Creggs score bonus point win over Buccaneers

Connacht Junior 1 League

Creggs Rugby  30,   Buccaneers RFC  10,    

Three tries from hooker Maurice Buckley helped Creggs to their first bonus point win against Buccaneers in the Green on Saturday night. 

CONNACHT J1A LEAGUE TABLE

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	BP	Ded	Pts
1	Connemara	5	4	0	1	132	63	69	4	0	20
2	Monivea	5	4	0	1	73	69	4	1	0	17
3	Castlebar	5	2	0	3	96	89	7	8	0	16
4	Creggs	4	3	0	1	68	35	33	2	0	14
5	Westport	6	3	0	3	116	124	-8	2	0	14
6	Galwegians	5	3	0	2	107	151	-44	2	-3	11
7	Sligo	6	1	0	5	104	118	-14	4	0	8
8	Buccaneers	6	1	0	5	95	142	-47	4	0	8

Creggs got off to the perfect start, Shane Dowd slotting over a penalty in the opening minute and after 10 minutes Buckley steered a forward drive to touch down for an unconverted try. 

 Buccaneers scored a try mid-way through the half and briefly took the lead with a penalty 15 minutes later but there was an immediate response from Creggs who were dominant upfront and from the kick-off Creggs secured possession with James Brandon making the decisive break for Shane Dowd to finish. His conversion attempt struck the post. 

 Buckley had what looked like a second try disallowed for an unexplained reason and Dowd was off target with a penalty attempt just before half-time. 

 He made amends with a well struck penalty 10 minutes into the second half at a time when Buccaneers had two men in the bin. However, Creggs couldn’t seem to take advantage of the situation, not managing the crucial last pass against a doughty Buccaneers defence, which grimly guarded their try line. 

 Creggs reverted to their proven tactics and another forward surge saw Buckley cross for his second try, a carbon copy of his first. Mark Brandon added the conversion and did likewise with a well-judged kick when Buckley completed his hat-trick, this time touching down at the back of a well-executed lineout drive.

 In truth, Creggs with a monopoly of territory and possession should have scored more but full credit to Buccaneers whose defence in the face of a relentless onslaught was at times heroic and they always looked dangerous in broken play. 

 For Creggs, the pack generally played well, always in control of proceedings with Kevin Brandon leading by example and Tom Fleming outstanding throughout. Conditions were less than ideal for expansive back play 

Creggs Rugby: Tom Fleming, Maurice Buckley, Eoghan Farrell, Brian Donoghue, Tom Oates, Ronan Cahill, James Brandon, Kevin Brandon, Eoghan Coyle, Shane Dowd, Chris Duignan, Kevin Gavin, Tom Callaghan, Michael Feeley, Ronan Dowd, Sean O’Higgins, Peter Lohan, Matthew Brandon, Luke Meehan, Edward Clinton. 

Next Saturday Week – Connacht Junior 1 League v Sligo RFC

Creggs next Connacht League action will be on Sunday week at The Green v Sligo RFC. 

Senior Player Training

Training continues on every Tuesday (8pm) and Friday (8.15pm) for all senior players. 

New and returning players always welcome. Membership now overdue.  

Creggs Development Team at home on Saturday night

Connacht J1C League

Creggs Development team’s next lost their Junior 1C League game last Sunday away to Ballina RFC. The strong Ballina team also took over from Creggs at the top of the table, thanks to their bonus point victory. 

 Creggs play Ballyhaunis RFC in their next Connacht J1C League match on this Saturday night in Creggs at 7.30pm. Please support the lads as they try to regain top spot in this League.

 A special call to training on this Friday night at 8.15pm for all Development squal players to prepare for the very important League game on Saturday night.

Creggs Rugby: Tommy Devine, John Scroope, Michael Holland, Luke Meehan, Seamus Collins, Michael Farrell, David Hoare, Tommy Curley, Enda Tully, Paul Mc Neill, Damien Nolan, Alan Glennon, Eoghan Cahill, Graham Curran, John Duffy, Sean Conry, Matthew Curley, Andy Boyle, Mattie Corcoran, and John Devine.

LEAGUE TABLE J1C LEAGUE

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	BP	Ded	Pts
1	Ballina	4	3	0	1	158	71	87	3	0	15
2	Creggs	4	3	0	1	93	126	-33	2	0	14
3	OLBC	5	2	0	3	112	134	-22	3	0	11
4	Ballyhaunis	4	2	0	2	74	59	15	2	0	10
5	Corinthians	3	2	0	1	74	71	3	1	-1	8
6	Oughterard	4	1	0	3	94	92	2	4	0	8
7	Portumna	4	1	0	3	74	126	-52	2	0	6

With 3 victories prior to this game, Creggs are still well positioned in the League if they can return to winning ways against Ballyhaunis in next Saturday’s encounter at The Green.

==============================================================================

Congrats Aodha on your first cap from all at Creggs RFC

Very best congratulations to Creggs Rugby’s Aodha Hession on winning his first cap for the Ireland Under-18’s team v Italy in Treviso last Saturday.

The Irish team defeated Italy by 31 – 12 in Treviso and Aodha had a great game, helping Ireland to score 5 tries in the big win.

The squad includes 11 of the Connacht U18 side that won the interprovincial crown in August – the province’s first title at Under-18 level for 10 years.

Creggs player Aodha Hession was the starting Under-18’s scrum-half for Ireland in their win over Italy in Treviso last Saturday.

The Ireland Under-18’s team which defeated Italy in Treviso last Saturday.

YOUTH Rugby 

YOUTH Rugby – GIRLS

Creggs Under-14 Girls will play a combined girls team from Westport and Corinthians rugby clubs in Creggs on next Saturday at 12.30pm.

Creggs Under-14 Girls Training

Creggs Under-14 Girls train every Monday evening at 7pm. New players always welcome.

YOUTH Rugby – BOYS

Connacht Under-15 League 

Creggs RFC 22,  Oughterard RFC 38.

Creggs Under-15’s lost out to Oughterard in the Connacht Under-15A League on Saturday in Creggs. Oughterard started the game much better and scored too early tries before Creggs eventually woke up and a good run by Edimar Finmho was carried on well through Ciaran Purcell who fed Fimho again to go over in the corner and Creggs again struck 5 minutes later through a very similar try which was this time finished off by Lee Kilcoyne. 

 Some poor defence on the stroke of half time by creggs let Oughterard in for a try under the posts and they went at the break 17-10 down.

 Creggs began the second half well and got a try from Eoin Kelly, to be only losing by 17-15 after 5 minutes of the second half.

 Then in a defining move for this game, Creggs were held up just short of the line and from that play some poor defending let Oughterard go the length of the pitch to score another try. 

 Creggs were trying to force the game now and a few unforced errors saw the ball hit the floor and Oughterard dived on it to run under the posts for another try. 

 Creggs did get another try from Ben Johnson, but it was too little too late as Oughterard ran out 38-22 deserving winners on the day.

 Creggs next Connacht Under-15 League game will be v Ballina RFC on Saturday week (17/11) in Creggs at 2.30pm. Creggs are level with Ballina in mid-table with the winners of that game, having a chance to move in to the top three. Working on better ball retention and defending in training should bring good rewards in the next game.

Creggs Rugby: Lee Kilcoyne, Patrick Keane, Cormac Feeley, Aidan Hoare, Ben Johnson, Ciaran Purcell, Eoin Kelly, Tomas Tiernan, Cormac Dolan, Edimar Fimho, Senan Lambe, Josh Verling, Noah Fallon, Oisin O Beirne, Aindriu Oates, Andy Quinn, and Ryan Conlon.

Connacht Under- 17A League

Creggs RFC 5,   Ballinasloe RFC 20.

Creggs Under-17’s will be dissapointed with their performance on Sunday in the Connacht Under-17 League, when losing out to Ballinasloe RFC. It was a game that Creggs had plenty of the possession, but decision making at crucial times cost them when going through the phases would have been a better decision.

 Ballinasloe started the game well and were 8 points up after a try and penalty after only 8 minutes. However, even though Creggs were not at their best they did go through a number of phases for a try for Jack Tucker in the first half to only be 3 points down at half time.

 Ballinasloe got in for a try straight from the kick off in the second half and Creggs were always chasing the game after that. The lads did get some good field possession from kicks from Mark Purcell and some very good carries from Ciaran Corcoran, Adam Donnelly, Kian Moran in the pack.

 And Darren Gately was lively out the backs, but generally decision making at crucial times cost them and let Ballinasloe off the hook. As creggs tried to run the ball out from under the posts in the last minute they did create an overlap but when a pass didn’t go to hand Balinasloe kicked through for a try in the last play in the game to finish the scoring and leave the visitors as well deserved winners on the day.

 Creggs next Connacht League match will be against Buccaneers and a return to winning ways will require sharping up in training and being more clinical with the ball.  

Creggs Rugby: Conor McNulty, Ethan Glennon, Jack Tucker, Ronan Lambe, Ciaran Corcoran, Mark Purcell, Lorcan Maher, Aaron Lyons, Ben Finnerty, Darren Gately, Andrew Naughton, David Gaquin, Shane Connaughton, Tiernan O Sullivan, Mark Dowd, Rory Callaghan, Jack Deegan, Cian Glennon, and Adam Donnelly. 

YOUTH Team’s (Boys) Fixtures

Creggs Under-14’s will play Westport RFC in the Connacht Under-14A League in Westport next Saturday.

The Creggs Under-18’s Boys will play NUIG RFC next Sunday at 12pm in the Connacht Under-18.5 League in Creggs.

UNDER-18.5 DIVISION 1B LEAGUE TABLE

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	Ded	Pts
1	Creggs	4	4	0	0	112	38	74	0	16
2	Corrib	4	3	0	1	126	63	63	0	12
3	NUIG	5	2	1	2	120	132	-12	0	10
4	Oughterard	5	2	0	3	64	112	-48	0	8
5	Westport	3	0	1	2	38	66	-28	0	2
6	Monivea	3	0	0	3	49	98	-49	0	0

YOUTH Team’s (Boys) TRAINING 

All Training in Creggs for:

 Creggs Under-13’s and Under-14’s, on Tuesday night at 7pm.    

 Creggs Under-15’s train Thursday evening at 6.30pm. 

 Creggs Under-16’s on Tuesday night at 7pm.

 Creggs Under-17’s and Under-18.5’s train Friday night at 7pm. 

  Players new to rugby and returning players always welcome at all age groups. 

YOUTH Team Registration/Membership continues at training 

Registration/ Membership due for all Youth Teams will continue at training this and next week. 

Creggs MINI Rugby

All Mini teams to play Blitz at Buccaneers this Saturday

This weekend, Creggs Minis – all ages from Under-6’s up to Under-12’s will will visit Buccaneers RFC in Athlone, next Saturday. The Blitz will kick off at 10.30am, Players to please be there by 10.10am

Registration/ Membership is due for all Mini Rugby players – if not already done, please do so this Saturday with any of the coaches.