200 young players take on Castlebar and Westport in blitz
SLIGO RFC Senior teams had a break at the weekend so it was the turn of the Juvenile and Youth sections to carry the mantle. More than 200 boys and girls took to the 3 pitches in Hamilton Park on a bitterly cold Saturday morning for a rugby blitz. Up to 9 matches were being played at any one time and the home sides accounted well for themselves against stiff opposition from Castlebar and Westport. Well done to all the players, coaches, managers, caterers, parents and supporters who made the blitz the success that it was.
Three youth teams were in action on Sunday in the first round of the Connacht Cup and it was a clean sweep for Sligo RFC. Hamilton Park hosted two out of the three games in brilliant sunshine. The U13s kicked off proceedings with an impressive 17-0 win in the local derby against Ballina RFC. News soon filtered through from Clifden, that the U15s had romped home to a 62 point victory, with no reply from Connemara. Then it was the turn of the big guns, in the form of the U17s. This was a tough match, with Sligo taking an early lead from the start. Creggs kept their heads and it wasn’t long before the home side were chasing the visitors’ lead. More tries from both sides ensued, but the home side still found themselves 5 points down with only 5minutes to go. A determined defence from Sligo denied Creggs any further scores and indiscipline from the visitors gave possession back to the home side which they used to the max, scoring the equalising try to the right of the points. Gilvarry’s conversion sealed the deal for Sligo and they hung on for a well-deserved win.
Rehearsals are going well for the biggest fundraising event of the year. The couples have just been announced and all participants are busy working on their two dances. Keep an eye out for the many fundraisers taking place over the next few weeks. Tickets for the big night on Friday 23rd March are available from The Record Room and Ticketstop.ie – get them fast before they’re all gone.
Former Summerhill College player, Sligo RFC member and current Cork Con Captain Niall Kenneally got his Ireland Club XV International call-up last week in the Ulster Bank Club International fixture between Ireland and Scotland.
Players drawn from 12 Ulster Bank League clubs don the Ireland Clubs’ jersey and compete for the Dalriada Cup against Scotland.
Niall, who was named Ulster Bank League Division 1A Player of the Year in 2017, played at first centre in a thrilling game last Friday night in Dubarry Park and helped the home side secure a 26-23point victory.
This is the 12th season of the International Clubs fixture and Ireland’s record is six wins and five defeats.
The Dalriada Cup was first introduced in 2011, and the Scots are going for three in a row. Sligo are away to Omagh on Saturday.