Pic: Bruff U17’s wearing the original jerseys from the convent in Bruff
UBL Div 2b
Navan Vrs Bruff
The seniors played their first competitive game of 2015 when they travelled away to Navan on Saturday in round 9 of the UBL. Only 1 point and 1 place separated the teams going into the game so it was always going to be a tight affair.
Bruff were first to score and went into a 7-nil lead thanks to a Johnnie Clery try from the back of a well worked maul. Declan Bannon has now emigrated to NZL so Paul Downes who has taken over the kicking duties stepped up to add the conversion.
Navan hit back with 10 points of their own before half-time and went into the break 10-7 ahead scoring a converted try and a penalty,
Paul Downes kicked a penalty for Bruff shortly after the restart to make it all square, before Navan scored a second converted try to make it 17-10 to the home side.
But it was Bruff who finished stronger scoring two more converted tries before the end of a 49 minute second half. Scrum half Tony Cahill provided the first of the 2 second half try’s breaking from the back of a maul to go over for the 5 pointer. The final Bruff try came after player/coach Brendan Deady made a clean line break from the Bruff half of the field before linking with Bruff’s openside flanker Andrew White who finished off the move in style.
Both tries were converted by Downes and Bruff made the 255km trip home happy with the 4 points on the table.
The win moved Bruff up to 7th position on 24pts with 4 wins 2 draws and 3 loses.
Next up for Bruff is a home game in Kilballyowen Vrs Old Crescent. The game has a 7.30 ko on Friday night. Supporters are asked to arrive early as a big crowd is expected for this Limerick derby game.
Team was: 1.Davie Horan 2. John Clery 3.Keith Laffan 22.Tom O Dwyer 5.Barry Laffan 6.Mike Cooke7.Andrew White 8. Jake Considine 9.Tony Cahill 10. Paul Downes 11.Brendan Deady 12. Darragh Mulcahy 13.Sean Darcy 14.Paidi Kilcoyne 15.Dave O Grady 16.Stephen Foster 17.Ger O Connell 18.Kieran Downey 19. Brian Cahill 20 Mark Cosgrove
The 2nds played Old Crescent under lights on Monday night in the last round of the Senior 2nd League. With the Junior cup just around the corner it proved a good workout with a number of returning players getting a run out before the cup begins. Bruff had trys from Eric Finn, Mark Cosgrove, Marcus Mulvihill & Mike Carroll. Owen Quinn kicked 8 points to make the score 28-16 to Bruff.
Underage Rugby
With no competitive fixtures last weekend the u16’s and 17’s played each other in a training game on Sunday morning. In a very competitive game the u17’s eventually ran out winner by 6 try’s to 5.
The u18’s played St Munchins in a friendly on Friday night losing by 2 points 14-12.
The draw for the pan Munster league was made last weekend with the u16’s and 18’s getting very tough draws.
The u16’s are grouped with Waterford City, Dolphin, Muskerry & Killorglin, While the u18 drew Clonmel, Waterpark, Bantry Bay & Shannon. The u18’s get their campaign underway on Saturday with a home game against the Denis Leamy coached Clonmel. The games ko’s at 1pm in Bruff and all support would be welcomed