Cookstown RFC prepare for league campaign
Cookstown Rugby Club’s 1st XV team has to date played a number of useful fixtures as part of their preparation for the start of the league programme. On 18 August the club participated in the annual Larne RFC tournament. This is a 15 a side tournament featuring eight teams of various rugby standards. Cookstown were placed in a tough group along with country rivals Ballymena, established Qualifying League side Lurgan and the eventual winners of the competition, the superstars of Carrick RFC. Unfortunately the team did not progress beyond the group stages but the event proved somewhat useful as team captain Owen Mallon was able to blood a number of new players.
On Thursday 13 August the 1st XV took on another Qualifying League side, Strabane RFC. This game marked the first game played by either side on the new state of the art 3G rugby pitch at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena. This is only one of two 3G pitches which exist in Ireland which are approved by the International Rugby Board as being suitable to host for competitive rugby matches.
As a result of this excellent playing surface, both sides served up a fast and free flowing game with plenty of tries. Although Strabane emerged victorious from the game, there were plenty of positives for Cookstown to take home. Team captain Owen Mallon commented that ‘it was good to get the boys out again and see some action as opposed to taking part in training drills. I think this was a useful fixture as it showed the boys the level of rugby we should be playing in order to hold our own in the junior league this season’.
The club would like to thank MUSA for holding the fixture and to Strabane RFC for travelling to play. Both clubs have indicated a desire to make this an annual pre-season fixture.
Following an unbeaten season in the league last year, Cookstown RFC has now been promoted to section 6 of the Junior League. The players and captain are under no illusions in terms of the quality of the opposition they will be facing and the type of rugby they will need to play. Therefore Preparations are well under way in terms of training and playing competitive friendlies. The club also intends to start a second’s team and would like to hear from anyone wishing to take up rugby during the autumn/winter or anyone in the twilight of their career seeking that one last hurrah.
The club, players and committee would like to extend their deepest sympathies to the Spence family; our thoughts and prayers are with them.
