles women played Highfield in the semi final of the Munster Senior Women’s Cup in a David verses Goliath encounter. Unfortunately, Thurles were not to be as successful as David, when they went down 53-0 to their cork opponents.

Thurles started the better team and great carrying by Jean Ryan and Maria Woodlock gave the home side some go forward ball. Thurles were carrying a few knocks from previous games however the starting 15 really did put pressure on the AIL side.

It seemed the Thurles women were parked in the highfield 22 however they couldn’t capitalise on this possession. Some good backs play from Niamh Coman and Rebecca Byrne nearly had them over the line.

Ruth Purcell made some great inches as did Catherine Kearney. Linda Ryan at scrum half was strong and determined to get quick ball out and Highfield where definitely struggling. However, highfield showed the experience that Thurles just don’t have yet and settled into the game with a great line break. It was obvious to all the spectators that these girls had played for years together compared to the young side from Thurles.

It was a hugely physical match, with Joanne Harrison and Maria Whelan giving it everything in the back row, making tackles and trying to make breaks through the highfield wall. The score at half time 17-0.

The second half, unfortunately didn’t go to plan. Highfieldmanaged to get to grips of the usually very successful Thurles line out and this made life difficult. Kirsty harris who made her debut this year hit the highfield centres hard. Angie Kelly and Megan Callanan were very brave as ever in defense but Thurles just couldn’t break the highfield defense. Unfortunately, the AIL side showed the reason they are a division higher, and began finding gaps in the Thurles defense. Thurles fought to the bitter end, with tackles coming in from Gemma Dunican and Stephanie Moore on the wings.

However, the season is not in ruins. It was a massive experience for the Thurles women, who played development last year. Thurles are top of the Munster womens div 1 qualifying league and play st. Senans next weekend at home ko at 12.30. they are now in the All Ireland Shiled qualifier on the 28th of Feb where they play Clonmel. This was a great learning curve for the women, they will bounce back from this defeat and be back on the field Wednesday at 7.45pm for training.

U18 Girls

Massive congratulations to our U18 Girls on their victory over South Cork in the Munster Bowl Final played at Garryowen RFC on Saturday

Club Lotto 15 Feb 2016
This week’s lotto numbers are
12,14,19 & 25
No winner of the lotto tonight, there were 3 lucky dips drawn, each getting €50! Teresa Flanagan, Josephine Fogarty and Niamh Coman! If you’re not in you can’t win

Waterford City RFC

Courtesy of:- Deirdre Barry, Club PRO

Senior Squad – Munster Junior League

Kinsale 9 v Waterford City 10

Tries: Ben Duggan (1), Alec Fitzmaurice (1)
MOM – Joseph Delahunty

Waterford Cities J1 team travelled to Kinsale on Sunday. Our warm up was very good and mistakes were ironed out on a very boggy pitch and therefore we started the match with a very high tempo and played well for the first twenty minutes, keeping the ball very well. If not for some errors the game could have been done and dusted for us in this time but that was not to be. With the wind at Kinsale’s back and us making errors it was easy for Kinsale to peg us pack to our own half with some good kicks and this led to us giving away kickable penalties to Kinsale which they took to lead 6-0. The team took this in their stride put the errors to bed and drove solidly down the pitch for Ben Duggan to power his way over the line after some slick hands down the blind side. Half time was 6-5 Kinsale and at the half time talk we knew what we had to do and although Kinsale started the second half the brighter, as it was throughout the game they never looked like scoring a try as out defence once again was superb in every position from big hits in the forward, very few missed tackles and Aaron Foskin’s ability or better to say skill of being in the exact position he needed to be to field Kinsale’s increasing kick rate. We are a team that doesn’t stop or lie down and this was shown when with the last play of the game we marched down the pitch and the ball once again was powered over by the forwards and after four phases of play Alec Fitzmaurice crashed over to score the winning try 9-10 as we’ve seen on the TV this week in the Six Nations rugby isn’t always the site we’d love it to be but this game was a team of twenty who travelled to Kinsale worked extremely hard for each other and the team none more so than MOM Joseph Delahunty who’s work-rate and ball-carries were just fractionally more than the rest of the team well done Joe and that goes for the other nineteen players that won on the road today.

Junior 2 League
Waterford City v Dunmanway – City wins by walkover
Unfortunately, Dunmanway were unable to field a team to travel to Kilbarry on Sunday, a situation which is becoming a worrying trend for our J2 side. Next Sunday sees Shandon make the journey to Kilbarry.

Under 18’s

Waterford City 10 v Kilfeacle 10

The u18’s had their first game in a number of weeks against Kilfeacle, under heavy conditions and after a slow start city found themselves 5-0 down. The remainder of the first half saw City putting up a strong showing in defence to see out the half 5-0 behind. The 2nd half saw City get more of the ball in hand and started to retain possession and after some pressure made the breakthrough with David Jarmolovicious scoring city’s first try of the game, unfortunately city didn’t deal with the restart and a few more minutes later Kilfeacle again took the lead this sparked City into life and from.

There was some great running rugby played considering the conditions and the heavy ground and David Jarmolovicious again managed to bring city level scoring in the corner. 10-10 the final score which was a fair result on the day.

First Lithuanian side "Klaipedos Kovas RC" visit Waterford City RFC

Lithuanian side "Klaipedos Kovas RC" visit Waterford City RFC

Waterford City Rugby Club had the pleasure of hosting "Klaipedos Kovas RC", from Lithuania this weekend. Their underage squad aged between 9 and 12, took on our young guns, coached by Paul Ryan and Jack Jacob. The game took place on a mud bath in freezing conditions for forty minutes, but this did not dampen the spirits of these enthusiastic youngsters.

Kovas, is one of a number of several developing clubs in Lithuania, of which there are many throughout the country and they also have the honour of being Lithuania’s third largest City based on the Baltic Coast. Kovas RC, were greeted to Kilbarry, Waterford with a standing ovation, by our under 12’s and the Lithuanian national colours were on display, alongside the Irish Tricolour and our Club colours. The visiting club were received by 15 of our City players and several members. After the game, food and beverages were provided for the children and parents and then, we were all treated to watch the Ireland V France, 6 Nations match on the big screen in the clubhouse.

On Sunday, we then travelled to Wexford Wanderers with the Kovas squad, who once again competed in a very professional manner and were received by the Wanders coach Des Dempsey, who commented on the quality of rugby by all these young players from a developing Rugby Country, currently 44th in world rankings. Thank you, also to Wexford Wanders, for hosting Kovas at such short notice and the hospitality that we received on both our arrival and departure including a visit to one on Wexford’s most prized locations, Johnstown Castle.

These 9 underage players did not only come to Ireland to play rugby for a holiday, they came to represent a country similar to Ireland in terms of land mass and population, renowned for basketball as their national sport. These guys came here as underdogs, but will go home as heroes and ambassadors for the development of rugby in Lithuania. They are the future of rugby in Eastern Europe and will by the time they get back home, have travelled over 6000 kilometres to play in a country that is ranked in the top 10 in the world and have played over 90 minutes in 48 hours. That is dedication to the sport.
The importance of this meeting between Waterford City and Wexford Wanders will hopefully leave a lasting impression on all these kids for many years. Likewise, our own club and players, will for many years, speak of history in the making, whereby the first underage overseas Lithuanian club, not only played rugby in Ireland but also played one of the oldest Rugby Union clubs in the world. Waterford City Rugby Football Club founded 1893 and Wexford Wanderers founded in 1924.

Aciu Labai, Kovas ir Waterfordas Regbis…

A special thank you to Austeja Mi and Arvydas, without whom this event would not have been so successful and also to Kornelija Streckiene and Vaiva Sapolaite for translation and administration / photographic duties on the day. Beach Haven Guest House, Tramore, Co Waterford for accommodating our guests on Friday night at a very late hour. Helen and Paul Ryan and Gayle and DJ Andy McCloskey who provided accommodation, entertainment and food to our visiting nine. And, last but not least, an exceptionally, very special thank You, to one of our former ladies player, Elma Beirne (currently working as marketing executive for Leinster Rugby) for her resourcefulness in sourcing 14 tickets for our visitors, to watch Leinster RFC V Zebre in the RDS last Friday night and finally, HW Fasteners Ltd for assistance in sponsoring this tour.