May
17
TCRFC would like to congratulate Eddie Coleman for receiving the Leinster Hall of Fame award two weeks ago.
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May
17
This tournament, now in its second year, has become a showcase for some of the finest rugby talent at the 13s age group, and not just from this country.This year numbers were kept tight to 16 teams to facilitate a competitive and exciting battle of the best at this level, with all four Irish provinces being represented and teams travelling also from England and France.
The Tournament is an excellent example of good planning and solid execution featuring a well-managed timetable across four full sized pitches, ample pitch stewards and attention to every aspect of safety were prerequisites of the 2 day tournament – even the sun shone!
This year saw two glamorous international sides join the fray, Stade Toulousain and London Wasps, in addition to last year’s winners Canet Ste. Marie (Perpignan) and Winchester, which raised the excitement level before a ball was even kicked. As for the rugby on display, that was excellent too, with very strong showings from a number of those in attendance.
Day 1 featured four Pools of four, which were topped by Stade Toulousain, Monaghan (last year’s runners up), Kings Hospital, and one of two Terenure sides in the competition, Terenure Sharks, all of whom topped their tables with maximum points. These went forward to the Cup competition on Day 2, joined by the best 4 runners up, Barbarians (Leinster), Lurgan (Ulster), Wanderers (Leinster) and High School (Leinster). Day 2 also saw a Plate and Bowl competition, ensuring all teams got plenty of match time.
The level of competition on Day 2 was spectacular with a number of standout games, however the clear favourites were Kings Hospital who romped their way through most of their knockout games, beating High School 34-5 in the quarters and Stade Toulousain 48-0 in the semis. The surprise package turned out to be the local boys, Terenure Sharks who beat Wanderers 31-0 (the score being unkind to the D4 side) in the quarters and Monaghan 12-0 in the semis – some retribution for Monaghan’s win over Terenure the previous year.
During the weekend, the Heineken Cup made an appearance (a final for this season at least), as did representatives from Leinster Rugby (Isaac Boss, John Cooney and Dominic Ryan), Dublin’s Lord Mayor (Naoise Ó Muirí), who was on hand to present the winners with trophies and medals. There was also a Puc Fada exhibition challenge, an Irish Pipers selection, an under 9s Tag rugby exhibition, and a senior game featuring a Russian visiting team playing a Terenure representative XV. Day two also saw a very special event featuring a tag game involving the Westmanstown Taggers – This Special Needs Programme brings together The Garda Rugby Club and People with special needs.
The eventual Cup final between King’s Hospital and Terenure Sharks was a bruising affair, which went against the bookies odds, with Terenure hitting KH early and often, scoring some spectacular tries along the way … it appears champagne rugby is alive and well in TCRFC. Terenure ran out 27 points and managed to prevent their opposition from scoring – the only time this happened in the entire tournament.
This was a full team effort with no poor performances and tackling at every position. Terenure’s defensive record was awesome the entire tournament, only letting in one try in six games – an individual display of brilliance by a London Wasps player in one of the earlier pool games. So the cup returns to Lakelands after a one-year sabbatical in the South of France – following a Perpignan win in 2012.
The bowl final was an all Dublin encounter between Barbarians – a side made up largely of Gonzaga players, and coached by Tim Schmidt, son of Ireland’s new head coach Joe, and High School, their near South Dublin neighbours. This was another fine game, epitomised by High School’s strong running and excellent rucking and Barbarian’s “never say die” attitude. High School ran out 36-7 winners taking the prize back to their Rathgar base.
First time entrants, West Offaly and Terenure’s second side the Terenure Colts contested the plate. This one did not go the host’s way, with West Offaly taking the spoils 17-5, a highly entertaining game played with Great Spirit from both sides.
Speaking of spirit, a very special award went to Winchester RFC from England who took the Fair Play award, a special award for teams exhibiting the real nature of this tournament – camaraderie, fair play, cultural exchange and respect.
In a novel detour, the organisers hosted an international challenge game between an Irish XV and an International XV (featuring the best of the players in the tournament – as chosen by their coaches). Hopefully, this is a sign of what’s to come with the Irish side outshining their international rivals by a number of tries.
In all the organisers of the Terenure 13s can be congratulated for another superb tournament, which left nothing to chance and which epitomised the awareness amongst players of the wonderful values that such a rugby tournament can bring. The Tournament is well on its way to being a “must attend” tournament for Europe’s finest, and if this year’s tournament is anything to go by, many of these were present at Lakelands Park.
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Fri 17 May 2013, 20:00
Bar opens 17:00hrs. All beers/spirits €3.50: All welcome, bring your friends and cheer on Leinster
Pizza & Can (children) € 6.50
Pizza & beer (Adult) € 9.00
The usual reductions apply if you use your club card.
Players race night is this Sunday the 5th of May and will be a great night. So please pop down and bring your friends.
Player Awards at 7pm
First Race 7:30pm
Admission is Free
Terenure adorned their season with a wonderful all-action display against UCC in Lakelands Park. Scoring five tries with a 15-man performance of defence and attack in a squally windy conditions, Terenure were deserving winners by 33-19 in a game of pace, risk and excitement. Visitors UCC contributed hugely to the quality of the encounter and the scoreboard scarcely reflected the quality, pace and skill of their display. The Terenure pack were out-weighted and over-shadowed by the physical size of the UCC eight, but their fitness and technique never allowed the difference to matter during this wonderfully entertaining encounter. As an appetizer to the Munster / Leinster encounter later in the day, the game was an excellent advertisement for the quality of the Club game in the two Provinces. Watched by a crowd estimated at 1,200, the vast majority were loyal Terenure supporters who have to wait for some years for a revival to their playing fortunes and a return to Division 1 of the Ulster Bank league. UCC started with the wind behind them, unusually blowing up the pitch in Terenure. Despite a surfeit of possession within the Terenure 22, it was the hosts who opening the scoring from the boot of out-half Willie Staunton. Two tries following for Terenure, in each case the result of great team work and off-loading and support skills which would have graced many a game at a higher level. The loyal supporters also saw Terenure centre and captain Conor Gildea substituted with a shoulder injury and flanker James O’Neill yellow carded for an infringement in a ruck which prevented UCC maintaining their pacy attacks on the edge of the Terenure 22.Winger harry Moore was one of the stand-out players for Terenure and his defensive and attacking qualities contributed directly to Terenure’s 3rd try just before half-time. Irish Under 209 winger Darren Sweetman, the man with the Cork hurling heritage, lining out at full-back for the visitors threatened with several strong, counter-attacking, runs but the spirited and technically sound Terenure tackling kept him and his College teams-mates at bay until the half-time whistle. The second half commenced with a 10 minutes attacking blitz from UCC but 14-man Terenure defended their line as if their lives depended on the outcome and they were rewarded by two tries in 3 minutes from breakaway efforts. The first was a penalty try when winger Moore was pulled back following a mazy run from 40 metres out through the UCC pack and a deft chip behind Sweetman. UCC also suffered the indignity of a Yellow Card for this incident. Now back to full numbers, Terenure crowned their afternoon’s work with a great try by out-half Willie Staunton, who with the ball in both hands, sold dummies left and right to bewilder the UCC defence and touchdown just to the right of the posts. His conversion brought the 60 minutes score to 33-0 for the home team. It also resulted in a gradual drift of some of the spectators into the vast marquee set beside the pitch, which had hosted 570 lunch guests in this rugby hotbed. Terenure were heading upward and now certainly as Champions. Although UCC finished strongly with three tries and 19 points in the final 15 minutes, the result was clear and well deserved 33-19 to champions Terenure. Nobody on the Terenure team and bench gave less than their all but on the day, O’Neill, Hamilton, O’Dwyer, Dunlop, Smyth, O’Loughlin and Staunton stood shoulder to shoulder with winger Harry Moore as the pick of the heros for the hosts. For UCC O’Connell, McCarthy, Gallagher and Ryan were constant threats in the forwards and Sean Og Murphy supplied a stream of quality ball to his skilful backline, where Horgan, Dennehy and Sweetman all looked capable at playing at a higher level. A great win for Terenure and due reward for the work of Coach James Blaney and his assistant John Coffey. Playing this brand of rugby their advent to Division 1B next Season will adorn that level and make them worthy opponents for the present incumbents
Nure Net are running an Entrepreneur and Intrapreneur Expert Panel Discussion in Terenure RFC on Monday April 15th at 19:30.
The panel will be chaired by Dave Simpson, founding partner of BDO Simpson Xavier and will also include Gabriel D’Arcy, CEO of Bord Na Mona, Brian Weakliam, CEO of Bankhawk and Donal Cullen, CEO Spanish Point Technologies.
We, as always would like to invite all RFC members and their guests to the event and I have attached the flyer and I would appreciate it if you could send out to your members and add to your website
This will probably be our last major event of the year so I also want to thank you for all your support and help during the year.
Any queries please give me a call
Thanks
Paul
Paul Haycock
Paul Haycock & Associates
Accounting & Business Consultant
Web: www.paulhaycock.ie
Mobile: 087 9219724
e-Mail: paul@paulhaycock.ie