Adult Rugby Round up w/e 16th Nov

John O Connell left and Ger Foster who were part of a large travelling Bruff support on Saturday

Ulster Bank League Division 2B

Bruff Vrs Tullamore

It was a case of what could have been for the senior team who were away to Tullamore in the UBL league on Saturday. Bruff lead for most of the game but only had a losing bonus point to show for their efforts at the end of the 80 minutes. It was a fantastic game of flowing rugby played in ideal conditions in the Spollanstown venue in Co Offaly.

Cheered on by a large travelling support Bruff were quick to start and had a try after 6 minutes. A Tullamore scrum in the middle of the field was sent retreating causing an untidy pick for the home sides no. 9. Bruff openside Andy White was quick to pounce which caused the ball to squirt out. Scrumhalf Tony Cahill kicked the ball into the Tullamore 22 and good chase by the Bruff backs forced Tullamore into a rash clearance kick. The ever alert Bruff winger Declan Bannon picked up the ball and broke a number of tackles before releasing centre Darragh Mulcahy to score in the corner.

Tullamore didn’t waste much time and replied with a try of their own with 11 minutes on the clock to make the score 5-5. Bruff dominated territory and possession for the next 25 minutes and the pressure was rewarded on the 36 minute mark. Bruff were awarded a scrum on the Tullamore 5 metre line setting up a solid platform for No 8 Jake Considine to pick and drive. Bruff held on to the ball well and after a number of phases Captain Davie Horan borrowed under the Tullmore defence for the 5 pointer. That was the end of the scoring for the opening 40 making it 10-5 to Bruff at half time.

Action from the opening half

Tullamore pressed hard for the opening period of the second half but it was Bruff who were first to score. Bruff forced the home team into a knock on and from the resulting scrum out half Davie O Grady put in a huge relieving kick from the Bruff 10 metre line. Again the chase was excellent and Tullamore were forced into giving away a penalty in front of their own posts. Bruff winger Declan Bannon converted the chance to make it 13-5 Bruff.

Again Tullamore were quick to respond and added a converted try on 50 minutes to make it 13-12. On 55 minutes Bruff won a lineout on the Tullamore 10 Metre line. Blind side wing forward Danny Keogh made the hard yards before scrum half Tony Cahill made a cheeky dart around the Tullamore fringes. He released Davie O Grady who set up Paudie Kilcoyne to touch down under the posts. Deccie Bannon added the extras, 20-12 to Bruff. Tullamore again showed their grit and added and converted try on 58 minutes to make it 20-19.

Bruff’s last score of the game came on 72 minutes when a dominant Bruff maul was hauled down 30 metres from goal. Again Bannon stepped up and slotted the kick to make it 23-19 to Bruff.

But it was Tullamore who had the last say. With just 3 minutes left on the clock Tullamore were awarded a penalty which they kicked to touch. Bruff defended the maul well but were unable to stop the Tullamore forwards from crossing the white wash. The conversion was missed and the game finished 23-24 to the home team.

Team was: 1. Davy Horan 2. Johnny Clery 3. Timmy Quirke 22. Ger O’Connell 5. Kevin Madigan 6. Danny Keogh 7. Andy White 8. Jake Considine 9. Tony Cahill 10. Davy O’Grady 11. Declan Bannon 12. Darragh Mulcahy 13. Sean D’arcy 14. Paudie Kilcoyne 15. Brendan Deady 16. Keith Laffan 17. Mike Carroll 18. Mike Cooke 19. Olly White 20. Shane Doona

U20 Donal Walsh Trophy Section B

The u20’s were beaten 19-12 by Old Crescent in Bruff on Saturday. Paul Downes was the only Bruff scorer on the day kicking 4 penalties in a game which never got going for the home team.

Bruff are now on 10 points after 4 games, with 2 wins and 2 loses.