Groundbreaking Initiative Continues

Last weekend Ballymena Youth Rugby and Clontarf Rugby Club from Dublin continued with their groundbreaking cross border initiative. The two Clubs have become partners in an effort to secure closer cross border links and show their young players that rugby brings people together in a way in which they can compete but make still new friends.

The event was organised by Clontarf’s Youth Director Rory Ryan. Rory had brought West of Scotland and Suttonians to the Club and all four youth teams competed in a round robin competition.  However, the highlight of the day for the coaches was a match where Clontarf and Ballymena formed two teams made up from players of both Clubs. This saw Ballymena boys pull on Clontarf jersey’s and Clontarf players put on the famous Ballymena black shirt. It may well have been a friendly fixture but the boys on both teams held nothing back and the tackles were soon flying in. Indeed it seemed both teams enjoyed making big hits on their own Club mates as much as anything else.

The match actually did see some great rugby played which showed how the boys from both Clubs bonded together and were able to perform to a high level. Defences,  although aggressive,  lost out in the end and the match ended in a high scoring draw 28 – 28.

In the Clubhouse Clontarf President Jim McIlveen welcomed all the boys but had a special word for the boys from Clontarf and Ballymena. He was delighted that this initiative had been undertaken and believed it showed the future of rugby both North and South was in good hands. He told a large audience that several Presidents from other Clubs had contacted him to hear more about the initiative and that they hoped to follow the lead set by the two Youth Sections. Suttonians President echoed Mr McIlvena’s words and he said that many Clubs were impressed with the efforts being made by Clontarf and Ballymena. Tom Wiggins, Ballymena’s Youth Convenor thanked Clontarf for the hospitality but then turned his attention to the boys. He said that since the initiative started the boys had shown fabulous enthusiasm and their willingness to compete and make new friendships would put many adults to shame. He told the boys he hoped to run a tournament next season at Ballymena where Clontarf and Ballymena would join together to put two joint teams up against four other teams. This would truly be a first in Irish Rugby with joint Youth teams playing in a competitive rugby tournament.

The day was a great success and another important step in the development of this exciting initiative. Ballymena RFC would particularly like to thank Glens of Antrim Potatoes who have both supported and sponsored this very worthwhile endeavour.

Going into the match, Clontarf knew they were going to have to pull out something special to overcome St. Mary’s. ‘Tarf’s only hope of avoiding relegation to Division 1B was a bonus point victory, but it was not to be.

Relegation may seem like like a harsh blow for Bernard Jackman’s men who have battled fiercely against many of the big contenders all season, but with several narrow defeats, their final execution has been slightly lacking.

Once again, ‘Tarf lost concentration at some crucial points in the game and St. Mary’s duly took advantage by scoring three tries in ten second half minutes which ultimately determined ‘Tarf’s fate.

The first half was a slightly dull affair with most of the rugby being played in the middle third of the pitch.

However, just before half-time, St. Mary’s burst into life. Out-half Shaun McCarthy, dictating the back-line moves, helped bring play into ‘Tarf’s 22.

With the home side’s defence stretched, the ball came out to flanker Damian Hall who had enough space to muscle over the line at the corner.

St. Mary’s continued in the same fashion at the start of the second half, playing confidently with ball in hand and it took just four minutes to add another try.

Scrum half Conor McPhillips made a clever break off the back of a lineout, and this set St. Mary’s up in a nice position. Centre Stephen Grissing lost possession as he attacked on the right but managed to pick up the loose ball and touch down for the visitors’ second try.

Five minutes later, the Saints were in the same position and this time it was the in-form Mark Sexton who easily broke through a tiring ‘Tarf defence to touch down under the posts.

Clontarf seemed hungry to get back into the game but just when they put some good phases together, the alert McCarthy intercepted skilfully and popped the ball out to replacement Philip Brophy who darted for the line and beat two despairing tackles on the way.

By the fourth quarter, it was an open game with both sides playing freely which made for a lively finish.

The home side came back well after big lock Ben Reilly drove over the line from a close range ruck. The score came on the back of a long spell of possession in their opponents’ 22.

This gave ‘Tarf the inspiration for two more tries in the final ten minutes from replacement Henry Bryce and number 8 Martin Garvey.

But they never really came within distance of a comeback, especially with the competent Dunne scoring a converted try and a penalty to close out the game.

This was St. Mary’s fourth win in-a-row and with home advantage against Old Belvedere in next Saturday’s semi-final, they are in good position to go all the way.

CLONTARF: Ben Woods; Michael Keating, Daragh O’Shea, Killian Lett, Sean Carey; Martin Dufficy; Hugo Nolan; Ciaran Kavanagh, Aaron Dundon, Niall Treston, Ben Reilly, Simon Crawford (capt), Eoin Cremin, Niall Carson, Martin Garvey.

Replacements used: Phil Howard for Carey (52 mins), Jason Harris-Wright for Treston (57), Peter Synott for Cremin, Henry Bryce for Woods (both 60).

To download the team of the century list and booking form for Gala ball please click on the link below:

Team of the Century List

Gala Ball Booking Form

Sillogue 11/6/2010

Roganstown 09/07/2010

Royal Dublin (Captains Day) 20/8/2010

St. Ann’s (Xmas Scramble) 26/11/2010

Time Sheet for outings Posted on Club Notice Board 3 weeks prior to Outing.

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The visitors were rewarded with another soft try at the start of the second half when Clontarf out-half Martin Dufficy lost the ball in contact. Garryowen captain Conan Doyle scooped it up to run half the length of the pitch unchallenged and score under the posts. But Clontarf responded straight away, bringing play right into the Garryowen 22, and they managed to score a superb try when flanker Niall Carson popped the ball inside to centre Daragh O’Shea who broke through and finished well. After this ‘Tarf were a reinvigorated team. They produced some excellent running rugby, giving the game an extra spark and turning it into a fierce battle.
It was not until the 68th minute that ‘Tarf closed the gap up to a single point.Bernard Jackman’s side used their possession and territory to good effect and when scrum half Hugo Nolan offloaded to number 8 Martin Garvey, he went low into a tackle and sneaked over the line for a second try.
Yet, Garryowen regrouped and composed themselves and althought out-half Willie Staunton missed a kickable drop goal shot, Paul Cunningham’s charges held on to keep their bid for the play-offs on track.They are now fifth in the table, just four points behind third-placed Shannon and with a game in hand.

The 3rds played into a gentle wind in the first half. The game was always going to be close but with the visitors needing 4 tries, a bonus point win as well as overhauling a 14 point points difference the Tarf side were not going to shy away to easy. In the end it was to big a mountain to climb for the visitors as Tarf claimed the title missing from the cabinet for too long.

What do you do when after finishing the job, after completing the herculean task , against the odds , and you are standing in front of your beauty , your fantasy , gleaming, rumbling and ready for the road and looking down you notice, lying at your feet, taunting you , are two large shiny , important looking , bolts. Bolts that should have been part of the structure but somehow have missed their calling and are here at your feet.

How do you drive your fantasy with that little niggle in the back of your mind that those bloody bolts are, somehow crucial; that you will be taking a corner looking magnificent, sexy even, and suddenly, for want of those two little shiny bastard bolts the car will take the bend and you, sitting smugly in your unbolted seat, will carry on straight through someone’s garden wall and on to their patio in a pile of mush.

Clontarf are a better team than last weekends result but they are playing in a state of tension that happens to teams in a relegation battle. For large parts of Saturdays game Clontarf had Cork Con by the throat but did not have the composure to put them away.

Invariably, if you play like a team expecting something bad to happen, it will. For the home side , a crucial error in the second half gave Con a scrum on the Clontarf line. Clontarf competed well but were unable to deal with the ball squirting out of the side of the scrum and the Con scrum half got the touchdown. That try plus the conversion put Con 20 8 ahead with 20  minutes to go.  The home side finished with a sterling effort from substitute Martin Dufficy who landed a penalty and converted his own try to drag home side to a two point deficit but unfortunately Clontarf ran out of time.