ADULT RUGBY

Impressive Bonus Point Win For Creggs First Team

Connacht J1A League

Creggs Rugby 30, Castlebar RFC 12.

Creggs produced one of their best displays of the season to defeat Castlebar in Saturday’s Connacht Junior League game on the 4G pitch in Creggs.

An early penalty by Shane Purcell put Creggs ahead before a superb try by fullback Shane Dowd set the home team on the road to victory when he glided past several opponents to touch down for a great solo effort. Shane Purcell added the conversion.

Eoghan Coyle followed-up, when he carved his way through for another spectacular try, demonstrating impressive power and pace on his way to the try-line. Purcell’s conversion left Creggs 15 0 ahead at halftime.

Shortly after the restart, a great break by winger Chris Duignan resulted in a try by the supporting flanker Peter Lohan just one minute into the second half. Shane Purcell’s conversion left Castlebar trailing by 22 points.

However, to the credit of the Mayo-men, they responded with some enterprising play with yielded two tries in quick succession.

Creggs then regained control and a well struck penalty by Purcell stifled any chance of a Castlebar comeback.

The result was then put beyond doubt when prop-forward Aidan Leech crashed over for a try in the last minute to earn a bonus point victory for Pat Cunningham’s forces.

There are no Firsts, Development or Under-20 games next weekend, so the adult teams travel to Kilkenny on Friday for a training and bonding weekend.

Connemara are now confirmed League Champions with Creggs now also confirmed in second place. The two remaining fixtures will still be very important for finishing the season with very good performances.

Creggs Rugby: Shane Dowd, Ryan Horan, Tom Callaghan, Eoghan Coyle, Chris Duignan, Shane Purcell, Andrew Callaghan, Aidan Leech, Danny Arnold, Tom Fleming, Brian Donohoe, Kevin Brandon, Brian Diffley (Capt.), Maurice Buckley, James Brandon, Tommy Curley, Eoghan Farrell, Pete Lohan, Michael Feeley, Michael Holland, Brian Cleary.

ADULT TEAM TRAINING

This weekend, the Development squad and Under-20 players that aren’t travelling to Kilkenny on Friday, are training at the slightly later time of 8.30 pm on Friday night on the 4G Pitch. All players requested to attend.

Creggs Development Team in hunt for promotion

The Creggs Development squad are currently in second place in the Connacht J1C League, four points behind Ballyhaunis and Creggs has a game in hand.

The team line-out next on Saturday evening week (March 7th.) away to Corinthians, and they will hope to continue their excellent winning run.

It is a very competitive league and technically, any of the top five teams can still win the League. The Creggs Development management will be taking it one game at a time with all eyes on the first of their final four games v Corinthians.

REMAINING J1C FIXTURES
07/03/2020. Development- J1C League.
19:00. Saturday Evening.
Corinthians v Creggs RFC Development
Cirinthians Park, Galway.
(Re-fixed from 21/02/2020).

13/03/2020 Development- J1C League
19:30. Friday Evening.
Creggs RFC Development v Ballyhaunis RFC
Creggs RFC – 4G pitch.

22/03/2020. Development- J1C League.
14:30. Sunday.
Carrick On Shannon RFC v Creggs RFC Development
(Provisionally re-fixed from 16/02/2020).

29/03/2020. Development- J1C League
14:30. Sunday.
Tuam RFC 2nd. XV v Creggs RFC Development

ADULT TEAM TRAINING

This weekend, the Development squad and Under-20 players that aren’t travelling to Kilkenny on Friday, are training at the slightly later time of 8.30 pm on Friday night on the 4G Pitch. All players requested to attend.

YOUTH RUGBY

All square at end of excellent Connacht League Final

Connacht Under-16 Division 1 League Final

Creggs RFC 19, Corinthians RFC 19.

With the incumbent weather a late call was made Saturday night to move the Under-16 League Final to the 4G pitch in Creggs and those who turned up in large numbers to watch the game on Sunday will not have been disappointed with the high quality of the game on show.

Creggs flew out of the blocks and went ahead after 7 minutes when Ciaran Purcell burst from the back of the scrum and fed Cormac Dolan who sent Ryan Conlon over in the corner for the opening score.

Then totally against the run of play, a lose ball was kicked up the field by Corithians, the Creggs player dived on it but failed to control and again a Corinthians player hacked it forward and an unfortunate bounce allowed the Corinthians player to dive on the ball over the line, which was converted for a 7-5 lead for Corinthians after 17 minutes.

Creggs never let the score bother them and went back on the attack with Darragh Gilleran, Lee Kilcoyne, Edimar Fimho, Miqual Arthur, Ben Johnson and Tomas Tiernan excellent early on. Creggs moved the ball wide at every opportunity and they regained the lead after another Ryan Conlon try was converted by DJ Hession for a 12-7 half time lead.

Again the start of the second half Creggs continued to be on the front foot and an excellent steal at the lineout by Aidan Hoare, DJ hession made an excellent break and offloaded excellently to Aodhan Looby for a brilliant score which Hession converted for a 19-7 lead.

Corinthians had come with a big squad and made some crucial changes in midfield and they started to get some territory then and had a purple patch for 10 minutes and unfortunately for Creggs, although there was some heroic defence from Jack Fleming, Noah Fallon, Conor Betts, Senan Lambe and Josh Adams Verling in the backs, a few penalties went against the home side who were tiring and Corinthians got in for two tries to level the scores.

Creggs Under-16’s will play in the Connacht Cup next week before they have the the league replay on the weekend later (7th of March).

Creggs Rugby: Miquel Arthur, Tomas Tiernan, Ben Johnson, Aidan Hoare, Darragh Gilleran, Ciaran Purcell, Lee Kilcoyne, Edimar Fimho, Cormac Dolan, DJ Hession, Senan Lambe, Jack Fleming, Aodhan Looby, Ryan Conlon, Cormac Feeley, Noah Fallon, Andy Quinn, Josh Adams Verling, Michael McAteer, Aindriu Oates.

Big Connacht Cup win for Creggs Under-17s

Connacht Under-17 Cup

Creggs RFC 44, Carrick-On-Shannon RFC 5.

Creggs scored eight tries on their way to a 44 points to 5 win over Carrick-On-Shannon last Sunday on the 4G in Creggs.

The Creggs lads will next play the Quarter-Final against the winners of of Ballinasloe (the recent Connacht U-17 League Finalists) and Gort.

Creggs Under-15 ‘Maroon’ team lose out in Mayo

Connacht Under-15 Cup

Castlebar RFC 23, Creggs ‘Maroon’ RFC 7.

The Creggs ‘Maroon’ Under-15 team travelled to Mayo’s county town last weekend and went went down bravely to Castlebar by 23-7. The other Creggs ‘White’ Under-15 Team entered in the Cup, will play Galwegians in the last 16 game next weekend.

Big Cup Quarter-Final win for Creggs Under-14 Girls

Connacht Girls Under-14 Cup

Creggs 29 Ballina 15

Last Friday night, the Creggs Under-14 Girls booked their place in the semi final of the Connacht Cup with a 29 points to 15 win over Ballina.

Played in windy and wet conditions, it was a credit to both teams that so many scores were possible when holding the ball was an effort in itself.

Creggs scores came from Sarah Purcell, Jemima Adams Verling and Siofra Hession on the day but when you consider the weather played a big part, all the squad put in a big effort and got game time.

The team now moves forward to meet Galwegians next weekend in the Connacht Cup Semi-Finals.

Creggs Rugby: Julie Ann Fahy, Stacey Corbally, Isabelle Quinn, Darcey Farnon, Beibhinn Maher, Grace killian, Grace Mannion, Gweneth Heavey, Leah Heavy, Lucy Donican, Mikayla Gilooly, Sarah Purcell, Sophie Trayers, Shauna Walsh, Jemima Adams Verling , Siofra Hession.

Creggs Under-16 Girls lose out in Cup Semi-Final

Connacht Girls Under-16 Cup

Creggs 19, Ballina 36.

Creggs Under-16’s girls bowed out of the Cup at the semi-final stage after losing to Ballina on Saturday last in Creggs.

Playing without some of their regulars early on, Ballina shot into an early 19 to nil lead before Creggs got into the game and brought the score back to 24 -19 with 5 minutes remaining and Creggs were playing the game in the Ballina half.

A harsh yellow card put paid to the Creggs girls chances and the visitors scored in two very late tries where they ran the length of the pitch. Well done to Creggs Under-16 Girls who made the league and Cup semi finals this season and with a team comprised of a lot of girls still underage next year and new to the game.

Youth Fixtures

(Check www.CreggsRugby.ie / Creggs RFC Facebook for Fixture updates)

BOYS
Creggs Under-16 Boys Team will travel to Headford to play Corrib in the Connacht Under-16 Cup next weekend. Day and Kick-Off Time TBC

Creggs Under-15 White Boys Team will play Galwegians in the Connacht Under-15 Cup in Creggs on this coming Saturday at 12pm.

Creggs Under-14 Boys Team will play their Connacht Under-14’s Cup game away to Buccaneers on this coming Saturday at 11.30am

Creggs Under-13 Boys Team will play their re-fixed Connacht Under-13’s Cup game away to Monivea on this coming Saturday – Kick-Off Time TBC

GIRLS
Creggs Under-14 Girls Team play Galwegians in the Semi-Final of the Connacht Under-14 Girls Cup in Creggs on this coming Saturday – Kick-Off Time TBC

Schools Rugby

TUESDAY – Result
CBS Roscommon played the league leader Summerhill College in the Connacht Under-14 Schools League on Tuesday this week in Creggs.

CBS put in a good effort but went down in the end to a strong Summerhill team by 24-14.

WEDNESDAY – Fixtures
The Convent of Mercy Roscommon play Sacred Heart Westport in the Quarter-Final of the Connacht Junior Schools competition at 11am next Wednesday the 26th, on the 4G pitch in Creggs

CBS Roscommon play Sligo Grammar in the Connacht Junior Schools Cup Semi-Final on Wednesday the 26th at 1.30pm. in the 4G pitch in Creggs.

THURSDAY – Fixtures
CBS Roscommon play Sligo Grammar in the Connacht Senior Cup Semi-Final away on Thursday the 27th at 2pm in Sligo.

St. Mary’s College, Ballygar play Enniscrone in the Connacht Junior C Cup Semi-Final at 11:45, on Thursday, 27th. on the 4G pitch In Creggs.

Mini Rugby

Another successful MINI Rugby Blitz in Creggs

Creggs RFC hosted another successful Mini Blitz last Saturday morning with visiting side Monivea RFC. This involved both boys and girls from Under-7’s through to Under-12’s.

Almost 200 children played a number of matches on our 4G pitch as the recent weather has taken the grass pitches out of play. The smiles in the photos show the joy rugby brings to our children. We always welcome new players and hope you will support our Minis in whatever way you can.

Next Saturday – MINI Rugby Blitz in Sligo
Next Saturday, there is a MINI Rugby Blitz for all age groups scheduled for Sligo RFC, which will be confirmed later this week, as it is subject to weather conditions.

Request for more parents to get involved
We ask that the parents of the children get more involved in assisting the club whether it be it with coaching; social media work; helping with teas/coffees; car park organisation, providing first aid/ medical assistance cover; tidying the grounds/ stand area.

Creggs Mini Rugby Coaches:
Under-12’s — Graham Curran, Ivor Trimble, Ignatius Geraghty, & John Connolly.
Under-11’s — Kevin Waldron, Jimmy O’Connor, Tommy Gately, Shane Killeen, & Tommy Mulry.
Under-10’s — Ray Richardson, Paul Beckett, & Hugh Ryan.
Under-9’s — Ken Loughrey , Ronan Kilcommons, & Mark Mahon.
Under-8’s — Shane Fleming & Philip O’Byrne.
Under-7’s — Liz Payne, Ciaran Coyle, Nigel Dineen, and Dave Flahive.

It isn’t international rugby so everyone can get involved in coaching or other areas in the Mini Rugby section of Creggs Rugby, and enjoy time spent with their children. If you assist or be part of a team with of the above qualities please contact any of the coaches listed above.

If you have any ideas that you think may improve the club we welcome them and again please notify one of the coaches.

If you are in our Creggs Club Lotto, we thank you! If not, we hope that you would consider joining, as it works out at less than €2 weekly and with your child’s membership you get a further 20 per cent discount. There are high on-going costs associated with providing the best sports facility in Connacht and our Creggs Club Lotto is the major fundraiser for us. So please join and maybe even try to sell a couple if you can.