Seniors Vs Boyne
The seniors got their UBL campaign underway on Saturday with an away trip to Boyne. Bruff won the corresponding fixture 15-23 last season and were hoping to repeat last year’s exploits again on Saturday.
Bruff had already played two competitive fixtures this season losing 14.3 to Shannon in the Charity cup and 42.24 away to UCC in the Munster senior cup.
Bruff started slow and were down 5 nil after seven minute conceding from a set move off the back of the Boyne Scrum. Bruff’s response was immediate scoring a converted try just five minutes later with Cillian Rea getting the touch down after a clean line break from the middle of the field. Bruff were forced to defend for the next fifteen minutes and were fortunate not to concede on a number of occasions. But it Bruff who would strike next scoring an excellent individual try from Mark Cosgrove. The flying winger showed some great footballing skills to twice chip over the Boyne defence before dotting the ball down for his first try of the season. The home side bounced back and managed to score just on the stroke of half time to leave it 12-10 to Bruff at the break.
Bruff opened the second half strongest but were sucker punched after fifteen minutes when Boyne broke from their own half to score a break-away try from deep. The conversion was added and Bruff now trailed 12-17. Again Bruff responded well and came up with another try on seventy minutes after some good forward play in the home sides 22. Hooker John Hogan broke from the back of a maul to score his second try in as many games. David O Grady kicked his second conversion of the day to make it 19-17 to Bruff. Unfortunately the lead was short lived and Boyne added another converted try with only a few minutes remaining to win on a score line of 19-24.
Bruff Team: 1.Dave Horan 2.Johnny Hogan 3. Brendan Keogh 4.Sean Hartigan 5.Neilus Keogh 6.Cillian Rea 7.Mikey Cooke 8.Paddy Clery 9.Davy O Grady 10.Tony Cahill 11. Mark Cosgrove 12. Eric Finn 13. Jack O Grady 14.Kevin McManus 15. Barry Enright 16. Keith Laffan 17. Timothy Quirke 18. Tom O Brien 19 Tadgh O Dwyer 20 Shane Doona
Next Game:
Midleton are the visitors to Kilballyowen this weekend for round 2 of the UBL. The East Cork team hit the ground running last weekend recording a 30-9 opening day victory over Kanturk. Kick- off is 2.30pm in Bruff and all support would be welcomed for this first home game of the league.
Bruff Players in Action with Munster.
Last weekend saw the concluding rounds of the Youths inter-pro’s. There were a number of Bruff players in action with Munster with mixed results for the teams involved. The Munster U19’s were in action in Anglesea Road on Saturday afternoon where they were beaten 20-9 in a title decider. Liam Barrett and Ordhan Ring started for Munster with both players giving good accounts of themselves’ s on the day.
The Munster U18 Clubs side were also in action on Saturday winning the Interprovincial title for the first time in 13 years. Bruff’s Fionn Flanagan was at tight head Prop for the decider against Connaught which saw Munster win out 35-17.
Congrats to all players involved, we look forward to seeing you all back in Kilballyowen this week.
Underage:
Reminder that the underage rugby season is now back in full flow. Mini Rugby (u7’s to u12’s) training is at 10.30am on Sunday mornings with youths training from 11.35am and it’s still not too late to join. If you or someone you know is interested in playing please make contact with any of the coaches or committee members listed on the Bruff RFC website.
