Club Notes: Week Ending 25.10.15

This week’s club notes come from Bruff, Muskerry and Newcastle West rugby clubs.

Click here for Bruff RFC Club Notes
Click here for Muskerry RFC Club Notes
Click here for the Newcastle West RFC Club Notes

Bruff RFC

Courtesy of:- Seamus Sheahan, Club PRO

UBL Game 5

The 1st xv were on the road again last weekend for round 5 of the UBL with an away trip against Boyne RFC. Bruff had slipped from first to forth in the league following from a 31-23 home defeat to Kanturk in round 4 and were looking to bounce back in order to keep promotion prospects alive.

Bruff played into a stiff breeze in the opening half and good game management was rewarded with two first half tries. Winger Mark Cosgrove was the first to score after 5 minutes with a try in the corner which Brian Cahill failed to convert due to the strong headwind. Cahill did get off the mark after 10 minutes with a penalty which was awarded for Boyne coming in the side of a ruck. On 31 minutes Sean Darcy went over for Bruffs second try to make the score 13-0 to Bruff at half time.

On 48 minutes Bruff scored try number three off the back of a dominant scrum. The front 8 did the hard work to push Boyne over their own try line before scrumhalf Tony Cahill dotted down for the score. The conversion hit the post but Bruff were now looking for the bonus point win. It wasn’t until the 70th minute that the score finally came. A second Mark Cosgrove try was to be to final Bruff score of the game with Brian Cahill’s conversion again hitting the post to make the score 23-0 to Bruff with 10 minutes left. Boyne did score two try’s in the last 10 minutes to make it 23-12 in the end, but it was too little too late for the home side. Bruff are now in third position in the league 3 points off top side Old Crescent and 2 behind Wanderers in second.
Team 1 Dave Horan 2 John Hogan 3 Brendan Keogh 4 Neilus Keogh 5 Barry Laffan 6 Mike Cooke 7 Mike Carroll 8 Paddy Clery 9 Tony Cahill 10 Dave O Grady 11 Paudie Kilcoyne 12 Sean Darcy 13 Brian Cahill 14 Mark Cosgrove 15 Brendan Deady 16 Keith Laffan 17 Jake Considine 18 Tom O Dwyer 19 Daragh Mulcahy 20 Graham Whelan

Next Home Game

The seniors are in action again on Saturday 31st of October at home to Midelton who are currently in 5th position in the league and only 3 points behind Bruff. The game has a 2pm ko due to the World Cup final which has a 4pm ko and will be screened live in the club house after the UBL game.

U20’s

Bruff U20s started their Donal Walsh U20 League campaign with a bonus point win in Cork last Saturday. Despite falling behind to an early penalty Bruff dominated the first half and weren’t flattered by their 17-3 half time lead with tries from Eamon O Dea, Liam Treacy and Brian Fanning one of which was converted by Kevin McManus who also kicked a penalty.

McManus converted a penalty at the start of the second half. Sunday’s Well then got in for a converted try to leave it 20–10.Bruff finished strong adding another try by Fanning and Sean Hartigan, one converted by McManus.

Bruff. Brian Fanning,Kevin McManus,Conor Fitzpatrick,Liam Tracey,Darragh Fanning,Jack O Grady,Niall Byrne,Darragh Moore,Darren O Farrell,Shane Breen,Kevin Tracey,Cian Mulqueen,Rob Laffan,Eamon O Dea,Sean Hartigan .Subs Ad Sheehy,Aaron Daly,Patrick Maher

Womens and girls rugby update

On Saturday 10^th October the u15 and u18 girls from Bruff played their first ever league match in Abbeyfeale. For the first half of the season the Bruff girls have teamed up with Shannon to aim for 15-a-side matches to be played in the league.

The u15 girls had a rough start against the more organized and clearly more experienced Abbeyfeale girls, who showed their attacking skills on several occasions, breaking the Shannon/Bruff defence by determined running and good short support play. For Bruff Aine Leahy, Aisling Biggane, Chloe O’Flaherty and Tara Leahy played with the Shannon/Bruff u15s combination.

The u18 girls played an exciting and closely contended match, narrowly losing to Abbeyfeale (12-10). The powerful Shannon/Bruff forwards ensured there was a lot of good possession combined with fast back play made for a great match to watch.

For Bruff Anna Brenna, Grace Donsworth, Jane McCarthy, Molly Patterson and Sarah O’Leary played with the Shannon/Bruff u18s combination.

Photos for both matches can also be found on the Bruff Womens rugby facebook page.

Fixture’s: please keep an eye on the website for the latest fixtures which will be updated by Wednesday Each week. http://www.bruffrfc.com/

Club Memberships, annual club memberships are now due for renewal. Please return membership fees to any committee members, or directly to Matt O Callaghan.

Muskerry RFC

Courtesy of:- Aidan O’Connor

New jersey launched as part of sponsorship deal with Blarney Castle & Gardens.

Blarney Castle & Gardens have become first team sponsors for Muskerry RFC the next three years. To mark this partnership a new jersey was commissioned and Muskerry President Ger Desmond, PRO Aidan O’Connor and a group of players led by captain Martin Muldoon were met by Charles Colthurst and Paul O’Sullivan of Blarney Castle & Gardens to unveil the stunning new design. Ger Desmond expressed his gratitude to Blarney Castle and Gardens and said the club was thrilled to be associated with such an iconic, internationally famous tourist destination. The new jersey is sky blue and navy and features the Blarney Castle & Gardens crest and has already proved a big seller in the club shop especially amongst our younger members.

Minis up and running and still welcoming new members
Our mini rugby section for U6 to U12 is running since September 5^th with great numbers attending and new players are always welcome. At youth level our U18s are the standard bearers with 4 wins from 4 in the Munster league while the U13s, U14s and U16s are coming together nicely after a slow start due to a rash of injuries and other commitments. Again new or returning players are always welcome.

For more on Muskerry RFC please visit our website at http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/Muskerryrugby/

Newcastle West RFC

Courtesy of:- Martin O’Sullivan, Club PRO

First XV – All Ireland Cup

Saturday is another historic day for our club as we host celebrated Belfast club, Instonions RFC in Cullinagh for the first round of the All Ireland Cup. After 2 brilliant occasions last season we’re delighted to once again be hosting once of the most famous clubs in Ireland in the competition. For those of you slightly older you’ll remember the former Ireland flying wing, Keith Crossan who’s perhaps their most famous son and they also have had 2 Lions players in Sam Walker, Captain (1938),
Robin Thompson, (1955).

Saturday will see us take on the Belfast lads @ 2pm (Note Early Kickoff Time) and there will be loads of pre match activities including a fundraising BBQ for the U15 squad, bouncy castles, and the 2015 season Underage awards will also be presented.

Please do come along and support the lads on this great occasion for the club. Your support is very much needed and appreciated by all. Kick off your Bank Holiday in style, with a trip to Cullinagh.

Details below

All Ireland Cup. Saturday Oct 24^th @ 2pm in Cullinagh Grounds. Gates Open @ 12.30.

Elite XV

St Mary’s 35 Newcastle West 26

Our second XV (elite squad) were very unlucky to go down to St Mary’s on a score-line on 35-26.being 21-0 nil down at one stage of the game it was looking like a very tough day. But two tries in quick succession by flying winger Willie (McGregor) O Driscoll just before half time gave the home side a lot to talk about in there half time huddle. Both tries were converted by Darragh Treacy who was making a welcome return to the oval ball gamest Mary’s scored a converted try two minute…s in to the second half. But our young lions could not be shaken and a great try by Ronan Mulcahy after some great work by the forwards brought the score to 28-19 and the visitors were well in the game. An astute return of the home-sides kick off saw a scramble for possession Darragh Treacy was held back illegally when a penalty try should have been awarded but the referee saw better to award a penalty, Capt Paudie Fogarty opted for a scrum, the ball was won comfortably and a swift pass by Tim Mullane to Darragh and a reverse scissors movement saw Mikey Berkery crash over the line for a try which was converted by Darragh Treacy. It was now 28-26 and our lads continued to put continuous pressure on, They were unlucky not to score again and St. Mary’s scored a try in the final moments of the game to leave the final score of 35-26. This was a fantastic result for the lads considering they had a number of players playing out of position. It has been strongly rumoured that after today’s superb performance the legendary prop GW will make a return to training next week. Let’s keep it going lads.

Mini Rugby season has begun. New Volunteers & Players needed.
The 2015/16 has kicked off in full and all children wishing to partake in rugby should join your age group. All our mini rugby training for teams: u6 – u12 is every Sunday 10:30 to 11:30 and 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 next 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.

Youth Rugby awards for 2014/15 season this Saturday 24-Oct in Cullinagh
No better occasion than the All Ireland Club qualifiers to showcase our Cups and reward the youth players that contributed to the deserved success we had last season. To that end our Youth Rugby awards for 2014/15 season will be this Saturday 24-Oct before our Juniors play Instonions in Cullinagh which kicks off at 2pm
Please ensure all U13 – U16 players from season 2014/2015 are in attendance and that all youth cups are displayed in Cullinagh this coming Saturday. It would be Great for the lads to have last year U18 team there with some "words of advice" for the Youths , Mini and parents who served the club so well over last few years.
Even a few anecdotes or "trade secrets" on how success was achieved from the U18 Management would crown this club day.

Mini fixtures for next week