Ballincollig RFC Mini’s & Youths Rugby notes for weekend
Under 13s
Credit to Bantry for having this game going ahead with pitches elsewhere being unplayable. A tough competitive and enjoyable game between 2 evenly matched teams. Ballincollig started off in great form and camped in the Bantry half for the first 5 minutes but failed to score. Then against the run of play in their first attack Bantry pounced on a loose kick and ran in from 25 yards for the 1st score.
From the kick off Ballincollig attacked again and in a promising Ballincollig back line move Bantry intercepted and ran in for their 2nd try. Weak defence from a Bantry tap penalty allowed Bantry in for a 3rd try. From the kick off and just on half time a fired up Ballincollig eventually got in for a driving score by Pauric O’Keeffe after powerful work by Shane Buckley and the Ballincollig pack.
Playing up the hill in the second half Ballincollig showed great commitment and spirit to score 2 more tries, one a 70 metre run from a tap penalty by Pauric O’Keeffe and the other from the always alert Liam Mc Garry who pounced on a loose ball over the Bantry line. Unfortunately Bantry got in for a try themselves and just edged the match by the 1 score. A great feed after the game from our hosts was well earned and the team continue to develop and eagerly look forward to our next match.
Under 14s
Despite poor recent weather the game against Bantry managed to go ahead this weekend and Ballincollig travelled with good support to play their 4th game of the league. Ballincollig’s recent good form in the league continued with a well deserved win in a tight game which could have gone anyway up to the last minute. Ballincollig opened up the score line with a well taken try under the post by their right winger after some great play in the centre put pressure on the Bantry team. The conversion was taken to give the visitors a 7 to 0 lead. Bantry however were not going to let their visitors have it there own way and with a strong pack managed to put Ballincollig on the back foot and kept Ballincollig in their own 22 for a good 5 minutes before their pressure paid off to get their own try under the posts. The conversion was taken; it was now 7 to 7. After the kick off Ballincollig got back into their stride and with a slight slope on the pitch favouring the visiting team in the first half the Ballincollig forwards, with some good intelligent play by their fly half, linked well with the back line and provided the winger on the right to get his second try in the corner. The conversion in this case was missed and the first half ended Ballincollig 12 Bantry 7. Bantry had the slope in the second half and it was no surprise that Ballincollig came under pressure early in the second half.
However Ballincollig managed to keep a lot of the possession but with a slippery ball and wet ground the last pass on occasion came up short just when Ballincollig looked as it a try was in the making allowing Bantry to regroup. Then in a break in the centre one of the Bantry centres made a great run down the middle and evaded a couple of tackles to get under the post. The conversion was taken; it was now Bantry 14 Ballincollig 12. Yet this not the first time in recent weeks where Ballincollig have not lost their heads. Again they managed to keep a lot of possession and make their way up the middle and make some great driving breaks by their fly half and centres managed to got up to the Bantry 22. One such drive ended with a ruck on the far right side and one of the Ballincollig centres cleverly saw the gap on the blind side to make a sprint to the corner to score.
The conversion was difficult and missed, but Ballincollig were back on top, Ballincollig 17 Bantry 14. Despite a few nervous 5 minutes to go, Ballincollig kept the ball well and tackled hard when needed to close out the game. A great display by the team but in particular from the forward back line and the scrum and fly half who linked up so well with the back row. Well deserved win lads!
Fixtures Weekend 22/Nov/2014
U7 – Training 10am Tanner Park
U8 – Training 10am Tanner Park
U9 – Training 10am Tanner Park
U10 – Training 10am Tanner Park
U11 – Training 10am Tanner Park
U12 – Training 10am Tanner Park
U13 – Crosshaven League away kick off TBC
U14 – Crosshaven League away kick off TBC
U16 – Muskerry league away kick off TBC
U18 – Kanturk League Tanner Park 11.30am
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Club shop open every Saturday morning 9.45am