Club Notes Week Ending 29.01.12

This week’s Club Notes come from Clonalilty RFC, Waterpark RFC and Young Munster RFC.

Clonakilty RFC

City of Derry to Lay Siege to Clonakilty

This Saturday City of Derry will visit The Vale after an absence of seven years. On that occasion Clonakilty were victorious and indeed have enjoyed a four to one victory ratio in all matches between the clubs to date. Those were different days though and Derry, having suffered the heartbreak of dropping from Division Two through Division Three into the Junior ranks, have steadfastly fought their way back through the system and are now well established in AIL Division Two A once again.

Clonakilty are just hanging in there and the recent friendly against Highfield gives little hope that the win before Christmas against Midleton was a sign of improvement that could be sustained. As dress rehearsals go this was as bad as it gets. No amount of training can equate with the real thing – opposition. Clon showed the ring rustiness accumulated from a full six-week break from match play. From that perspective this was match of great importance and it is to be hoped that the cobwebs may have been at least loosened in that game.

Sure there were individual moments from the usual suspects. Dave Lombard, solid as ever, Mark Purcell varied his game well and Joe Crowley was very lively at the base of the scrum. Ryan Purcell had his moments and Tomás Keogh also showed well but it was a poor team performance in a poor error-strewn game as neither side showed their best form. Highfield ran in three trys, one converted to a lone Matt Kirby Penalty before Clon started to improve. A try from David Lombard, followed by a Kieran Howlin touch down gave Clon some impetus and to their credit it can be said that they finished the game stronger pressing for a winning score when the final whistle sounded.

Waterpark RFC

Munster Junior League Div One.
Clonmel 22- Waterpark 16

Tries in the first and last minutes of this game condemned Waterpark to another defeat in the junior league.
Waterpark failed to deal with the kick off and conceded a lineout, which Clonmel scored from. Paddy Keisery scored a try for the away side when the backs put a good move together. Tom Keisery kicked the conversion. Clonmel were penalised in front of there own posts and Tom Keisery kicked the penalty to leave the score at 10-5 to the visitors. Waterpark were putting some phases together and were gaining the upper hand in this game. With 5mins left in the first half a Clonmel prop was sin binned from not releasing in the tackle, from the next ruck the other Clonmel prop was sin binned for knocking the ball down when a score looked certain. From the penalty Tom Keisery kicked the points 13-5 up. With 2 men in the bin Clonmel attacked the Waterpark line with a number of pick and drives. Waterpark’s Paul Hackett was then sin binned from killing the ball in a ruck. Clonmel chose to run the penalty and scored a try, to leave the score at 13 point to 10 in favour of Waterpark at half time.

After the restart Waterpark’s Ally McCormack was sin binned. The game was now 13 men aside; Clonmel scored another try that was converted 17-13 to Clonmel. Tom Keisery replied with a penalty to leave the score at 17-16. Both teams were now back to the full complement. Clonmel were camped on the Waterpark line for the last 5 minutes of the game. From a Waterpark scrum the ball came out and the Clonmel number 8 picked it up and scored the try.

Full time Clonmel 22- Waterpark 16.

This was a game which Waterpark controlled in the first half after a poor start however the sin binning in the game worked to Clonmel’s advantage. Chris Power was the standout player on show for Waterpark ably supported by Ally McCormack and Neill Gilhooley

Next up is Thomond at home in the Munster Junior Cup.

Junior 2 South League;

Waterpark 23- Carrigaline 14

A try from Mick McCarthy with 3 penalties apiece from Geoff Deegan and Killian Grant help the second to this win over Carrigline. Killian Grant rolled back the years with an outstanding display at full back. A game Waterpark seem to control but left Carrigaline back into the game with some poor decisions and missed tackles.

Under 21 League South Western Conf Section B
Waterpark 13 Young Munsters 18

Playing against a strong wind in the first half, Waterpark managed to hold Munsters scoreless for the first 20 minutes but the visitors got on top to score two tries, two penalties and one conversion. One penalty was kicked from the half way line by the Munster outhalf.
The second half was only minutes old when Tom Kiesery kicked a penalty for Waterpark
A number of pick and drive by the Waterpark pack saw Geoff Power score a good try, Kiesery kicked the conversion.
With the last play of the game Waterpark won a penalty which secured the bonus point for the home side.

Under 17 Munster League
Highfield 43 – Waterpark 3.

A very disappointing result for players and coached alike. Gareth Molloy kicked one penalty for Waterpark. Highfield were the better side in all aspect of the game.

Under 13 Friendly
Gorey 16 – Waterpark 7

First defeat of the season for this side, Waterpark’s score coming from Eugene Smith and Glen Kavanagh.

Young Munster RFC

Young Munster v Blackrock College in game ten of the Ulster Bank League

This weekend Young Munster face Blackrock in game ten of the Ulster Bank League, Division 1A. Blackrock will remember our visit to them last October when we claimed a bonus point win and will no doubt be seeking their revenge on this occasion. They will be looking to take advantage of our recent dip in form as they try to recover points to help them climb a few spots in the league table towards safer territory.

For our part, Young Munster will be seeking to put the last two defeats well behind us and get back on track to where we were as we finished 2011. We are still just four points off the top position in the table and a win will help to keep us in contention.

Why not make a day out of it and come to the PRE-MATCH LUNCH from 1pm?

€;25 includes lunch, admission, wine and match programme. All are welcome. For bookings contact Brendan Collopy at 086-6062606 or Fergal Deegan 086-2265692.

Seconds win

Young Munster 2nd XV recorded our seventh league win in a row against UL Bohemians last Sunday at home in Tom Clifford Park. We started very brightly and scored out first try after 15 minutess through full back Declan Bannon who cut through the UL Bohs defence to score a great individual try. Brian Haugh added the extras to put us 7-0 in front. Brian then added a penalty to leave us 10-0 up after 20 minutes. We scored our second try after 28 minutes through Shane O’Leary after a great carry i to the UL Bohs 22 from Jake Considine.

We started the second half as we finished the first and scored our third try through Mark Mulvaney after a great move involving Declan Brown and Darragh Hannon. Brian Haugh kicked the difficult conversion from the touch line to leave us 22-0 up after 52 minutes.

UL Bohs did come back at us and it was only by good defence from Darragh Long and Evan Culhane that we prevented a certain try. This seemed to spur us on and we got the bonus point try after 68 minutes through Andrew Carey after great hands by all the backs.

Andrew Carey finished off with the best try of the day 8 minutes later from a move that started inside our own 22. We worked the ball up the field through different carries by both the backs and forwards to leave Andrew with the easy run in for our fifth and final try to leave the score 32-0.

Final score: Young Munster 32-0 UL Bohs

Both the management and the players were delighted to see Aidan McMenamin back on the field of play for his first game of the season after his long term injury that kept him out of action for most of last season, and also big thanks to Derek McMahon for turning up at short notice and he gave a very good account of himself when introduced in the second half. Next up for the seconds is the Munster Junior Cup and this year we start with an away fixture v Cobh. We would like to wish coaches Gearoid Prendergast and Mark Hayes the very best of luck in the Cup.

Young Munster U12’s win Lysaght Cup

Young Munster U12's took on a very good Richmond side on St Stephen's day at home in Tom Clifford Park. Conditions on the day were ideal for rugby and both sides entertained the large crowd that witnessed a great rugby match with the eventual winners being Young Munster. Credit must go to a very strong and able Richmond side that played some great rugby and never stopped until the final whistle.
Young Munster, for our part, played some exciting rugby and attacked at all opportunities and for their reward crossed the Richmond try line four times. Richmond responded each time but could only get over the Young Munster line once with some brave defending from the Cookies.
Thanks on the day to all who helped out with the organisation especially the U12 parents and the under age committee.