Adult Rugby Round up w/e 16th Nov

 1st XV, Results, U20  3 Responses »
Nov 162014
 
John O Connell left and Ger Foster who were part of a large travelling Bruff support on Saturday

John O Connell left and Ger Foster who were part of a large travelling Bruff support on Saturday

Ulster Bank League Division 2B

Bruff Vrs Tullamore

It was a case of what could have been for the senior team who were away to Tullamore in the UBL league on Saturday. Bruff lead for most of the game but only had a losing bonus point to show for their efforts at the end of the 80 minutes. It was a fantastic game of flowing rugby played in ideal conditions in the Spollanstown venue in Co Offaly.

Cheered on by a large travelling support Bruff were quick to start and had a try after 6 minutes. A Tullamore scrum in the middle of the field was sent retreating causing an untidy pick for the home sides no. 9. Bruff openside Andy White was quick to pounce which caused the ball to squirt out. Scrumhalf Tony Cahill kicked the ball into the Tullamore 22 and good chase by the Bruff backs forced Tullamore into a rash clearance kick. The ever alert Bruff winger Declan Bannon picked up the ball and broke a number of tackles before releasing centre Darragh Mulcahy to score in the corner.

Tullamore didn’t waste much time and replied with a try of their own with 11 minutes on the clock to make the score 5-5. Bruff dominated territory and possession for the next 25 minutes and the pressure was rewarded on the 36 minute mark. Bruff were awarded a scrum on the Tullamore 5 metre line setting up a solid platform for No 8 Jake Considine to pick and drive. Bruff held on to the ball well and after a number of phases Captain Davie Horan borrowed under the Tullmore defence for the 5 pointer. That was the end of the scoring for the opening 40 making it 10-5 to Bruff at half time.

Action from the opening half

Action from the opening half

Tullamore pressed hard for the opening period of the second half but it was Bruff who were first to score. Bruff forced the home team into a knock on and from the resulting scrum out half Davie O Grady put in a huge relieving kick from the Bruff 10 metre line. Again the chase was excellent and Tullamore were forced into giving away a penalty in front of their own posts. Bruff winger Declan Bannon converted the chance to make it 13-5 Bruff.

Again Tullamore were quick to respond and added a converted try on 50 minutes to make it 13-12. On 55 minutes Bruff won a lineout on the Tullamore 10 Metre line. Blind side wing forward Danny Keogh made the hard yards before scrum half Tony Cahill made a cheeky dart around the Tullamore fringes. He released Davie O Grady who set up Paudie Kilcoyne to touch down under the posts. Deccie Bannon added the extras, 20-12 to Bruff. Tullamore again showed their grit and added and converted try on 58 minutes to make it 20-19.

Bruff’s last score of the game came on 72 minutes when a dominant Bruff maul was hauled down 30 metres from goal. Again Bannon stepped up and slotted the kick to make it 23-19 to Bruff.

But it was Tullamore who had the last say. With just 3 minutes left on the clock Tullamore were awarded a penalty which they kicked to touch. Bruff defended the maul well but were unable to stop the Tullamore forwards from crossing the white wash. The conversion was missed and the game finished 23-24 to the home team.

Team was: 1. Davy Horan 2. Johnny Clery 3. Timmy Quirke 22. Ger O’Connell 5. Kevin Madigan 6. Danny Keogh 7. Andy White 8. Jake Considine 9. Tony Cahill 10. Davy O’Grady 11. Declan Bannon 12. Darragh Mulcahy 13. Sean D’arcy 14. Paudie Kilcoyne 15. Brendan Deady 16. Keith Laffan 17. Mike Carroll 18. Mike Cooke 19. Olly White 20. Shane Doona

U20 Donal Walsh Trophy Section B

The u20’s were beaten 19-12 by Old Crescent in Bruff on Saturday. Paul Downes was the only Bruff scorer on the day kicking 4 penalties in a game which never got going for the home team.

Bruff are now on 10 points after 4 games, with 2 wins and 2 loses.

 Posted by

Win for the u20’s

 Results, U20  1 Response »
Nov 082014
 

U20 Donal Walsh Trophy Section B

 

The under 20’s had to dig deep to grind out a 23-22 victory away to Young Munsters on Saturday. The Cookies were quick out of the blocks scoring 4 trys in the opening 30 minutes but only converting 1 which would prove costly in the end. Trailing 22-6 just minutes before half time Bruff rolled up the sleeves and worked the ball into the Yng Munsters 22. The ball was recycled and moved out the backline before out half Paul Downes slipped inside the on rushing defence to touch down. He added the conversion to his earlier 2 penalties to make the score 22-13 at H/T. The half time team talk looked pretty animated from the sidelines but whatever was said seemed to have the desired effect. The Bruff defence tightened up considerably and the aggression levels at the breakdown intensified. The Bruff front row seemed to be gaining the upper hand and the backrow of Laffan, O Dwyer and Mallon where getting their hands on the ball more often than in the opening 40.

The score remained the same until 20 minutes into the 2nd half when after sustained Bruff pressure Tom O Dwyer picked from the base of a ruck to crash over for Bruff’s 2nd try. Downes added the extras and it was now a 1 score game. With 10 minutes remaining Bruff were awarded a penalty just inside the half way line but the kick at goal dropped just short. Minutes later Bruff were awarded another penalty for not releasing the ball on the ground. This was an easier kick for Downes and he made no mistakes adding what would turn out to be the winning score. The Cookies did have 2 penalties in the last 5 minutes to win the game but both efforts drifted wide of the posts.

Bruff Team: Bruff 1-8, Shane Breen, Eamon O Dea, Brendan Keogh, James Keogh , Conor O’Dwyer, Robert Laffan, Niall Mallon, Thomas O’Dwyer 9-15 John Carew, Paul Downes, Gavin Reidy, Cian Tierney, Shane Doona, Liam Treacy, David O Grady Subs, Mikie Walsh, Anthony Neylon, Killian O Riordan, Killian Sheehan, David Dooley

Paul Downes who scored 18 points for the u20's

Paul Downes who scored 18 points for the u20’s

 Posted by

Adult rugby roundup W/E 1st & 2nd Nov

 MSSL, Results, U20  2 Responses »
Nov 022014
 

Ulster Bank League Division 2B

DLSP Vrs Bruff

Bruff seniors recorded another great win in division 2B with a dogged victory over a well-disciplined home team. With the inclement weather making it very difficult for both teams, this was a victory ground out of hard work and never say die attitude. Bruff started the better team and after a 5 minute period of pressure were rewarded with a penalty which was missed to the right hand side of the posts by winger Declan Bannon. DLSP responded with a period of possession themselves and some great recovery work by centre Sean Darcy prevented DLSP scoring a try after 8 minutes. DLSP continued to pressure their visitors and remained inside the Bruff 22 until great defensive by Johnny Clery and Ger O’Connell saw Bruff clear their lines and move the play back to the half way line. On 24 minutes Bruff’s rhythm was disrupted with a leg  injury to second row Ger O’Connell which saw the Knockainey man leave the field of play to be replaced by Mikey Cooke. Bruff once again won a penalty inside the DLSP half on 26 minutes but Declan Bannon was again unlucky to see it slide wide of the posts. Shortly after the first score of the game was recorded when DLSP, after winning 2 consecutive penalties to move the ball downfield, were successful with a kickable 3rd penalty to go 3-0 in front on 31 minutes. A response was required and to be fair to Brendan Deady’s charges they weren’t found lacking. DLSP were pinged on 38 minutes for offside allowing Bannon to draw the visitors level. Half time score was 3-3. A second substitution at half time saw Mike Carroll enter the fray for Jake Considine. Little did the watching crowd realise what a part both men would later play in  the match. With no let up in the weather. moving the ball to the backs was proving increasingly difficult for both  teams.  Penalties were awarded to both teams over the opening 20 minutes of the second half without any change to the scoreboard. However the deciding moments of the game occurred after 65 minutes when DLSP were awarded a penalty on their left hand side, playing with a strong breeze the home supporters expected their team to got back in front but fortunately for Bruff it was missed, Then the reintroduction of Jake Considine and Davy Horan, who had been earlier substituted in the second half, added some needed impetus to the Bruff attack. On 68 minutes  Bruff won a penalty to relieve the pressure on our defensive and after several phases prop Colm O’Sullivan made a great run into the DLSP 22, however the ball was coughed up and DLSP scrambled a clearance. As we entered the final minute with the score locked a 3-3, it appeared that the scoring was finished for the day but one last break into the DLSP 22 followed by sustained pressure with some great carries from Jake Considine and Danny Keogh lead the decisive score. A beautifully executed reverse flick pass from  scrum half Tony Cahill to back rower Mike Carroll, saw him barrell over for the game’s only try. It was duly converted by Declan Bannon. Shortly afterwards the final whistle saw great scenes of joy from the visiting supporters who had travelled in great numbers. Bruff now move up one place to 7th and with 2 wins and a draw from 4 outings, it must be considered a very solid start to the new season.

*we’re glad to report that Ger o Connell has recovered from his injury and turned up on Sunday morning to coach the Bruff U9’s

Next up is Richmond in Kilballyowen next Friday night 7th Nov under lights. Kick off 7.30,

Team was: 1. Davy Horan 2. Johnny Clery 3. Colm O’Sullivan 22. Kevin Madigan 5. Ger O’Connell 6. Danny Keogh 7. Andy White 8. Jake Considine 9. Tony Cahill 10. Dave O’Grady 11. Shane Doona 12. Darragh Mulcahy 13. Sean Darcy 14. Declan Bannon 15. Brendan Deady 16. Ray Roche 17. Timmy Quirke 18. Mikey Cooke 19. Mikey Carroll 20. Tommy Carroll 21. Andrew Breen 22. Keith Laffan

U20 Donal Walsh Trophy Section B

The under 20’s were in action at home to NUIG-Corinthians on Saturday in the U20’s league. Bruff came into the game on the back of a league victory over UL Bohs and were hoping to carry on from where they finished the last day out. Unfortunately they came up against a fiercely determined and physically dominant side in the Galway men losing out on a score line of 31-7.

Bruff trailed 19-0 at half time conceding 2 try’s and 3 penalties in the opening 40. They did manage to reduce the lead to 19-7 15 minutes into the 2nd half with a great team try. Full back Brian Fanning picked up a loose NUIG-Corinthians kick in his own half and returned it with a defensive splitting run back into the visitors 22. Bruff recycled at the break down a put the ball through a number of hands before Eamon O Dea finished with the touch down. But this was all Bruff would have to show for their efforts as the Galway side added a further 2 trys before full time.

Bruff Team: Bruff 1-8, Shane Breen, Mikie Walsh, Brendan Keogh, James Keogh , Conor O’Dwyer, Eamon O’Dea, Niall Mallon, Thomas O’Dwyer 9-15 John Carew, Graham Whelan, Killian O’Riordan, Darragh Fanning, Ciaran Ryan, Liam Treacy, Brian Fanning Subs, Eric Finn, Robert Laffan , Anthony Neylon, Jack Kirkby. James Guinea

Senior 2nds League North

In the senior 2nds League the J1 team lost out to Thomond on a score line of 31-13, Bruff had trys from Des Power, Marcus Mulvihill and a Penalty from Eoin Quinn. The 2nds now have a badly needed break for a few weeks. With up to 10 players out injured the 2nds can regroup and hopefully look forward to a good run in the league to come.

 Posted by
 Older Entries  Newer Entries