Thurles RFC Crest

Thurles RFC Club Notes 21/09/2014

Thurles RFC Club Notes Week Ending 21/09/2014

Courtesy of Club PRO Brian Scanlon: Photo Credit Eddie Smyth

Thurles Ladies XV

Ladies - Kelly Byrne & Helena BirminghamOn Friday night last, the first of our teams took to the field in the form of our Ladies team.  The Thurles RFC women started their pre-season on the 22nd October with the ‘Give it a Try’ campaign.  This was a hugely successful initiative, with a turnout of 33 players, including new and current faces and a great evening was had by all.  Training continued for the Ladies every Wednesday and Friday night since then and this friendly game away to Kilkenny was their first chance to get involved in some of the real action.

Kilkenny started off brightest and really showed their experience by going 17-0 ahead after 20 minutes.  Despite this set back, the Thurles Ladies settled into the game and eventually started playing some great rugby.  A fine try by Denise Coughley straight from a training ground move, showed their skillset, given the wet conditions on Friday night.

 

With 3 girls who were completely new to the rugby scene and girls who were playing in new positions, they began to find their rhythm and put pressure on Kilkenny for most of the second half.  However, mistakes made by Thurles, meant Kilkenny got three more tries and a conversion.  Thurles didn’t let the heads drop, kept fighting and got their just reward with a converted try from Niamh Coman, leaving the score at fulltime, Kilkenny 32 – 12 Thurles.

Thurles Ladies RFC have competed in the semi-final of the League for the past 2 seasons and this year they will be looking to go one step further this year and bring home some silverware.  Training continues every Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm.  Newcomers always welcome

Thurles U16 and U18 – Tri County Challenge

On Saturday morning last, Thurles RFC hosted and took part in the inaugural U16 & U18 Tri County Challenge, a competition which also included, Waterford’s Dungarvan and Cork’s Muskerry.

U18 Player

In the U16’s Thurles got proceedings underway against Dungarvan in a highly entertaining game which Thurles won 26 – 5.

Next up was Muskerry against Dungarvan, with the Cork side running out victors on a 17-0 scoreline.

The last game was a winner takes all affair with Thurles taking on Muskerry.  The home side got off to a great start, scoring a converted try, followed up by a penalty in the second half.  Muskerry to their credit increased their intensity and were rewarded with a try of their own to leave a score between the sides.  Thurles defended manually and with the aid of the bench managed to hold on for a 10-5 win.

U16 Tri County Champions – Thurles RFC

In the U18 section, Muskerry and Dungarvan kicked things off; this was an extremely one-sided game with Dungarvan romping home to a 56-0 win.  Dungarvan followed this up with another win, outscoring home side Thurles, with 3 converted tries to one.

With the destination of the U18 Tri County Cup already Déise bound, Thurles took on Muskerry to decide who would finish runners up.  After a very entertaining game, the side couldn’t be separated and it finished 17-17 apiece.

U18 Tri County Champions – Dungarvan RFC

Thurles RFC 1st XV

Thurles First XV continued preparation for the League, last Saturday week (13th September) when they welcomed Division 1 side Waterpark to Loughtagalla for a pre-season friendly where they ran out 36-0 victors with tries from Colm Skehan, Eoghan O’Dwyer, Aidan Dwyer and a couple from Nicky Irwin.

Waterpark - Nicky Irwin

On Sunday just passed, Thurles continued their winning ways with a comprehensive 43-0 victory over an aged Dungarvan side at a sun drenched Loughtagalla.  Despite missing a couple of regulars through work commitments and illness, Thurles picked up where they left off against Waterpark.

Early in the game Thurles gained territory inside the Dungarvan 22, the away side won their own lineout but with some great work around the breakdown, Ger McCormack managed to get a great block down on the scrum-half’s box kick, Captain Brian Lyons recovered the loose ball and gave a basketball style pass over the Dungarvan wingers head to send Donna Duggan in for a try in the corner.

Waterpark - Eoghan O'Dwyer

Thurles continued to add the pressure, straight from the kick off, Lyons gathered and popped to an oncoming Luke Kelly, who was making his first team debut, booted down the field to provide great field position.  After 10 minutes of back and forth play inside the 22, Thurles eventually made the pressure count with Shane Butler coming in off his wing looking for work off the shoulder of Peter Coman, he took the ball in, stayed on his feet and presented the ball to supporting player Aidan Dwyer who sneaked in under the posts and added the extras himself just before the half time break to leave it at 12-0.

Thurles introduced a few subs in the second half but continued to dominate proceedings.  Great work by the pack, in particular, Larry O’Gorman, Jack O’Mahony and Sam Devaney down the blind side paved the way for Colm Skehan to find his way over the line, with Dwyer adding the convert.

On a day that was made for running rugby, the backs did just that, with Nicky Irwin finding a gap in the line and running in under the posts for a converted try with David Maher adding another in the corner with some great hands from Shane Maloney, John Coman and Aidan Dwyer in the build-up.

Recent debutants, Shane Butler and Sam Devaney continued to make great strides, popping up with ball carries and tackles around the field, both were rewarded in the last quarter for their hard work, when Sam burst through a group of Dungarvan players to touch down under the posts and with one of the plays of the game, Shane beat three defenders on his way over the white wash in the corner, which was converted by Aidan Dwyer.

Waterpark - Aidan Dwyer

This result but more importantly, the clinical nature of the performance, will please Coaches, Mark Butler and Kevin O’Dwyer in what was the last run out before the League commences this coming Sunday away to Waterford City at 2.30pm.  All travelling support would be greatly appreciated by the team and management.  Training continues this week Wednesday and Friday night at 7.30pm sharp, keep an eye on the Thurles RFC Facebook page for updates or changes.  New Players always welcome.

Thurles RFC Squad: Colm Skehan, Adam O’Malley, Dave Kelly, Jason O’Mahoney, Tommy Keane, Ger McCormack, Conor Cooney, Brian Lyons (Capt.), David Walsh, Paddy Phelan, Emmet Kavanagh, Larry O’Gorman, Donnacha Duggan, Eoin Long, Dan Lanigan-Ryan, Phil Kelly, Paudie Carey, Dwayne Stanley, Sam Devaney, Joey Kelly, Nicky Irwin, Deano McCormack, Sean Fitzgerald, Peter Coman, Adrian Bourke, Tommy Connelly, John Coman, Aidan Dwyer, Shane Moloney, David Maher, Eoghan O’Dwyer, John Loughman, Peter Kinane, Richard Holohan, Luke Kelly, James Ryan.

Waterpark - Adrian Burke

Club Activities

Many thanks to all the volunteers at the club, who over the past few months have the grounds at Loughtagalla looking unbelievable, it’s a credit to them.  It has also been great to see the scoreboard back in action for the last couple of weeks for the 1st Team games and thanks to the members of the underage teams for keeping track of the scores, its much appreciated and doesn’t go unnoticed.

Membership

Membership is now outstanding for the 2014-15 season.  All coaches and players must be members of the club.  International and Provincial tickets are allocated based on membership.  Membership can be paid to any committee member or for players contact Colm Skehan on 086-8847105

Results:

Friday 19th September

Ladies Rugby: Kilkenny RFC 32 – 12 Thurles RFC

Saturday 20th September

Tri County Challenge U16
Game 1 Thurles 26 – 5 Dungarvan
Game 2 Muskerry 17-5 Dungarvan
Game 3 Thurles 10-5 Muskerry
Champions – Thurles RFC

 

Tri County Challenge U18
Game 1 Muskerry 0 – 56 Dungarvan
Game 2 Thurles 7 – 21 Dungarvan
Game 3 Thurles 17 – 17 Muskerry
Champions – Dungarvan RFC

Sunday 21st September

1st XV Friendly: Thurles RFC 43 – 0 Dungarvan RFC


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