SENIOR RUGBY 

Creggs Firsts travel to Ballinrobe in Connacht League

Connaught Junior League

With three rounds left to play Creggs stay top of the table but with a bonus point win last weekend, Castlebar RFC has narrowed that lead to just one point. However, Creggs has a game in hand. This Sunday, Creggs First travel to Ballinrobe RFC, who despite being in the bottom half of the table, the South-Mayo has games in hand and has taken a couple notable scalps this season. It will be a tough outing for the Creggs lads.

CONNACHT J1 LEAGUE TABLE

Pos	Team	Played	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	BP	Ded	Pts
1	Creggs	11	9	1	1	202	95	107	4	0	42
2	Castlebar	12	8	1	3	274	177	97	7	0	41
3	Tuam	11	5	2	4	219	158	61	8	0	32
4	NUIG	11	5	1	5	229	203	26	6	0	28
5	Corinthians	10	5	0	5	209	167	42	5	-1	24
6	Ballinrobe	9	3	0	6	150	203	-53	4	0	16
7	Corrib	11	3	1	7	103	294	-191	0	0	14
8	Dunmore	9	1	0	8	130	219	-89	4	-1	7

With two away games and one home fixture still to be played, there will be no complacency within this squad. The competitive break last weekend will also hopefully have serve them well in advance of the busy coming weeks. 

In addition to the three remaining Connacht League matches over the next three consecutive weekends, Creggs will then play the Semi-Final of the Connacht Junior Cup away to Sligo RFC on March 11th. This team is also in the Final of the Curley Cup v Corinthians RFC on March 30th.

Training continues on Tuesday and Friday nights. 

 

Creggs Second Team travel to play Claremorris 

Creggs Second Team’s away Connacht League game v Oughterard became a victim of the bad weather last Sunday. That game will now be re-sheduled.

 Next Sunday, Creggs Second Team are due to play Loughrea RFC. And if Creggs win those two remaining away games, this ever improving team will have a Connacht League home semi-final 

CONNACHT J2 LEAGUE TABLE

Pos	Team	Played	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	BP	Ded	Pts
1	OLBC	9	8	0	1	169	108	61	1	0	33
2	Connemara	8	5	0	3	282	135	147	3	0	23
3	Galwegians	8	5	0	3	200	72	128	3	0	23
4	Creggs	7	5	0	2	77	92	-15	1	0	21
5	Tuam	7	4	0	3	147	136	11	2	0	18
6	Oughterard	7	3	0	4	128	192	-64	0	0	12
7	Sligo	8	3	0	5	60	144	-84	0	0	12
8	Claremorris	8	2	0	6	92	159	-67	2	0	10
9	NUIG	7	2	0	5	76	143	-67	0	0	8
10	Loughrea	7	1	0	6	56	106	-50	2	-1	5

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 Under-20’s  

The Under-20’s are in contention to win the Connacht Under-20 Blitz Series. Having won the last round, Creggs Under-20’s are in joint-second position in the Series, with two Rounds to go. 

 Training on Tuesdays and Fridays with the senior teams. New and returning players always welcome. Contact Dave Purcell, Pat O’Gorman, or Kevin O’Rourke.

YOUTH RUGBY

Connacht Cups to Kick Off:

With all the Youth leagues now completed, the Connacht underage cups kick off next week. 

Creggs Under-13’s have also been drawn away to Corinthians RFC in the Connacht Under-13 Cup on Saturday, February 24th. 

Creggs Under-14’s will play Oughterard RFC in the Connacht Under-14 Cup on Saturday evening at 6pm, under light in Creggs. Please support the boys in their Cup game.

 Training for Under-14’s is on every Tuesday at 7pm in the Astro Turf in Roscommon. New players aways welcome.

Creggs Under-15’s may have a friendly game this weekend, in the build-uo to their Connacht Under-15 Cup game at home to Claremorris RFC on Saturday week (Feb, 24th,).

Training continues every Thursday at 7pm in Astro Turf in Roscommon. New players always welcome.

Creggs Under-16’s will kick off our Youth Cup campaigns when they travel to play NUIG in Galway next Saturday at 2.30pm.  Please support the lads in their Cup game.

Training continues on Thursdays at 7pm in Astro Turf in Roscommon. New players always welcome.

Creggs Under-17’s will play their last 16 Connacht Cup game the weekend after next (Feb. 25th.) away to Sligo RFC. Training continues on Thursdays at 7pm in Astro Turf in Roscommon. New players always welcome.

Creggs Under-18.5’s have been given a walk over in their first round after Connemara RFC informed the club that they will not be in a position to field this weekend. The team will be away to the winner of Loughrea RFC v Westport RFC in the Quarter-Final of the Connacht Cup.

Creggs Under-18’s just come up short 

Connacht Under-18.5 A League Final:

Buccaneers RFC  8,  Creggs RFC  7.

Creggs U18’s just couldn’t get the better of near neighbours Buccaneers last Saturday night in the U18.5A league final played in Ballinasloe. Trying to retain their title (and get their hands on the new Rafeek Khan Memorial Cup) and played on a very heavy pitch, Buccaneers bigger pack probably proved the difference between the two teams but the Creggs lads defended very bravely throughout and only for some bad luck they ended up losing out by only one point on this occasion.

Pictured are the Creggs Rugby and Buccaneers players pose in unison after the game in tribute to the memory of former Ballinasloe RFC and Claremorris RFC player Rafeek Khan, a fine young man who tragically lost his life last year. Well done to Ballinasloe RFC, Rafeek’s family, both sets of supporters and especially both teams who honoured the occasion with respect and reverence.

Buccaneers played with the strong wind in the first half and had 3 points on the board almost from the kick off when Creggs were penalised at the breakdown. The score moved out to 8 – 0 after only 6 minutes when Buccaneers touched down in the corner. 

Creggs now needed to up their game and up front Aaron Glennon, John Martin, Killian Higgins, Brian Maloney, Conor Rohan were excellent in carrying the ball and in defence while in the backs Tim Lambe, Shane Purcell, Eoghan Coyle and Jason Hoare were taking the ball on at every opportunity on a tough night for backs with trying under foot conditions.

Even with the strong wind turning calm, Creggs imposed themselves on the game and were the better team in the second half. Second half subs Tom Farrell, Thomas O Brien, John McDonnell,up front and out wide Dara Byrne and Michael Kelly continued the good work in both attack and defence. 

Creggs had opportunities but seemed to cough up possession or penalties when they got near the opposition 22″ and it wasn’t a night to move the ball wide so they continued to attack in the tight. And after good work from Mairtin Quinn, Conor Rohan, Adam Finnerty, eventually Creggs got their score through Danny Arnold in the corner with 6 minutes left. Shane Purcell converted. 

However, they couldn’t get good possession in the last 5 minute to threaten the opposition line and the Buccaneers forwards held onto the ball well in this period to make sure they held out for the win. 

To win the Connacht League Final at Under-18’s last year and just fall short by one point in attempting to retain the title this season, it bodes well for the level of talent coming through in Creggs Rugby.

The Creggs Under-18.5;’s will now hope for a good Connacht Cup run to make up for their close league final loss. And players will be informed about training arrangements this weekend.

Creggs Rugby: Ronan Dowd, Mairtin Quinn, Jason Hoare, Shane Purcell, Eoghan Coyle, Tim Lambe, Aodha Hession, Conor Rohan, John Martin, Adam Finnerty, Brian Maloney, Killian Higgins, Mathew Curley, Aaron Glennon, Danny Arnold, Eric O Doherty, Tom Farrell, Thomas O Brien, Eoghan McDonnell, John MCDonnell, Aidan Conneely, Dara Byrne, Michael Kelly, Jack Hanley, Kaylen Hollian, & Mark Purcell.

Creggs Under-13’s down to play Sligo next

Creggs Under-13’s had their previously postponed Round 5 League game away V Claremorris called off last Thursday and again on Sunday, their home League game v Ballina fell victim to the weather. Next weekend, they are scheduled to play Sligo RFC.

Under-12 players are reminded that if they do not play for the Under-12’s in Mini Rugby, they are not eligible to play at any time for the Under-13’s team. This IRFU rule will be strictly monitored and enforced without exception. 

Creggs Under-13 Training is on each Tuesday at 6pm in Astro Turf in Lisnamult, Roscommon. New players alway welcome.

MINI RUGBY

Creggs Minis away blitz at Monivea RFC was called off last Saturday morning due to a frozen pitch. 

The Mini teams (Under-8’s to Under-12’s) will train in Donamon next Saturday 11am. Players to please be there at 10.45am, and all coaches please be there shortly after 10.30am. New players always welcome in each age-group from Under-7 up to Under-12.

N.B. – News on Girls Mini Rugby in the coming weeks.

Please note that all Under-12 players must play for the Under-12’s in Mini Rugby or they will be ineligible to play at any time for the Under-13 (where required). This IRFU rule will be strictly monitored and enforced without exception from this week.

CREGGS RUGBY LOTTO

The Creggs Rugby Lotto Draw numbers this week were: 1, 4, 14, 30. There was no winner of the jackpot, which now rises to €6,900 for the next weekly draw. 

The winner of the Lucky Dip draw this week was ADRIAN LEDDY.

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!