Bumper weekend of success for Newry Rugby Club
It was a bumper weekend of success for Newry Rugby Club with teams and players from all sections of the club in competition with some notable victories.
The club’s U12, U14, U18 and First 15 were all in action and all notched up comprehensive wins, and Newry’s Minis and Maxis had a highly successful blitz to cap it off.
Newry U12s shine at Cooke Blitz
Newry U12's shone under a cold Friday night’s lights when they travelled to the Cooke Blitz with high expectations.
The Telford Park lads were right to be hopeful ahead of the exciting tournament as they came away with significant success.
The first game started at speed with Newry fronting up with some big hits against neighbours Portadown who had possession for the first three minutes but were sent backwards with Newry's defence dominant.
When Newry finally got their hands on the ball there was no looking back, phase after phase was quickly turned into points with Newry running out three tries to one winners.
The second game against Malone started in similar fashion with Newry dominating the contact and using quick ball to catch the opposition flat-footed.
Again, the pace out wide proved too much with Anthony Magennis helping himself to a brace of tries early on. This sparked Oran Hughes to help himself to a few more forays over the line.
Newry surprised Malone with changes of play from the base of the scrum with Finn Laverty bossing proceedings. The Blue and Whites continued to offer up a great display of total rugby to run out 5-1 deserved winners.
The focus switched to game three with Civil Service firmly in Newry’s sights and they began the encounter at lightning pace with a few quick passes leading to a straight-forward opening score.
Newry should have pushed on from this but were out of sorts for a spell and after a nasty head knock to Anthony Magennis, Newry finally started to the back to basics rugby and ran out comfortable winners by four tries to two. Everyone at the club wishes Anthony a speedy recovery.
Everything now hinged on game four against local rivals Banbridge and Newry were up for the challenge. The early exchanges between the teams were well matched, with both sides running and tackling hard, Newry were unlucky not to score on three occasions being pushed into touch in the right-hand corner.
However, the pressure soon paid off with Newry running over two quick tries in succession. Newry maintained their high-pressure tactics and then came the result, two tries in quick succession. The pressure was immense and forced Banbridge into a kicking game which yielded two tries for the Bann lads, but the blitz was decided when Oran Hughes collected the ball deep in his own half to run in one of the tries of the tournament, to secure a three tries to two victory to the Blue and Whites and make it four wins from four.
The Under 12 management and coaches were delighted with the performance of the lads who showed great character and love for the sport and gelled as a team for a well-deserved blitz win.
Under 14s too strong for Instonians
Newry U14s 28 Instonians U14s 0
Newry hosted a strong Instonians side at what is now becoming ‘Fortress Telford Park’ on Saturday and the Blue and Whites sent their challengers packing with a comprehensive 28-0 victory.
The local side knew they faced a stiff challenge from Instonians who play in a provincial league above Newry, but the Telford Park lads equipped themselves superbly with one of their best displays of the season to run out comfortable winners.
Newry started the game strong with blistering speed of the rucks from tackle machines Dominykas Vasilenko and Danny O’Hare, with Liam Magennis locking down the rucks and closing off any opportunity for the Instonians number 9 to offload.
The Blue and Whites got on the front foot as quick hands from the backs allowed Micheal Magennis over for the first try with fantastic Dara Laverty giving an exemplary kicking performance.
Newry maintained their dominance throughout the first half with both flankers Charlie Vos and Rossi Hamilton playing a crucial role in closing off the Instonians attack. They didn’t let any attack start and it wasn’t before long the twins combined again to put to Micheal Magennis in just beside the post for another before the half.
After the interval, Newry never relented with stand-out performances from Jamie Brannigan who stepped in to play a blinder at centre and Mackenzie Sheffield notched up back to back tries in quick succession.
Instonians tried a late rally with persistent high balls to try and put pressure on Newry’s full back Peter Cunningham who was more than up to the challenge demonstrating lightning speed of footwork that turned the tables on the opponents.
It was a first-class team display with every player who donned the Newry jersey doing the club and their families proud. Superb stuff from a talented Newry Under 14s side.
Newry RFC Under 18s too strong for Belfast HS
Belfast HS U18s 24 Newry U18s 44
Newry U18s made the trip to Belfast High School with only 13 players but ready to get their cup run underway.
The Blue and Whites took the lead early on from the reliable boot of Ciaran Mathers but Belfast High used the two-man advantage to score the first try of the game.
Newry exited well from the resulting kick off and almost scored before knocking on.
The Telford Park pack won the scrum against the head and this resulted in Newry’s first try of the game scored by captain Lorcan McCumisky.
Belfast High though gathered themselves and scored two unanswered tries before Owen McWall made a great strong run breaking through several tackles to score Newry’s second try. Newry kept the score ticking over with penalties to finish the first half ahead 23-19.
The Blue and Whites scored the first try of the second half through Ciaran Mathers after great work from the Newry pack. This was followed up by Joseph McConville scoring the next try for Newry, after good disruption at the lineout, he made a great break through the middle to finish under the posts.
Newry killed the game off when Lorcan McCumiskey grabbed his second try after a bruising run down the left wing to crash over the line.
Belfast High scored a consolation try but it was too late and Newry returned down to Telford the victors 44-24. Ciaran Mathers was given Man of the Match after a faultless display from the kicking tee and scoring a try.
The Newry coaches were absolutely delighted with the display the team put on, with coach Chris Hanna deeming it one of the best displays he had ever seen from a team in the Newry jersey.
Try scorers: Lorcan McComiskey (2), Owen McWall, Joseph McConville, Ciaran Mathers.
Minis and Maxis travel to Lurgan for Blitz success
Saturday was also a really big day for over 40 of Newry Rugby Club’s Minis and Maxis who travelled to Lurgan Rugby Club for a Blitz.
This was the first game of competitive rugby that the majority of these players had ever played and they really rose to the occasion.
A huge thanks must go to Lurgan and their coaches who were brilliant in putting on a coaching session and organising the games.
It was a very proud moment for all the Newry coaches as they witnessed their young charges stepping up to enjoy competitive game time and they played their hearts out.
The outcome was lots of tackles and tries and great memories created for all of the young Newry stars of the future.
Newry Rugby Club has a bright future with all the Minis coming through. Mini training is for ages 5 plus, and takes place every Saturday 10-11am at Telford Park with youth training for ages 11-18 also taking place from 10-11:30am.
Newry Rugby Club are still welcoming new players so if you would like to try your hand at rugby or would like to come along to a training session to see what it is all about, then come along any Saturday where a warm welcome awaits!
Seniors record memorable win over Civil Service
Newry RFC 1st XV 26 Civil Service 11
In what has been a frustrating and difficult season so far for the first 15, their result against Civil Service could prove to be a turning point after they emerged victorious on a score-line of 26 points to 11.
Newry dominated the match from the outset with their pack very much in the ascendancy. The carrying of Fearon, Farrell and Kirk created a platform for the backs to operate under the calm direction of Donal Farrell whose probing and astute kicking opened up the Service defence.
The visitors battled hard in defence and scrambled well at the the expense of giving away kickable penalties which Newry kicked to touch near the visitors line and after a driving maul, Sean McCaul crashed over for the Telford Park Men’s first try.
Further Newry pressure allowed Joe Rice to kick two more penalties to extend the Newry lead which they carried into half-time. In the second half, Newry continued their dominance of the game and were unlucky not to breach the visitors line on a number of occasions. Again they had to settle for two well struck Rice penalty conversions. Civil Service applied significant pressure as the half wore on and were rewarded with a converted try.
Not to be outdone, Newry reasserted their dominance and Artie McGuiness was on the end of a free-flowing move to drive home another try for the Blue and Whites. This was a good performance by Newry in front of a supportive home crowd who really got behind the team, and the display is just rewards for the efforts and perseverance of Coach Bruce Cornelius, Captain Chris Hanna and all the players in recent months.
The result is a timely confidence boost for the Newry Firsts as they look towards the run-in for the rest of the season.