SENIOR RUGBY
Seconds super home win over league leaders
Connacht Junior 2 League
Creggs Rugby 16, OLBC RFC 12.
Creggs 2nds produced a tremendous display to defeat league leaders OLBC in Sunday’s Connacht Junior 2 League clash.
CONNACHT JUNIOR 2 LEAGUE TABLE
Pos Team Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Ded Pts
1 OLBC 5 4 0 1 106 92 14 1 0 17
2 Connemara 5 3 0 2 179 102 77 2 0 14
3 Tuam 4 3 0 1 88 73 15 1 0 13
4 Creggs 5 3 0 2 69 89 -20 1 0 13
5 Oughterard 5 3 0 2 113 123 -10 0 0 12
6 Galwegians 5 2 0 3 122 54 68 3 0 11
7 Claremorris 6 2 0 4 84 126 -42 1 0 9
8 NUIG 3 2 0 1 68 48 20 0 0 8
9 Sligo 5 2 0 3 60 144 -84 0 0 8
10 Loughrea 5 0 0 5 46 84 -38 2 -1 1
Both teams deserve great credit for their total commitment in a game which was in the balance right to the end.
Creggs got off to a good start with ace outhalf Ger Heneghan landing two well-struck penalties to give the home side a 6 nil lead by the end of the opening quarter.
Creggs had dominated the early exchanges but OLBC hit back with a fine try by elusive centre Dave Prior, which Conor Flynn converted to edge the Galway city team in front for the first time.
Shortly after halftime Ger Heneghan added another penalty goal to put Creggs ahead once more, but OLBC responded with some rousing play which tested the Creggs defence to the limit.
However, just when it seemed that an OLBC score was inevitable, A great team break-out effort saw Creggs swept upfield for Ger Heneghan to score an excellent try under the posts. He duly converted to bring his personal tally to 16 points for the day.
OLBC threw everything into attack in the final quarter and Dave Prior sliced through the Creggs defence to reduce the deficit to four points with eight minutes remaining.
However,Creggs defended heroically to hold on for a victory which was a huge boost to this rapidly improving squad of players.
The halfback combination of Stephen Crehan and Ger Heneghan worked very well, while the midfield defence by Johnnie Blighe and Ruiri O Brolochain stopped OLBC in their tracks every time. On the wings, Conor Gore and John Scroope were rock solid throughout, while Barry Egan also impressed with a powerful display at fullback.
Up front, the front-row of Paul Mc Neill, Peter Heavey and Tommy Curley got through an amount of work, while Declan Nee and captain Kevin Rushe led the forward unit impressively. Daniel Butt revelled in the backrow, alongside veteran Mattie Corcoran and the energetic openside Michael Feeley.
The replacements all made significant contributions to this victory, with Micheal Glennon, Damien Nolan and Brian Coady adding renewed energy to the pack when called into action.
Creggs 2nds have a full programme of game in January, with a home Connacht League game against Sligo scheduled for next Sunday.
Training continues on Tuesday and Friday nights with returning and new players always welcome. Contact Team Manager Sean Brandon or Coaches: Bernard Kilcommins, Mattie Corcoran, and Vincent Collins.
Creggs Rugby: Barry Egan, Conor Gore, Ruairi O Brolochain, Johnnie Blighe, John Scroope, Ger Heneghan, Stephen Crehan, Tommy Curley, Peter Heavey, Paul Mc Neill, Declan Nee, Kevin Rushe, Daniel Butt, Michael Feeley, Mattie Corcoran, Brian Coady, Damien Nolan, Seamus Collins, Micheal Glennon, Graham Curran, and Matthew Butt.
Creggs Firsts v NUIG in First Round of Junior Cup
Creggs First team training continues on Tuesday and Friday nights, as they prepare for the first round of the Connacht Junior Cup v NUIG this Sunday (14th.) in Creggs at 2pm. NUIG defeated Dunmore RFC by 13 – 7 in the preliminary round last Sunday.
Please come along to Creggs and support the lads in the Connacht Junior Cup this Sunday.
CONNACHT JUNIOR 1 LEAGUE TABLE
Pos Team Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Ded Pts
1 Creggs 10 8 1 1 184 95 89 4 0 38
2 Tuam 10 4 2 4 197 137 60 8 0 28
3 Castlebar 9 5 1 3 181 129 52 5 0 27
4 NUIG 8 5 1 2 186 149 37 3 0 25
5 Corinthians 9 5 0 4 185 140 45 4 -1 23
6 Ballinrobe 9 3 0 6 150 203 -53 4 0 16
7 Corrib 9 2 1 6 85 244 -159 0 0 10
8 Dunmore 8 1 0 7 130 201 -71 4 -1 7
The Creggs First team is currently going very well – top of the Connacht League, with three away games and one home fixture left to play. The team has also has qualified for the Curley Cup Final v Corinthians on march 30th.
YOUTH RUGBY
Under-14’s had impressive home win
Connacht Under-14 A League:
Creggs RFC 39, Westport RFC 5.
Creggs U14’s kept up their quest for a top two place in the league with a win over Westport RFC last Saturday afternoon in Creggs. Lying joint top of the league now, Creggs will play a very important game against Galwegians RFC in two weeks with both teams currently sitting on top of the league in their last league game.
CONNACHT UNDER-14 A LEAGUE TABLE
Pos Team Played W D L PF PA Diff Ded Pts
1 Galwegians Blue 7 6 0 1 212 53 159 0 24
2 Creggs 7 6 0 1 205 77 128 0 24
3 Corinthians 7 6 0 1 150 65 85 0 24
4 Ballinasloe 7 5 0 2 188 85 103 0 20
5 Westport 7 3 0 4 119 164 -45 0 12
6 Ballina 7 2 0 5 139 162 -23 0 8
7 Sligo 7 2 0 5 118 217 -99 0 8
8 Buccaneers 8 2 0 6 84 204 -120 0 8
9 Monivea 7 0 0 7 52 240 -188 0 0
Creggs scored 4 first half tries through Edimar Fimho, Ben Johnson (2) and Aodhan Looby to one try for Westport leaving the half time score 20-5 and in The second half Creggs kept up the pressure and further tries from Edimar Fimho (2), Ryan Conlon and 2 conversions from Cormac Dolan left the final score 39-5
Very prominent for Creggs up front were Aidan Hoare, Tomas Tiernan, Ciaran Purcell, Michal McAteer and Leigh Kilcoyne while out the backs DJ Hession, Oisin O Beirne, Daniel O Shaughnessy, Jack Fleming and Senan Lambe and Andy Quinn did especially well in both attack and defence.
Training continues Tuesday at 6.50 pm in Lisnamult. New players always welcome.
Creggs Under-14’s are down to play fellow table-toppers Galwegians Blue in Creggs, the week-end after next, where a win would most likely leave them top of the Connacht League, as Corinthians, the other team in joint-top, have a 43 worse points difference.
Creggs Rugby: Tomas Tiernan, Sean Curley, Michael McAteer, Aidan Hoare, Ben Johnson, Ciaran Purcell, Edimar Fimho, Leigh Kilcoyne, Cormac Dolan, DJ Hession, Jack Fleming, Aodhan Looby, Shane Walsh, Oisin O Beirne, Ryan Conlon, Senan Lambe, Logan Gore, Daniel Hughes, Andy Quinn, Cormac Feeley, Daniel O Shaughnessy, Patrick Keane.
Another big away win for Under-18.5’s
Connacht Under-18.5 A League:
Westport RFC 12, Creggs RFC 22.
Creggs Under-18.5’s continued their recent good form with a hard fought win over Westport RFC last Sunday in Westport. The game was very lucky to be given the go ahead with the hard ground and it proved to be a very physical battle but the Creggs boys pulled out an impressive second half to take the points and continue their pursuit of a league final place for the second year running.
Creggs showed their early intention to move the ball wide from the very first moment and took the lead after 5 minutes when Shane Purcell chipped the on rushing defense and gathered the ball himself to score under the posts which he converted to take a 7-0 lead. It was from there on that Westport took control of the possession with their bigger pack and scored two quick tries to take a 12-7 lead.
Creggs regathered the momentum and good work upfront by Aaron Glennon, Adam Finnerty and Amuray Duarte put Creggs back in control up front and were unlucky on the stroke of half time when the forwards recycled the ball close to the Westport line and just lost control as they went over the line leaving the half time score 12-7 to the home side.
Creggs began the second half well and when Eoghan Coyle made a break and off loaded to Shane Purcell who beat two defenders and off-loaded inside it looked like a score was inevitable but the slippy ball just eluded Aodha hession and the opportunity was gone and it looked like it might be one of those days.
However, Creggs were now beginning to put some phases together and up front Danny Arnold, Conor Rohan, John Martin and Killian Higgins were making ground in attack and the Creggs backs were moving much better with Aodha Hession proving a great link and Mairtin Quinn testing the opposition out wide on numerous occasions. Creggs scored tries in the second half through Tim Lambe, Matthew Curley and Jason Hoare and ran out 22-12 winners.
CONNACHT UNDER-18.5 A LEAGUE TABLE
Pos Team Played W D L PF PA Diff Ded Pts
1 Ballina 9 8 0 1 138 90 48 0 32
2 Creggs 8 7 0 1 229 100 129 0 28
3 Buccaneers 6 5 0 1 168 71 97 0 20
4 Oughterard 8 5 0 3 171 116 55 0 20
5 Galwegians 6 4 0 2 131 68 63 0 16
6 NUIG 8 4 0 4 156 123 33 0 16
7 Corinthians 6 3 0 3 156 77 79 0 12
8 Sligo 7 2 0 5 106 160 -54 0 8
9 Westport 7 1 0 6 80 206 -126 0 4
10 Castlebar 7 1 0 6 34 181 -147 0 4
11 Ballinrobe 7 0 0 7 60 227 -167 0 0
Creggs Under-18.5’s will play Oughterard at home in two weeks in a must win game to keep up their efforts for Connacht League success.
The Under-18.5’s and Under-20’s train with the senior teams on Friday nights. New players always welcome.
NEXT YOUTH CONNACHT A LEAGUE FIXTURES:
Please support our Youth teams in their games this coming weekend.
Creggs Under-13’s will play Ballinasloe RFC in Creggs next Saturday at 1.30pm. Please note that all Under-12 players must play for the Under-12’s in the Blitz v Ballinasloe, to be eligible to play for the Under-13’s v Ballinasloe RFC.
Training continues for Under-13’s on Tuesdays at 6.50pm at the Lisnamult astroturf. New players always welcome.
Creggs Under-15’s will play Castlebar RFC in Creggs next Sunday at 1pm.
Under-15 Training every Thursday evening at 6.50pm on the Astro Turf in Lisnamult. New players always welcome.
Creggs Under-16’s had their Connacht League Quarter Final v Monivea RFC was postponed last weekend due to a frozen pitch and the game will be replayed next Saturday evening at 5.30pm under lights in Creggs.
Training continues for Under-16’s on Thursdays at 6.50pm at the Lisnamult astroturf. New players always welcome.
CONNACHT UNDER-16 A LEAGUE POOL 1 TABLE
Pos Team Played W D L PF PA Diff Ded Pts
1 Creggs 5 4 0 0 44 5 39 0 20
2 Sligo 5 4 0 0 79 42 37 0 20
3 Claremorris 5 3 0 2 93 55 38 0 16
4 Ballina 5 2 0 3 41 96 -55 0 12
5 Castlebar 5 1 0 4 27 86 -59 0 4
6 Carrick 5 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
Creggs Under-17’s will play Carrick on Shannon RFC next Sunday in the Connacht Under-17 League at 12pm in Carrick on Shannon.
MINI RUGBY
Creggs Minis will welcome Buccaneers RFC for a Blitz next Saturday with a 10.30am kick off in Creggs. New players always welcome at all ages from Under-7 to Under-12 boys.
Girls Mini Rugby in the club is being restructured and a new committee is being formed to promote and grow the game for girls.
More info on: www.creggsrugby.ie / Facebook: Creggs RFC / Phone: 089 7078296.
CREGGS RUGBY LOTTO
The Creggs Rugby Lotto Draw numbers this week were: 18, 21, 24, 31. There was no winner of the jackpot, which now rises to €6,400 for the next weekly draw.
The winner of the Lucky Dip draw this week was Kate & Ruairi McCormack
Please support the Creggs Rugby Lotto, as we develop our new training and playing facilities for all our Mini, Youths, Schools and Senior Players. Your support is much appreciated!