With the Halloween break 12+ teams were in action across the U18, 16 & 14 sections. We attended the Civil Service v Instonians U14 and were astounded by the application of core skills such as passing of both hands, side steps, drift defence and attacks with the set piece to the fore as these teams were clearly kicking to the corners for 5 meter lineouts and presurising defences to get penalties on the 5 meter line and opting for a scrum! Organised and focused the passing game was awesome and attackers running with support. With a gathering of maybe 40+ fans there were senior club officers from both clubs and quite a bit of texting scores and results to other club officials! All in all a fantastic display of club rugby.
The teams on Saturday were at U18, U16, U14, U12 and mini age groups. This community of players are excelling across the core skills of passing of both hands, off loads, line breaks, lineout plays, scrum plays and training their bodies and minds to think and work as teams developing wolf pack mentalities as they dismantle defences and action unreal defencesssss. These teams are scoring tries left right and centre 5 pointers are rolling in everywhere! Scores a rolling in even against post protectors from pick and drives under the posts. Saturday was a whirlwind of youth rugby and below is a round up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( full list of scores games and essential reading reports below)
But first here is a quick snapshot of the fixtures from Sat, at U18 Hinch played Cavan, Malone played Carrickfergus and Randalstown played Larne.
At U16 level Hinch played Cavan, and U14 saw Ballynahinch vs Cavan while Civil Service hosted Instonians and Larne played Carrick.
REPORTS:
Virginia RFC U11s: Traveled to Dundalk on Saturday morning. They played two strong physical teams both from Dundalk. The Virginia team played very well in the first game but lost by two tries. Our Second game finished in a draw. It was a great morning of rugby.
Tries scored by Tyrone Tynan, Pauric Morgan and Gordan Lochaden.
Well done to all involved!
Great battle between both Virginia Rfc U14s sides on Saturday afternoon 10 trys scored between 7 players as the Qual’ side edged the Prem’ side 31-29. Coaches given plenty to think about before next weeks two games v Ballymena and Instonians
Larne u18 0-28 Randalstown u18
Randalstown started brightly and immediately took the game to their Co Antrim neighbours. The match was only 4 minutes old when captain Jack Hampton strolled over the try line after several powerful drives by the pack. The conversion by Michael O’Connell was successful making the score 0-7.
The visitors doubled their lead shortly afterwards when Ryan O’Dea finished off an excellent sweeping run by Michael O’Connell who again added the extras to make the score 0-14 after 6 minutes.
Randalstown got their third try of the day after 15 minutes, when, from a solid set piece scrum, the ball was moved through the hands of our skillful backline, allowing Philip Steele a chance to stretch his legs and go over for his first try of the season, again converted by O’Connell.
The last few minutes of the half saw Larne pressurising the Randalstown line. The visitors defensive system never looked like being breached, and after several unsuccessful drives larne tried a speculative cross field kick. The kick was bravely claimed by Paul Johnston who offloaded to Phil Steele who sprinted the length of the pitch to score his second try of the game. The conversion by Matthew McCaw sailed straight through the uprights making the score 0-28 at halftime.
The second half turned out to be less impressive as handling errors and poor options by both teams lead to a less structured match. The game wound down and the referee’s whistle sounded without any further damage to the scoreboard. After 3 weeks without a match this was a very pleasing performance by this exciting young Randalstown squad. With important league matches on the horizon, it was nice to see some of the hard work from the training pitch being transferred into a proper game situation.
With several new players stepping up and performing so well, the competition for a starting place next week is extremely high. Training again is on Wednesday evening at the club 6.30-8.30pm. Any newcomers will be made very welcome.
Virginia Girls U15s played Clogher Valley U15s at the Ulster Game.
Fixtures and scroes:
U18 League Section 3 01/11/2014
Ballynahinch U18 17 vs 5 Cavan U18
U18 Friendly 01/11/2014
Malone 7 vs 50 Carrickfergus Christopher Lough
Civil Service vs Instonians Adam Cowie
Randalstown 28 v Larne 0
U16 League Section 3 01/11/2014
Ballynahinch U16 69 vs 14 Cavan U16
U14 League Section 3 01/11/2014
Ballynahinch U14 38 vs Cavan U14 13
U14 Friendly 01/11/2014
Civil Service vs Instonians Mat Stone (win for Service 55 – 25 WE think)
Larne 0 v 84 Carrick
