Bruff 18-Thomond 16, AIL Div. 2

 1st XV, Adult Rugby, AIL 2008-09, Results, Underage  Comments Off on Bruff 18-Thomond 16, AIL Div. 2
Oct 122008
 

This was never going to be a classic example of flashy running rugby. The last time these teams faced off against each other was over twenty years ago, after that Thomond joined the ranks of the AIL and Bruff, well you know how we got here by now. This was the first of Two “Limerick Derby” games this season and as Aidan corr said to me following Thomond’s game in the Cup against Garryowen, the better pack would win on the day.

Bruff’s had two stages where they ruled the roost, the first and last twenty minutes, Thomond took control of the middle period of the game with a stranglehold.

Early on the Bruff scrum caused serious problems for the Thomond pack. Out half David Maw was targeted very early on by the Thomond Back Row and following a very early hand injury which ended up causing him to be Blood replaced he missed two very kickable penalties before the 16th. minute first try of the game. Scrum half Joe Lyons took a quick tap penalty and ran in for the opening try but it remained unconverted.

Brian Cahill stretched the lead on 22 minutes a penalty and to be honest at this stage Bruff looked to be heading for the final post but just couldn’t seem to punish Thomond and get points on the board. Thomond however came right back into the game and with two penalties by Declan Cusack one on 25 minutes and another on the stroke of halftime (After two misses), they went into the half time break trailing by a mere 2 points. Bruff’s kicking downfield to the Thomond Full back, Warren Kelly were returned with vengeful incisive running.

At eight minutes into the second half Thomond took the lead for the first time with another Cusack Penalty and at this stage it was backs against the wall for the Bruff side, the defence held however and the score didn’t change until the final quarter. When Bruff Scrum Half joe Lyons was binned, Davy Maw was finally called ashore and replaced by Player/Coach Eoin Cahill. A missed penalty by Brian Cahill who had taken over the kicking duties and things were starting to look a little hairy. He made amends two minutes later when he slotted over another penalty to give the home side a slender two point lead with ten minutes left on the clock.

Peter Malone, Martin O’Rourke and team captain Cathal O’Regan began to take charge and their team-mates responded well to their leadership. But just two minutes after going in front, an intercepted pass led to a kick ahead by Declan cusack, with Dara O’ neill winning the chase to the line. Cusack again converted to make the score Thomond 16, Bruff 11. 8 minutes left.

All of a sudden, the Bruff pack sensed the game slipping away and what followed was five minutes of constant pressure on the Thomond line. The play didn’t move any further than ten metres out and finally after a five meter scrum, Peter Malone touched down to level the score. Brian Cahill’s Conversion meant that two minutes later Bruff ended up with the Four points, Thomond had to be satisfied with the losing Bonus.

You could say we got out of jail, a bit like Thomond Park on Friday night, but we had put ourselves there and strength of character brought us home.

There are some photos posted up in an earlier link.

BRUFF: Brendan Deady, John Malone, Gary Leonard, Brian Cahill, John Moore, David Maw, Joe Lyons, David Horan, Cathal O’Regan (Capt), Liam Herlihy, Dermot Murnane, Alfie Laffan, Peter Malone, John S. Shine and Martin O’Rourke.

Scorers: Bruff: Tries:2, (J. Lyons, Peter Malone), B. Cahill 1 conv & 2 Pens 18

Subs: Eoin Cahill for David Maw, Andrew Cashman for Garry Leonard and Alan Bourke for Alfie Laffan.

THOMOND:  Warren Kelly, Mark Cosgrave, Brandon Grant, Henry O’Neill, Dara O’Neill, Declan Cusack, Anthony Hartery, Donal Murphy, Alan Airey, Eddie Fraher (Capt), Declan O’Connell, Colin Liston, Damien Keogh, Conan Lang and Brian Buckley.

Thomond: 1 Try: Dara O’ Neill, D. Cusack 3 pens & 1 conv. 16

Sub: Tom Clifford for Alan Airey.

Photos from Bruff Vs Thomond, AIL 2008-09 Round 2

 1st XV, Adult Rugby, AIL 2008-09, Photosets, Results, Underage  Comments Off on Photos from Bruff Vs Thomond, AIL 2008-09 Round 2
Oct 122008
 

I’ve put up a slideshow of the pics from Yesterdays game against Thomond, Bruff won by two points 18-16, scoring a converted try three minutes from the end to clinch the game.
Theres also a couple of pics from the U20’s Game against Old Crescent.

Full match report later on today.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTOS

Bruff 35, Instonians 12: Round 1 AIL.

 1st XV, Adult Rugby, AIL 2008-09, Results, Underage  Comments Off on Bruff 35, Instonians 12: Round 1 AIL.
Oct 042008
 

Bruff kicked off their first round of the division two AIL with a fabulous 35 points to 12 defeat of Instonians in Shaw’s Bridge. It was one of those days where you wondered whether the teams would be able to be distinguished from each other after the kickoff when about two hours before kickoff we saw the heavens open, before we even crossed the border. It stayed like that the whole way through.
Just before the lads dismounted from the Hynan chariot we were treated to one of the best pre-season orations I have ever heard (Courtesy of Derry) and the lads walked off the bus to face into the new season fired up to the last.

Surrounded by generations of rugby players from a club steeped in history, Blazers from quite a few generations were on show, we were treated to a very decent meal, a few bevvies and just before kickoff we braved the semi covered veranda to watch our boys come out onto the pitch. Game On.

At this point I have to say how delighted I was to see that the Bruff travelling Horde (Having travelled up on the day by bus) had installed themselves under the cover of the Rain shelter on the veranda and I was not to be disappointed with the vocal nature of their support. The first half started with a storm blowing onto the faces of the Bruff side. Bruff opened their account with a penalty by David Maw, Instonians replied, Davy kicked another, Instonians replied Bruff went Nine 6 up, Instonians returned the favour to go 9 all and then following a lineout about five meters out from the Instonians line the Bruff pack pushed over for try number one, John Shine claiming the grounding. Instonians replied with two more penalties to allow Bruff to go into the dressing rooms (Or try as The Instonian Ex Pres. told us afterwards that he had arranged for them to be locked, the lads didn’t mind, They were out of the rain in the corridor anyway, Instonians stayed out in the downpour. 🙂 ) Gamesmanship taken to the nth degree.

Half time saw Bruff leading by 14 points to 12. Four minutes before the whistle, the Instonians Hooker and Captain Wilbur Leacock was binned for persistent fouling. Alfie Laffan followed him to the whitewash two minutes later for striking, which to be honest was a bit over the top, it was a case literally (Although I know how it sounds J ) of the Instonians player walking into his arm.

Five minutes in to the second half Davy Maw fired out a fabulous looping pass over the heads of all of the Instonians back line straight into the hands of Paul O’ Brien who then left with only his opposite number to beat, managed to burn him on the outside to make try number two in the corner, Davy Maw adding the extras. Bruff at 21 points to 12 looked very comfortable on the ball. The pack dominating at the breakdown, carrying the ball and Scrummaging Instonians off their own ball five times. The Instonians winger was binned for god knows what, we couldn’t figure it out from where we stood, and neither could the Instonians guys alongside us. Try Number three came from a switched dummy pass from Davy Maw who cut a reverse to Brendan Deady storming into the line. Brendan broke two tackles before crossing the whitewash. The next six or seven minutes saw the only pressure in the second half from Instonians and the only period where Bruff had to defend inside their own half. The bonus point came with 8 minutes to go when Brian Cahill finally was given the touchdown on his second crossing of the try-line, a previous effort blown for a knock-on before the line. Davy again added the extras and Bruff closed out the game finishing 35 points to 12.

All in all a great weekend, we paid the statutory visit to Betty in the Phoenix Bar on the way up, followed by a day marred only by the weather and a pernickety referee who lived by the rulebook and over-imposed himself on the game to it’s detriment. It wasn’t a day for that to be honest. It should have been all about the game rather than the man in the middle, but again the ELV’s are new to everyone and by the time we all figure them out, referees and Players alike, they may well be dropped.

By the way when you see the photos it’s not photo grain, it’s the rain……….

Bruff :Four tries, three conversions, two penalties: 35
Bruff scores: Tries: John Shine, Paul O’ Brien, Brendan Deady, Brian Cahill. David Maw 3 conv & 2 Pens.
Instonians: Four penalties, 12.

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