Club & Schools Notes WE 9.4.17

Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai win Mungret Cup
Courtesy of Damien Hicks

On Wednesday 29th March Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai U19 senior team made the journey to UL Limerick to contest the Mungret Cup Final against Villiers.

CPB and Villiers twice met already during the season once in the Mungret cup league fixtures which Villiers won in a tightly contested game and then both teams met in the Senior Cup semi-final Qualifier which CPB came out on top in another closely contested game. So one a piece going into the final we always knew it was going to be a battle to the final whistle.

Villiers got the game under way and with a few nervous passes from CPB they knocked on and Villiers applied early pressure trying to move the ball out wide at every opportunity. Villiers got the first score with a well taken penalty by their very influential 10 and captain.

CPB settled down and kept the ball in hand carrying hard, making good ground with every carry eventually Tadgh McCarthy took the ball close to the Villiers line and drove 3 tacklers back and got the first try of the game the conversion was missed.

That silenced the Villiers supporters but not for long Villiers stormed back down the pitch again claiming another penalty which was again put over by the Villiers 10.

One thing the CPB players didn’t do was panic and really settled down and started to find weaknesses in the Villiers defence keeping it tight and hard yards being made by every player they again made their way up towards the Villiers line and with a big carry by Pat Casey with some great support from behind drove over the line for the second try. CPB were now on top again from the restart shortly before halftime CPB worked their way up into the Villiers 22.

Again great carries by the forwards and quick recycling of the ball sucked the Villiers defence in and John Enderson spotted a gap and stretched out his arm and touched the ball over the line for a Fantastic try to lead 17-6 at halftime.

In the second half Villiers looked to move the ball wide with every chance they got and got there reward with a try but no conversion.

Players were starting to get tired and the game began to get broken suiting the pace of Villiers but CPB boys turned the ball over on the half way and some good work from the backs and a great break by CPB 10 David O’Sullivan put Villiers on the back foot causing Villiers players to infringe in front of the posts giving CPB a chance of 3 points which Paidi O’Sullivan took with great composure.

Again Villiers players heads never dropped and kept on fighting working the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and with 6 mins to go managed to squeeze over in the corner. In tough kicking conditions with a swirling wind the conversion went wide. The score now 20-16 to CPB.

Straight from the restart Villiers kept attacking. Attack after attack they tried to break the CPB line but the CPB lads kept tackling hard. Villiers got a line out just inside the CPB 22 but again John Enderson who was on fire in the Lineouts disrupted again and CPB won the ball and after a couple of carries won a penalty. The Bantry School kicked for touch a thunderous boot which took them well into the Villiers half and won a great Lineout. There was only a minute to go and the Bheanntrai boys new what to do they kept their heads and the forwards with a massive effort from all kept picking and going. From the side line the last minute seemed to go on for an eternity. No one wanted to tell the players to kick it out just in case something might go wrong then all of a sudden a Villiers hand got to the ball but knocked it on and finally the referee blew the final whistle and players and coaches all the travelling support jumped and roared with delight.

This was an unbelievable game by both teams both sets of players were exhausted with the efforts put in.

In the end Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai got the win they craved and deserved.

A massive thanks to every player there only a few names mentioned in the report but every CPB player gave everything they had on the pitch.  Thanks to coaches Sean and Peter and First Aid Joanne, to all the travelling support who created a great atmosphere and to Colaiste Pobail Bheanntrai for supporting the lads on all their rugby journeys.

Newcastle West RFC
Courtesy of Martin O’Sullivan

Diary dates

There are some important dates coming up for the club over the next few weeks.

Junior Interprovincial: Munster v Leinster and RugbyFest Weekend

We are delighted to be hosting our first RugbyFest weekend on Saturday & Sunday 6/7th May. Munster will take on Leinster in the Junior interprovincial championship on Saturday May 6th at 2.30pm. We then host a family fun day on Sunday May 7th in Killeline from 12 to 4pm. A massive day of ruby fin and games is planned including, a tag rugby tournament, penalty kick games, Live music, barbeque, bouncy castles, sumo suits. It promises to be a great day for all the family so mark the date and bring all the family along to the finale of our RugbyFest Weekend.

U15s Cruise to Conference Title: Newcastle West/Estuary-53 Kilrush-7

On a perfect morning, we travelled to Fitzgerald Park, home of Thomond RFC, to contest the U15 Conference Final. Our opponents on the day were Kilrush. Kilrush were much improved from when we played them earlier in the year and were well worth their place in the final. As for ourselves, we managed to go through the league phase unbeaten and were looking to finish off our hard work with a trophy. This match also served as the U15 North Munster Cup Quarter Final, so there was plenty on the line.

We got off to a perfect start when, with strong carrying, we made our way up to the 22. After sucking in the defence Eddie Murphy gave a perfect pass to Sean McMahon who went over in the corner. Not long after, Kilrush once again found themselves under pressure in their own 22 and good line speed from us on defence resulted in a knock-on. From the resulting scrum, Jack Corkery was launched like a missile and was over the line before Kilrush even knew he was gone. Aaron Heffernan added the extras on a day where very few attempts at goal were easy. Sean McMahon added his second and with the last play of the half Darragh Lyons got his name on the board when he supported Eouenn Ferron with a brilliant support line. Once again Aaron nailed a difficult kick to leave the half time score line 24-0

In the first half, it was the forwards who lead us but in the second stanza the back line were the stars of the show. Jack Duggan collected a Kilrush kick and ran it back at the defence with a purpose that terrified the defence. Following a few more breakdowns Andrew Mortell powered his way over the line, taking three men with him. Aaron added the two from near the touchline. The only negative on the day was how we handled the restarts. On 3 occasions we fluffed our lines trying to take a kick off and on this occasion it cost us.

After a knock on, an offside player touched the ball and a penalty was awarded. Kilrush caught us napping and took it quick and went under the posts. After conceding that score, the minds were refocused. We went straight down the other end of the pitch and the ball went through the hands to Kevin O’Connell. Kevin, with a step inside got over the line. Two minutes later, Sean McMahon completed his hat-trick after a powerful break and offload from Ruadhan O’Connor. All day the front row of David Walsh, Cormac Browne and Bryan Mortell did the dirty work so others could shine. They hit rucks, defended around the fringes and carried into 2 or 3 men and always got over the gain line. The bench was then unloaded to see off the game and added a renewed vigour.

Chris O’Riordan carried like a demon, Cormac Lyons joined his brother in the back row and chopped down anything that came his way. While Oliver Flanagan’s offloading really began to unlock the defence. It was his offload that led to Jack Corkery getting his second. With the last play of the game, Andy O’Doherty went over the line to leave the final score 53-7.

The Conference Title is no more than the lads deserved having trained twice a week since September. We also now have a Cup Semi Final to look forward to. The opposition, date and venue all have to be confirmed.

Panel: Andrew Mortell, Kevin O’Connell, Eddie Murphy, Sean McMahon, Jack Duggan, Aaron Heffernan, Ruadhan O’Connor, Bryan Mortell, Cormac Browne, David Walsh, Jack Kiely, Eouenn Ferron, Darragh Lyons, Mike Cremin, Jack Corkery, Jason Corbett, Cormac Lyons, Andy O’Doherty, Oliver Flanagan, Chris O’Riordan, Bobby Donovan, Ciaran Al-Qadi

Lotto

Results from Friday 31st March Lotto Draw

Numbers Drawn 11, 12, 17, 25 – NO WINNER

GARRY O’ CONNOR C/O LIAM O’ CONNOR

BRYAN MORTELL, LOGHILL EAST, NCW

MOSS O’ CONNELL C/O LEE’S BAR

MICHAEL FINUCANE, NEWCASTLE WEST

HELEN COSTELLO C/O LIAM O’ CONNOR

MEGHAN HENNESSY C/O MELISSA HENNESSY

Promotors Prize: The Snug Bar

Next week’s draw will be in The Snug Bar on Friday 7th April. The jackpot stands at €10,900

Thurles RFC
Courtesy of Brian Scanlon

Munster U18 Plate final: Thurles 17 – Mallow 12.

A momentous day for Thurles U18 boys on which they played and won on the hallowed ground of Thomond Park. Thurles started the game extremely fast with intense pressure from the forwards which put Mallow on the back foot. With some great carries from Colin Nolan and Mikey Ryan and eventually Eoin Kerrane who ducked and dived past the Mallow defence to get over for the first try which Jack Flanagan duly converted.  From the re-start Mallow gave away a penalty which Jack Flanagan kicked to touch.

Eoin Kerrane won the lineout for Thurles and they mauled the ball down the pitch before Mallow dropped the maul to give away a penalty and from the touchline. It was a chance for Flanagan to shine, as he opted to kick at goal. A big decision indeed, seeing as the mark was outside the 22 and just 2 m in from touch. Jack stepped up and duly slotted the ball between the uprights with the confidence of a seasoned pro, to put Thurles 10 nil up.

Large spells of pressure over the next 10 mins saw Mallow give away a series of penalties which brought Thurles down into the Mallow 22 with Jack Flanagan in great form he made a break and just made the line for the second try of the day which he also converted.

Mallow got on top over the next 5 minutes with Thurles having a player sin binned for repeat infringements. The staunch Thurles defence held Mallow up twice over the line. The Cork side brought in two subs just before half time and this proved to be an inspired decision. The second half started with Mallow scoring early.

Thurles came back down the field with Nick Cooney making a great break. Mallow had large spells of dominance with 15 minutes to go, with the front row substitutions made by Mallow continuing to put Thurles under pressure and eventually ending with Mallow scoring another try.

The pressure was on, and the Thurles defence led by Kieran Dunne in the centre held their line to run out the final minute before Seamus Holohan kicked to touch for the victory. Every player, to a man, stood up and was counted on the day. Well done to all and well deserved.

Starting 15: Michael Ryan, Paidi O Gorman, James Leahy, Shane O Sullivan, Colin Nolan, Eoin Kerrane, Ciaran Murphy, David Conway, Seamus Holohan, Jack Flanagan, Dylan O Shaughnessy, Kieran Dunne, Conor O Hagan, Nick Cooney, Aaron Maher Substitutes George Stapleton, Dylan Mason, Anthony Ryan, Colin O Shaughnessy, Paddy McGrath, Jonathan Strapp, Jonathan Ely.