SENIOR RUGBY 

Creggs defeat Dunmore in tough league game

Connaught Junior League

Dunmore  0,   Creggs  18.

With three rounds left to play Creggs stay top of the table thanks to this hard earned away win against Dunmore on Sunday last. Creggs have a 6 point lead over second placed Castlebar going into the final stages with Tuam a further 4 points behind.

CONNACHT J1 LEAGUE TABLE

Sunday was Creggs first Connacht League outing in 7 weeks and whilst the team were in good shape going into the game they were clearly ring rusty against a fired up Dunmore, whose opening salvos belied their lowly league position. 

 Creggs knew they had a battle on their hands as the big Dunmore pack imposed themselves from the outset but they failed to break the meanest defence in the league and the home side’s early dominance delivered no return. 

 As Dunmore tired Creggs began to exert pressure and after 25 minutes a sweeping movement, first left, then right, yielded a try for winger Luke Meehan to the right of the posts. Mark Brandon was off target with the conversion but made amends with two penalty goals to leave his side ahead 11 – nil at the interval. 

 Now facing into the strong breeze Creggs provided a masterclass in defensive discipline conceding just one kickable penalty and their pack began to dominate the set pieces as the game progressed. A long period of pressure, in which Shane Purcell was close to crowning his senior debut with a try on two occasions, finally delivered when the Creggs pack steamrolled their opponents over the line with prop Tom Fleming getting the touchdown and Mark Brandon added the conversion to close the scoring as the game moved into injury time. 

 This was a good team performance, of the pack Alan and Kevin Brandon, Mike Blighe and Brian Donoghue stood out and Maurice Buckley coming in as a half-time replacement, slotted neatly into the no. 2 position on his first outing for Creggs since transferring back from Trinity College. 

In the backline, try-scorer Meehan and Elliot Jennings constantly threatened and Chris Duignan was heroic in defence as Dunmore threw everything at Creggs in the opening quarter.

With two away games and one home fixture still to be played, there will be no complacency within this squad. After a competitive break, the tough game last Sunday will also hopefully serve them well in the coming weeks. 

This coming weekend Creggs play the Quarter-Final of the Connacht Junior Cup away to Corinthians RFC in Galway. The kick-off at Corinthian Park is down for 2 pm on Sunday. Training continues on Tuesday and Friday nights. 

Creggs Rugby : Kevin Gavin, Luke Meehan, Elliot Jennings, Tom Callaghan (Capt.), Chris Duignan, Mark Brandon, Eoghan Coyle, Tom Fleming, Sean Og Higgins, Aidan Leech, Brian Donoghue, Ronan Cahill, James Brandon, Alan Brandon, Kevin Brandon, Mike Blighe, Shane Purcell, Maurice Buckley, Peter Lohan, and Michael Holland.

Creggs Second Team travel to play Claremorris 

For two weeks in a row, the Creggs Second Team’s Connacht League away game v Claremorris became a victim of the bad weather. 

 It is expected that the game v Claremorris RFC will now be re-sheduled for this weekend.

CONNACHT J2 LEAGUE TABLE

The Seconds Team have games in hand, with three away League games left to play. In this division, the teams that finish in third to sixth positions play in two quarter-finals, with the winners of those facing the top two teams in the semi-finals.

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. 

YOUTH RUGBY

Creggs Under-13’s down to play Claremorris next

Creggs Under-13’s travelled to Castlebar during the week and were defeated by the Mayo boys. The Creggs lads are now down to play Claremorris RFC this Saturday in a previously postponed Round 5 League game  away V Claremorris 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. This IRFU rule will be strictly monitored and enforced without exception from this week. 

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

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

Super defence takes Under-14’s to League Final

Connacht Under-14 A League:

Creggs RFC  5,    Galwegians RFC  0.

Creggs and Galwegians clashed on Saturday morning in Creggs for a place in the Connacht Under-14 A League Final with the Creggs boys coming out on top in a low scoring encounter.

LEAGUE TABLE U14 A LEAGUE

The game was doubtful right up to kick off after the heavy overnight rain and the game was played in heavy conditions which contributed to the low scoring game Both teams did try and run the ball but it was a credit to both teams that their defences were excellent on the day.

Up front the both teams had parity at scrum and lineout and Aidan Hoare, Leigh Kilcoyne and Michael McAteer did very well and defensively the Creggs back row of Ciaran Purcell, Edimar Fimho and Daniel Flynn made tackle after tackle to keep the dangerous Galwegians Back line scoreless. While out the backs Aodhan Looby, DJ Hession , Cormac Dolan and Senan Lambe defended very well in the opening period.

Creggs only score came after 13 minutes when good defensive work led to an interception by Jack Fleming who ran in to score in the corner.

In the second half with the wind Galwegians did have the better of the territory but Creggs continued to carry the ball well through Tomas Tiernan and Ben Johnson up front while Oisin O Beirne, Ryan Conlon and Shane Walsh looked threatening but good Galwegians defence snuffed out any danger.

With such a slight advantage,  for the first time in the whole game, Galwegians did threaten the Creggs line within the last 5 minutes with two good attacks from their forwards but the Creggs defence stood firm and held them out with some great defending.

Connacht Under-14 A League Final

Creggs Under-14’s will now play Corinthians of Galway in the Connacht League Final next Saturday at 12 Noon in Headford (Corrib RFC). Please support the lads in this big Connacht League Final for them.

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

Separately, Creggs will play Oughterard RFC on February 17th. in the Round One of the Connacht Under-14 Cup.

Creggs Under-15 prepare for a Cup campaign

The Creggs Under-15’s has completed their League campaign and finished mid-table despite not having a full panel of players available for most of the season so far. 

However, the team are coming in to great form at a good time, with their Connacht Cup campaign getting underway at home v Claremorris on February 24th. This is a talented squad and expect a good cup run after their last league outing resulted in a 53-17 win over Castlebar.

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

Under-16s to play Ballinasloe in League Semi-Final

Connacht Under-16 A League Semi Final:

Creggs Under-16’s Connacht A League Semi Final away to Ballinasloe RFC fell foul to the weather for the second week running when it was cancelled last Sunday morning due to an unplayable pitch in Ballinasloe after heavy overnight rain. 

This semi final will be refixed again for next weekend. Please support the lads in their semi-final next weekend. 

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

Under-17 team scheduled to play Westport 

After their away league game was called off las weekend just to an unplayable pitch at Corrib RFC, the Creggs Under-17’s are down to play Westport at home this weekend.

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

Dominant display and big win for Under-18’s

Connacht Under-18.5 A League:

Creggs RFC  67,    Ballinrobe RFC  0.

Creggs Under-18.5’s continued their good recent form and their pursuit to retain the Connacht Under-18 A League title with a comprehensive 11 try, 67 to 0 victory over Ballinrobe RFC on Saturday night in Creggs.

Fielding an almost full strength team Creggs hit the ground running and had 3 tries on the board in the first 8 minutes with Adam Finnerty, Mairtin Quinn and Conor Rohan going over, 2 of which were converted by Shane Purcell for a 19-0 lead. 

Up front John Martin, Mathew Curley, Danny Arnold and Aaron Glennon were carrying excellent ball and when the Creggs backs moved the ball wide their skill and at drawing defenders and releasing the players outside led to further tries by Jason Hoare, Tim Lambe, Shane Purcell (2) and another for Mairtin Quinn and a couple of further conversions  to leave the half time score 48-0.

The second half substitutions did nothing to change the tide of Creggs attacks with excellent work from John McDonnell, Tom Farrell, Thomas O Brien, Eoghan McDonnell, Amuray Duarte and Jack Hanley leading to further tries for Aodha hession, Michael Kelly and Tim Lambe, one conversion for Tim Lambe and one conversion for Eric O Doherty completed the scoring for a final score of 67-0.

Creggs Under-18’s will have a much tougher outing v Oughterard RFC in their last league game next weekend at home, knowing a victory will put them into anther Connacht A League Final. 

Training continues on Friday nights at 8pm on the Astro Turf in Roscommon. New and returning players always welcome.

MINI RUGBY

Creggs Minis entertained Carrick RFC last Saturday morning. 

The Mini teams (Under-8’s to Under-12’s) will host Ballinasloe RFC in a blitz next Saturday with a 10.30 am kick off. Players to please be there at 10.10am, and all coaches please be there for 10am. A text will go to all players during the week with further details. 

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.

New players alway welcome in each age-group from Under-7 up to Under-12.

Girls Mini Rugby in the club is being restructured and a new committee is being formed to promote and grow the game for the girls. More information in the coming weeks.

CREGGS RUGBY LOTTO

The Creggs Rugby Lotto Draw numbers this week were: 2, 7, 27, 32. There was no winner of the jackpot, which now rises to €6,700 for the next weekly draw. 

The winner of the Lucky Dip draw this week was JOHN GREENE.

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!