Creggs U-16s clip Corinthians to secure semi-final berth
The Creggs U-16 team that secured a place in the Tier 1 league semi-finals.
The Creggs U-16 boys played visitors Corinthians and secured their place at the top of Tier 1 league with a 17 points to 13 win on Sunday afternoon. This victory secures a place in the league semi-finals.
It was a nervous start for the home team and after numerous phases of attacking rugby, Corinthians were first to score in the right corner when Creggs backs missed a few tackles. Going five down seemed to annoy the Creggs players who upped their game from the kick off.
The Creggs players were getting in their stride putting a few plays together and after securing some ruck ball. Cian Kiernan had a good carry having received a ball from the base of a scrum to go over for Creggs first try. A further two points from the boot of Kaylum Curran’s conversion put Creggs 7-5 ahead.
It was Curran who read a loose Corinthians pass for an interception try and also slotted the conversion to lead 14-5. The visitors were not finished and scored another try in the same right corner where the conversion was missed pushing the half time score to 14-10 lead for Creggs.
Into the second half the Creggs team started playing as a team and upped their game significantly, and with better line speed put pressure on the opposition pinning them into their 22.
Creggs counter rucking around the breakdown yielded a penalty, converted by Curran to put Creggs 17-10 clear. At this stage in the game, Creggs dominated field position but Corinthians broke free into the Creggs 22. Having overturned the ball Creggs won a penalty but some loose lips made the referee change his decision reversing the penalty in Corinthians favour.
Corinthians added to their score to close the gap to four points. With eight minutes left the game was nip and tuck between both sides. Time eventually ran out for the visitors when the referee blew his whistle after they knocked on at the Creggs 22, to end play. The Creggs team are out again on Sunday, December 10th away to Sligo in Sligo. This is their final game in the league. Well done team.
Round 6, Division 1 League FT: Ballina 22 Creggs 24. Creggs travelled on Sunday to Ballina RFC and got off to a flying start with Jamie Lohan making a great break and crossed the line with just three minutes on the clock.
Ger Healy successfully converted putting Creggs seven points up. Ballina applied pressure and get over the line only to be held up by Creggs defence. With 10 minute gone Ballina levelled with a well converted try. After 20 minutes Creggs conceded a penalty, converted by Ballina to push three points ahead. Creggs applied great pressure with the forwards taking on multiple carries and Peter McMorrow drove over the line to get a well earned try. Ger Healy again successfully converted with a half time score of Ballina 10, Creggs 14. The second half saw some great defensive rugby played and with 14 minutes gone Ballina got in for another converted try.
A few minutes later Ballina conceded a penalty for a high tackle and Ger Healy converted leaving the score level on 17 all. A few minutes later Ballina got in the corner for another try but this time failed to convert.
Creggs now under pressure successfully managed to turn over the ball, Jamie Lohan broke through the centre and got in for a try right between the posts. Healy converted to put Creggs ahead. Some nervous play saw out the last few minutes and Creggs hold out with some great defence and the game finished on a scoreline of Ballina 22, Creggs 24. A huge team performance overall. A must mention and a very special thanks to Aine Healy for picking up three lads from Dublin airport and bringing them straight to Ballina with suitcases and all. Next week Creggs play their next round of the league at home to Corinthians. Thanks to everyone for travelling to Ballina today and hope to see all out supporting these lads next week.
Creggs travelled to Loughrea on Saturday for their round 7 league match. The home team got off to a great start and Creggs had a lot of defending to do for the first ten minutes before they settled into the game with Ryan Lynch getting in for the first try of the game and Mark Naughton adding the conversion to leave the score 7-0 in Creggs favour. Creggs were on the front foot for the rest of the first half with some brilliant defensive work from Loughrea to keep Creggs from scoring before half time. Creggs really took control of the game in the second half with Ryan Halligan scoring three tries, Tom Og Reddington, Ciaran Cunnane and Callum Ward scoring a try each and Cormac Doyle adding two conversions to leave the final score 43-0 in Creggs favour. The strength of the Creggs panel really sealed the victory in the second half with another good team performance. Team: Darragh Connaughton (Captain) Daniel Connolly, George Hoban, Conor McDermott, Rian Healy, Fionn Healy, Will O Gara, Tom O Reddington, Eanna Holmes , Mark Naughton, Tadhg Bracken, Cathal Nerney, Ryan Lynch, Tomas Lohan, Callum Ward, Austin Smith, Brian Moran , Ciaran Cunnane , Calvin Beckett, Cormac Doyle, Daithí Kelly, Ryan Halligan, Daniel Holmes, Ryhs Fitzmaurice, Shay Burke, Mark Fox, Jamie Conlon, Carmon Clarke, Alex Doyle.
The scoreline may not be what was wanted for the Creggs senior women’s team on Saturday night in their game versus Westport RFC. In their first home league game in their first season together and lots of girls new to the sport after only taking up the game, plenty of positives were taken from it as they continue to build through training. Congrats ladies - onwards and upwards.
Creggs U-12 Girls travelled to Galway for a blitz and had a great mornings rugby. Reports are they all played brilliantly, with some great defence and wonderful tackling. A number of games were won and the improvements this team are making are clearly seen. Thanks to everyone showing up on a cold day and thank you to the parents who got them to Galway.
A busy week for the Creggs U-18 girls who won two league games over five days to put themselves in a very good league position to make the league semi-finals in January.
Last Tuesday night in a heavy fog, Creggs welcomed Westport RFC for the re-fixed league game and had a great win with tries from Jemima Adams Verling, Siofra Hession, Sarah Purcell, Shauna McDermott, Shauna Walsh, Mia White and Olivia Kelly.
Then on Saturday, the girls travelled to Ballina and in beautiful but cold conditions, they put in an excellent performance, coming away with the points after tries from Sarah Purcell, Jemima Adams Verling, Siofra Hession, Aoibhinn Murray and Shauna McDermott. Well done girls, keep up the good work.
The club jackpot was not won and next week’s draw will be for €11,100. Last week’s lucky dip winner was Liam Callaghan. Please support.
