Underage Rugby Report Jan 25th to Feb 1st 2014

Match Reports Weekend 25/01/2014

Under 7s

Ballincollig U7s played their first match of the season against Fermoy on Saturday. The group were very eager to put what they had learned from training onto the playing pitch. Ballincollig played very well both tagging defensively and moving forwards with the ball. It was a very good performance for their first game and shows how much have they improved since September. They are looking forward to playing more matches in the future

Under 10s

Ballincollig U10s played Highfield away last Saturday. The day was cold but the rain stayed away long enough for us to have all three matches played. There was a great turnout Highfield had 30 players and we had 20 .We had a great display of rugby from both teams. It would be hard to imagine that Ballincollig could have improved on their excellent performance against Skibbereen a week ago but that’s exactly what happened. The lads put in some very good tackles from the start and the rucking was very impressive. Ballincollig won a lot of possession from turnover in the rucks and this resulted in some brilliant trys. With teamwork and determination they won all three matches. Well done keep up the good work

Under 12s

We welcomed Kinsale and Fermoy to Tanner Park and provided our loyal supporters with a winning double. Starting off on a tight heavy pitch and showing great determination all over the pitch won out 3 – 2 with tries from Pat Kavanagh, Liam Mc Garry & Oisin O’Grady. Kinsale were then victors against Fermoy. We then moved to the wide open and firm spaces of the main pitch for our match V Fermoy and despite conceding a quick 1st minute try the team recovered with some fine individual and team supported tries to end 5 – 3 winners. 2 first half tries by Liam and one great winding run by Eoghan Lynch were added to in the 2nd half by Diarmuid Nolan & Pat Kelly. The midweek training is paying off well and the improved performances of Nathan, Jack & Adam are evidence of that. The whole squad can rightly be proud of the efforts put in and we look forward to the away match v Dunmanway next. Well done everyone.

Under 13s

Bandon 20 Ballincollig 12

Ballincollig U13s travelled to Bandon on Saturday last. Due to strong winds this game was never going to allow the free flowing rugby we have seen from the lads. Bandon played with the aid of this strong wind and settled in to the match and weather conditions quicker than Ballincollig and this was reflected very quickly when after 5 minutes Bandon scored a try in the corner. 2 more try’s followed in similar positions but all conversions were missed leaving the game at 15 to 0 at the first half. It must be said however that this first half was not going all Bandons way. Some excellent defending by the Ballincollig forwards in particular prevented Bandon from scoring even more try’s. With the wind behind Ballincollig in the second half Bandon found themselves now on the defensive. Again great forward play opened up an opportunity for Ballincollig to deserving get their first try. The wind also prevented a successful conversion leaving it 15 to 5. Ballincolligs tails were up however and they continued to put the pressure on the home side. With 10 minutes to go it was the Ballincolligs backs turn to see a gap and find a great try under the posts. The conversion was successful, it was now 15 to 12. Ballincollig pushed for the next try but in the very last minute, against the run of play, Bandon picked up a loose ball and with both teams on the Ballincollig try line managed to squeeze the ball over the line. It was the last play of the game. Despite the result however Ballincollig showed great grit and determination in this game against a bigger physical Bandon team. Keep it up lads

Under 14s

Bandon 20 Ballincollig 8

Scorers. Try Michael Hallisey. Penalty Zak Forde.

Ballincollig U14s had to deal with not only a very strong Bandon team but also a very strong wind in the opening half of their league encounter in Bandon last Saturday. Even though Ballincollig dominated the scrums and took a few of the hosts lineouts Bandon proved too strong in the loose. Conor O Buchalla, Colm Touhy and Reece O’Donoghue worked hard for the forwards and good performances by Daniel Smith, David O’Driscoll and Sam Kiely kept us fighting to the last. Ciaran Curzon James Moore, Ali Crowley and Ryan Kilkenny showed great pride and courage coming on late in the game. Well done lads

Under 18s

Ballincollig 37 Fermoy 18

Ballincollig RFC U18s completed their league campaign on a high note away to Fermoy last Sat 25th Jan 2014 with a comprehensive victory against a dogged Fermoy outfit which booked them a place in the league semi final. The first half was played in arctic conditions with howling winds and driving sleet and rain, which made it almost impossible to play. Ballincollig opted to play against the hurricane in the first half and after soaking up pressure for 10 minutes inside their 22 they cleared their lines. Unfortunately, Dylan Desmond pulled a groin and had to be replaced. They won a line out through Fionnán Mc Dermott inside the Fermoy half and they mauled their way towards the opposition 22. They took a quick tap from a penalty award and Fionnan Mc Dermott proved unstoppable as he touched down for the opening score. Fermoy added a penalty but the Ballincollig intensity increased. They worked the hard yards inside the Fermoy 22 and again were rewarded for their efforts as the pack took control and Daire Buckley touched down for his sides 2nd try, which Aaron O’Flynn converted. Fermoy rallied and scored another penalty but Ballincollig finished the half stronger with their forwards grinding the opposition which resulted in Robert O Donoghue scoring another try for Ballincollig which Aaron O’Flynn converted and he added another penalty before half time to leave his side 22 to 6 ahead. On the resumption Ballincollig used the wind and after some broken play at a ruck Cian Shanahan picked and drove over the line to add another try. Mickey O’ Shea added another and Cian Shanahan helped himself to another try to complete the Ballincollig scoring. Fermoy to their credit never gave up and scored two tries themselves before the referee called a halt to proceedings. It was not a day for champagne rugby with both sets of forwards slogging it out at close quarters with Ballincollig winning the battle with huge performances from everyone namely Peter Kelleher, Dylan Desmond ( injured after 5 mins) Daire Buckley, Robert Nyhan, Cian O’Leary, Stephen Mc Grath, Humphrey O’Mahony, Mickey O’Shea, Dave O’Brien, Cian Shanahan, Robert O’Donoghue, Fionnan Mc Dermott. Their backs defended excellently when called upon through Brian Verling, Aaron O’Flynn, Cameron Lucey, Aaron Mc Namara, Scott Vaughan, Dave Mc Coy, Shane Quinlan, Jack O’Sullivan, Cameron Thornton, Colin Casey, & Daire Conway. Congratulations on getting this far in the league and hopefully more good days just lie ahead.

Fixtures Weekend 01/02/2014

All Mini and Youths fixtures and training for this weekend are CANCELLED due to waterlogged pitches.