Connacht Junior 1 League
Creggs off to good League winning a star
Creggs Rugby. 25,
Westport RFC. 12.
Creggs got their Connacht J1 League campaign off to a winning start with an impressive showing against Westport at The Green on Sunday.
Creggs playing into the breeze struck first with a Mark Brandon penalty after 5 minutes and never surrendered the lead at any point, although it took a superb individual score from Eoghan Coyle five minutes from time to put the game beyond the visitors reach.
A try from full-back Ronan Dowd left Creggs 8-0 ahead after 20 minutes but scrum half Andrew Callaghan suffered an arm injury in the build up to that score with Coyle moving in from outside centre to scrum half.
Westport clawed their way back into the game and a period of sustained pressure on the Creggs line yielded a converted try on the half hour.
However, Creggs pulled away again when Westport spilled the ball in contact on their 22 and Creggs moved it deftly left to right for a Kevin Gavin try which Mark Brandon converted.
Brandon added a second penalty 7 minutes after the re-start but an error ridden passage of play presented Westport with a converted try to leave them just 6 behind and gathering momentum.
A moment of individual brilliance from Coyle however sealed the win for Creggs as he ghosted through a line-out 40 metres out and left the Westport defence trailing in his wake. Brandon adding the difficult conversion.
There were big performances from Tom Fleming, Maurice Buckley and Brian Coady in the pack and Tom Callaghan and Kevin Gavin stood out in the backs.
The team now takes a two week match break and coach Pat Cunningham will hope that will serve as recovery time with a mounting early season injury list with just two games played.
Creggs Rugby : Ronan Dowd, Luke Meehan, Eoin Coyle, Tom Callaghan, Kevin Gavin, Mark Brandon, Andrew Callaghan, Tom Fleming, Maurice Buckley, Brian Coady, Tom Oates, Brian Donoghue, Sean Og Higgins, James Brandon, Kevin Brandon, Eoghan Farrell, Mike Feeley, Ja Hughes, and Conor Brandon.
Creggs Development side to kick-off League
After gaining promotion, Creggs Senior Development Team kick-off their Connacht League campaign on this Saturday night v Oughterard RFC. The game will be played under the lights in Creggs. Please support the lads.
Training continues every Tuesday (8pm) and Friday (8.15pm) in Creggs. New and returning players always welcome.
YOUTH RUGBY
Connacht Under-18 League
Creggs Under-18’s hold out for win
Creggs Rugby 19 ,
Oughterard RFC. 14.
Creggs Under-18’s played their first home game of the season on Sunday in windy conditions against a strong Oughterard team.
The visitors started strongly and were rewarded with a penalty followed by an excellently worked try, which was converted. So after 10 minutes they lead the home team by 10 – nil.
Creggs did not show the physicality of their previous encounter with NUIG and were second best in many areas and this was reflected on the scoreboard.
However, against the run of play Creggs counter attacked through the forwards and were rewarded with an excellent score from the Aodah Hession.
Oughterard hit back and deservedly went further in front with a converted try just before half time to lead 14-5 at the break.
The Creggs coaches did some stern talking at half time and the home time raised their game after the break.
They gained the upper hand in many crucial areas, and an early try from the impressive Ciaran Corcoran converted by Mark Purcell put Creggs back in the game at 14-12 down.
Purcell himself then scored what proved to be the winning score with a try and conversion on 60 minutes, which saw Creggs home by a margin of 5 points.
The Creggs lads didn’t bring their A game last weekend, yet they came away with the win.
Creggs Rugby: Micheal Beirne, Tom Farrell, Eric O’Doherty, Diarmuid Quinn, Kaylem Holian, John McDonnell, Aodah Hession, Mark Purcell, Aaron Hannon, Lorcan Maher, Jack Hanley, Ethan Glennon, Ciaran Corcoran, Eoin McDonnell, Conor Rohan (Capt.), John Martin, Martin Quinn, Ryan O’Keefe, Thomas O Brien, Ronan Lambe, and Jack Tucker.
Connacht Under-16 League
Great League win for Creggs Under-16 team
Creggs Rugby. 31,
Sligo RFC. 5.
The Creggs Under-16 team scored a flattering 31-5 victory over Sligo in the Connacht Under-16 League on Sunday last in Creggs to give them their second win in as many games.
However, it wasn’t until late in the second half that Creggs took control of this contest. For the first 20 minutes Sligo had the best of this encounter and were only kept at bay by superb defending from the Creggs flanker duo of Tyrese Etete and Frankie Quinn along with the centre partnership of Edimar Filho and David Gacquin. Jordan Kennedy’s work rate was outstanding and his unseen work at the breakdown was invaluable.
Having weathered the storm, the Creggs half backs of Darren Gately and Dowd took control of the game and soon after, Tyrese Etete broke through the Sligo cover to touch down under the posts.
Creggs absorbed more Sligo pressure and moved down the park again with some great ground made by Michael Hoey , Anthony Gorman and Dara hughes. Props Ruairi O Brien and Luke Butt ensured Creggs had the upperhand in the scrum throughout and Aodhan Kelly and Ciaran Purcell carried the ball brilliantly also.
When David Gacquin tackled Sligo’s Oisin Cregg, Sean O’Roarke and Luke Butt took full advantage of their opportunity to create a turnover. Soon after Creggs retrieved possession, Tyrese Etete dived over the line for his second. Matthew Ryan kicked well throughout the game, converting many Creggs tries.
However Creggs weren’t finished yet. Ruairi Tiernan, Luke Gregory and James Murray reintroduced energy into the Creggs team when they entered the fray in the second half. Their energy proved vital in Creggs’ ability to finish the game strong with tries from the outstanding Shane Connaughton, Darren Gately and David Gacquin.
Creggs Rugby: Ruairi O’brien, Michael Hoey, Luke Butt, Anthony Gorman, Jordan Kennedy, Tyrese Etete, Frankie Quinn, Shane Connaughton, Mark Dowd, Darren Gately, Matthew Ryan, Edimar Filho, David Gacquin, Ciaran Purcell, Mark Kilcommons, Ruairi Tiernan, Luke Gregory, Sean O’Roarke, James Murray, Aodan Kelly, and Dara Hughes.
Youth Team Registration – This Friday Night
The Registration Night for Youth Teams will take place on this Friday evening (21st.) in the Clubhouse in Creggs.
YOUTH Team Training
Training for Under-13’s, Under-14’s & for Under-16’s on Wednesday night at 7pm.
Creggs Under-17’s and Under-18.5’s train Friday night at 7pm.
Creggs Under-15’s train Friday evening at 6.30pm. All training in Creggs.
Players new to rugby and returning players always welcome at all age groups.
YOUTH Team Fixtures
Creggs Under-17’s will play Claremorris RFC in the Connacht Under-17 League this Sunday at 12 Noon.
Creggs Youth Teams have had a great start to the season, so please support the lads on Sunday.
Under-14 Girls” Give it a Try Day”
Creggs will enter an Under-14 girls team in the Connacht Leagues this coming season.
We will run a “Give It A Try Day” on the afternoon of Saturday 6th of October at 1.30pm. All girls interested can contact Dave Purcell on 089 7000547 or Micheal Glennon through the teachers/coaches in the schools.
Schools Rugby
Connacht League Wins for CBS Roscommon
Roscommon CBS Senior and Junior sides both travelled to Sligo last week in their first outings in the Connacht Schools Senior A and Junior A Leagues.
Last Tuesday, CBS Junior side took on Sligo Grammar and came away with a 22-7 victory and CBS Senior side travelled to Summerhill College on last Thursday and did well to come away with a 25-12 victory.
Next week both CBS sides will face a tougher test when they both take on Garbally College in the Senior A and Junior A Leagues.
Creggs MINI Rugby
Mini Rugby Returns this weekend:
Creggs MINI Rugby teams (Under-6s; Under-7s; Under-8s; Under-9’s; Under-10’s; Under-11’s; and Under-12’s) will return this Saturday (22nd of September) at 11am in Creggs.
Registration for all Minis and Youth Teams will take place both Friday night and Saturday in Creggs Clubhouse.
We welcome new players for all Boys and Girls age groups. Come along and enjoy the fun as you learn the basics of the game.
Parents interested in starting coaching boys or girls teams are also always welcome – please contact Dave Purcell; Aengus Oates, Shane Flemming or Graham Curran. No previous rugby coaching experience is necessary to start.