Bruff Rugby Football Club

The U20’s made it two wins from two league games when they defeated Old Crescent at home in Bruff on Saturday. It was a performance built on solid defence and an ability to convert chances that paved the way for this bonus point win. Old Crescent had long spells of territory and pressure but failed to turn dominance into points when presented mainly down to Bruff’s dogged defending and willingness to put bodies on the line when needed.

In a very entertaining game it took 25 minutes for the opening score to come. Bruff outside centre Conor Fitzpatrick was on hand to touch down after a great Bruff attack which started on the Bruff 10 metre line with Kevin McManus adding the extras to make it 7-0 to Bruff. Crescent kicked a penalty before Sean Hartigan touched down for Bruff’s second try off the back of a well worked maul from a five metre lineout to make it 12-3 at half time.

Bruff full back Brian Fanning was in fine form and was next to touch down not long after the break with Kevin McManus adding the conversion to make it 19-3.  Another player in fine form was Jack O Grady who added trys back to back on 55 & 65 minutes. The first of his two trys was score of the day with Bruff attacking from inside their own 22. The ball went through the hands of five different players before O Grady touched down from the move which he had started. McManus converted both trys leaving no way back for Crescent. Sean Haritigan got in for his second try just before the final whistle to make it 38-3 to Bruff.

Team

1 Darren O Farrell 2 Brian Bulfin 3 Shane Breen 4 Cian Mulqueen 5 Kevin Tracey 6 Eamon O Dea 7 Billy O Donoghue 8 Sean Hartigan 9 Niall Byrnes 10 Jack O grady 11 Anthony Foley 12 Darragh Fanning 13 Conor Fitzpatrick 14 Kevin McManus 15 Brian Fanning 16 Killian Sheahan 17 Adam Sheehy 18 Aaron Daly 19 Patrick Maher 20 Richard Bateman 20 Liam Barrett

UBL Game 6

The 1^st xv resumed action last weekend with a home game vs Midleton in round 6 of the UBL. Bruff had a bonus point victory last day out away to Boyne but were looking to make up for a disappointing defeat to Kanturk in their last home game in Round 4. Midleton came into the game following a 25-16 home defeat to league leaders Old Crescent and like Bruff needed a win to keep pace with the top teams in the league.

It was Midleton who took the spoils when the teams last met coming away from Kilballyowen with a 12-15 win in last season’s UBL.

Saturday’s match was played in glorious sunshine but the game never really got going with a high penalty and scrum count. Indeed it was place kicking which was to decide the game with both kickers giving fines displays on the day. The teams swapped penalties on four & fourteen minutes with Bruff’s Tony Cahill adding a second three pointer on twenty minutes to make it 6-3. Midleton added a converted try from Sean White on twenty seven minutes to make it 6-10 and a penalty from Stuart Lee on thirty three minutes to go into a 6-13 lead.  Bruff’s loose head prop Davie Horan got on the score board with a try on thirty seven minutes with Tony Cahill adding the Conversion to level the game at 13-13 with a few minutes to go until half time. But Midleton went in with a three point advantage at the break thanks to another Lee penalty on the stroke of Half time.

The teams were level again on two more occasions in the second half and at 19-19 it was clear that there wasn’t going to be much to separate the teams.  Midleton were awarded penalties on seventy & seventy four minutes and the six point cushion gave them some much needed breathing space. Bruff reduced the deficit to 3 points on seventy six minutes but they could not create an opportunity to take the lead and lost out on a score line of 22-25.

Team : 1.Davy Horan 2.Johnny Hogan 3.Brendan Keogh 4.Barry Laffan 5. Ger O Connell 6. Mikey Cooke 7.Mikey Carroll. 8.Paddy Clery 9.Tony Cahill 10.Davie O Grady 11.Mark Cosgrove 12.Brian Cahill 13.Sean D’Arcy 14.Paudi Kilcoyne 15. Graham Whelan. Subs:Keith Laffan, Cillian Rea, Kevin Madigan, Daragh Mulcahy, Barry Enright

Next Game

The seniors travel to Dublin this weekend to take on the new league leaders Wanderers. Wanderers now sit at the top of the table thanks to a win over Old Crescent in Rosbrien last weekend. The game has a 2.30pm ko in Merrion Road

U20’s

The u20’s play Old Crescent in the League on Saturday with a 2.30 ko in Kilballyowen.

James Keating Memeorial festival

The James Keating Mini Rugby memorial festival occurred on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th October. A total of 19 teams participated in what turned out to be a great day’s rugby. A good crowd was present throughout the day and provided good support to all the teams that played through the inclement weather.

The teams that participated included three teams from Bruff, two Under 12 teams and the Under 11 team. The other teams that participated included the following, Abbeyfeale, Ballina/Killaloe, Cashel, Charleville, Clanwilliam, Clonmel, Newcastlewest, Old Crescent, Portumna, Richmond, Shannon, St. Senans, Tralee and Young Munster. Our thanks go to all of the teams that participated on the day and that played the games in a competitive and sporting environment.

The Bruff Stags team got through to the final of the Keating Cup where their opponents were Abbeyfeale. The game itself was sporting and competitive with good support provided by the crowd attending the festival. In the end the Bruff Stags proved to be too strong for Abbeyfeale winning on a score line of 3 – 0 with approval from the home support. The result of the game meant that Bruff would retain the Keating Cup for a second year running.

The Keating Cup was presented to the winning captain by Marian Keating and the medals were presented to the Bruff Stags by Nicholas Cooke, Bruff RFC, Club President.

A big Thank You goes to those who provided hot food, drinks, soup and sandwiches on the day. Thanks also to those who marked out the pitches and to those who helped co-ordinate the group stage games through to the final.

Thanks also goes to the lads from the Under 14 team who acted as pitch coordinators on the day, it was very much appreciated and the games would not have run smoothly without them.

Thanks also go to the MAR for providing the referees for the day who ensured player safety first and foremost and also that the players enjoyed the games in a sporting environment.

Finally, thanks to the Keating family who provided an excellent meal at the end of the evening to conclude the day.