Roscrea RFC u18s
The Roscrea RFC u18s started the new year by welcoming Newbridge RFC to Streamstown for a 12:00pm kick off on Sunday January 5th. After the Christmas break teams can often take some time to dispel the rustiness and gain some match fitness. However, there was very little lethargy on display in this contest as both teams attacked and defended with a very high level of intensity for the entirety of the match. The prevailing wind was a telling factor for much of the contest and Roscrea made the decision to play against it in the first half, Newbridge took full advantage of this with some fine strategic kicking paying territorial dividends throughout the first 40 mins. Roscrea played with a level of confidence that assured them that they could take anything that Newbridge threw at them, with some excellent sniping runs by Roscrea’s superb scrum half Brian Bergin and some dominant tackling, most notably by Roscrea winger Sean Liffey. The 2 teams reached half time all square with Roscrea emerging after the break with the wind behind their backs. From that point on, the Home team started to dominate despite some strong defending from Newbridge. The Game finished with Roscrea running out deserved 28 – 7 winners. Tries were scored by Scott Pearson, Cameron Fairbrother, Michael Lown and James hill with 2 conversions a piece from the boots of luke Seacy and Scott Pearson. Roscrea RFC coach Scott Fairbrother was delighted with the performance and thanked the opposition on the day. Next up for the Roscrea RFC u18s is Ashbourne away on Sunday the 12th of January.
Roscrea RFC Boys u13s
The Roscrea RFC Boys u13s welcomed League leaders Malahide RFC to Streamstown on Sunday January 5th for their scheduled Leinster school’s youth league clash. Michael Moloney’s men have been in fine form this season and have made the transition to competitive 15 a side rugby seamlessly. In Malahide RFC they met as strong an opposition you are likely to meet at this age grade. The game was a showcase for determined and committed rugby played with an exceptionally high level of skill from both sides. At the final whistle the Dublin team took the points with a scoreline of 19 – 17 despite a grandstand finish from Roscrea. Tries for Roscrea RFC were scored by Kieran Martin and Declan Walsh with 2, Killian Murphy also Kicked a Conversion. Afterwards Roscrea RFC coach Michael Moloney congratulated Malahide on a fine performance. He also paid a special tribute on behalf of the team and coaches to the highly influential 2nd row Andrew Casey from Johnstown who was injured during the game, suffering a broken leg. All at Roscrea RFC wish him well in his recovery and hope to see him back in the Maroon Jersey as soon as possible.
Roscrea RFC u13s. 1. Sean Nolan, 2.Michael Loughnane, 3.Andrew Murray, 4. Sean Stapleton, 5.Andrew Casey, 6.Bobbie Gleeson, 7.Cormac Coleman, 8.Callum Murphy, 9.Aaron Moloney 10. Killian Murphy, 11.Declan Walsh, 12. Shay Gleeson, 13. Kieran Martin, 14. James Sampson, 15.Seamus Cleare, 16. Tyler Ryan, 17. Oisin O’Shea, 18. Eoghan Byrne, 19 James O’Sullivan 20.Shane Monaghan, 21 Corey Kelly, 22. Bobby Lynch Coach Michael Moloney.
Roscrea RFC Boys u14s
On Sunday January 5th the Roscrea RFC boys u14s travelled to Clondalkin RFC for their scheduled first round of the Division 1 Leinster Schools Youth League. This was the 2nd meeting of the teams this season after Roscrea had narrowly been victorious in the the Preliminary round in December. Roscrea finished top of the group and Clondalkin finished second resulting in both teams been promoted to Division 1. Roscrea had trained diligently in the run up to the game, with coaches and players working on a strategy and focusing on a game plan for this season defining match.
Roscrea started strongly, controlling the game from the start, however Clondalkin scored first against the run of play with a great chip over the top and an excellent chase. But Roscrea continued to put Clondalkin under huge pressure and by half time the excellent Robert Carney had scored 2 tries both converted by Tadhg White to give Roscrea a lead of 14 – 7.
Joseph Stapleton and Billy Hayes were unlucky not to add to this score both held up after crossing the line.
Clondalkin came out defiantly in the 2nd half with their No 8 picking at the back of the scrum 10 meters from the Roscrea line and scoring a great try. Clondalkin failed to convert, leaving Roscrea with a slender 2-point lead. This encouraged
Roscrea who settled back into the game with Tadhg White delivering a lovely flat pass to Harry Loughnane who broke the line from 30 meters out for a wonderful individual try. The try was duly converted by Tadhg White. Almost immediately Clondalkin answered a fine try of their own but failed to convert. The game hung in the balance with both teams looking for the killer blow. With the clock ticking down Roscrea were awarded a scrum in the middle of the pitch and from 40 meters out with a superbly executed move from the Roscrea backs, Robert Carney broke through the oppositions defensive line and scored another great try. Tadhg White added 2 points from another great kick. Once again Clondalkin answered scoring another great try but failing to convert. With only minutes to go the score was Clondalkin 22 – 28 Roscrea, Ciaran O’Shea was through for a try in the corner but was hit with a high tackle just short of the Clondalkin line. Roscrea took the penalty quickly and moved the ball from one touch line to the other with the irrepressible Robert Carney again going over in the corner for his 4th try of the day. Tadhg White failed to convert. The game finished with a score of Clondalkin 22 – 33 Roscrea. Afterwards, a delighted Roscrea RFC Head coach Willie Hayes thanked Clondalkin for their hospitality and paid tribute to the parents who had travelled to support the team. Matthew Bergin was awarded with the much-coveted Best Effort award. This excellent victory awarded the unbeaten Roscrea RFC u14s with a much coveted record of winning 10 games in a row.
Roscrea RFC Boys u12s
The Roscrea RFC boys u12s welcomed a Malahide RFC u13 development side to Streamstown for a challenge match on Sunday January 5th. Coaches Joe Smyth and Ger Stone were delighted to be able to give all 24 members of the u12s panel quality game time against a high standard of opposition. The game was played with a high level of quality from both sides with spells of excellent attacking and defensive play on show.
Roscrea RFC Boys U15s
Congratulations to the Roscrea RFC boys u15s who played their first competitive game of the season against De la Salle Palmerstown in Dublin on Sunday January 5th. Although they came up just short on the day, the performance showed great signs of improvement for a group of players who have only being playing together for a short time.
