Leinster Rugby have recognised the great strides being made in Balbriggan RFC by running a full page feature on the Womens team in todays match programme for Leinster V Ospreys. Well done to Leigh and Ivan in particular, amongst others, and to all the Womens team.

Midland Warriors 9 Balbriggan 13

Balbriggan had their toughest match of the season when they narrowly scrapped the warriors in Moate last Sunday. On a beautiful afternoon for Rugby with a strong sun giving Balbriggan some problems in the first half this all action game kept everyone going until the final whistle.

In the first 25 minutes the Warriors were awarded 5 kickable penalties but only managed to convert two of them, from a Balbriggan perspective that was maybe not a bad position to be in as some of the decisions were very hard to comprehend and did not seem to have anything to do with what had happened on the pitch.

Eventually Balbriggan got into the Warriors half and after the pack delivered good ball it got held up in mid field when Kieran Verdon was held up and the pressure was relieved. As the half ticked on Balbriggan were putting on more pressure and gaining more territorial advantage. The pressure eventually paid off with a penalty awarded just 5 metres out. Balbriggan skipper, Malone picked from the back and went for the line but was held up short. With a penalty advantage coming Balbriggan flashed the ball across the line but the referee called them back when a case of handbags on the line saw Balbriggan second row being sat on by his opposite number. The referee decided to give both yellow cards but Balbriggan decided to go for a scrum even being one down. The wily old front row of Joyce, Davis and McDonald then earned Balbriggan a penalty try which Healy converted to give Balbriggan a narrow half time lead.

From the kick off the Warriors offended and Healy added a further three points. The Warriors came back but the Balbriggan defence was one part of the game that was in tip top form. At one stage the Warriors attacked but good counter rucking by the forwards was Balbriggan gain possession and out half Casey made a massive clearing kick to get Balbriggan out of danger. Eventually the pressure paid off and the Warriors got a penalty and kicked to the corner but were unable to get across the line. They managed to move the ball across the line and the ref adjudged Balbriggan offside in the centre. The game was back to a one point game.

Balbriggan attempted a long penalty but it ended up short but the Warriors didn’t deal with the clearance well and winger Staunton put them under pressure again and another penalty was earned which this time Healy converted to restore the important 4 point lead. Warriors now had to score a try. From the kick off Balbriggan put themselves under pressure when the experienced McFadden who had just come on the field for Sean Malone, spilled the kick off. Malone had played himself to a standstill with his usual all round display. Balbriggan were put under further pressure when Jay Mullen was adjudged to have made a dangerous tackle even if the Warriors player did not go over shoulder height and was placed on the ground. The referee then for the second time in the game over ruled the touch judge to give the Warriors an advantage. With skipper Malone leading from the front Balbriggan defended as if their lives depended on it and held out for a narrow victory.

Not the best of performances by the League leaders but they knew how to win. The overall performance was lethargic, particularly in the backs and despite the good ball Casey was distributing it was not getting across the lines quick enough. Overall discipline was good, particularly when so many decisions went against them. At the end of the day it was the old heads for the hard road and the front row earned their dinner today. The overall man of the match was Skipper Malone who lead from the front and seemed to be everywhere.

Next up Ratoath at home next Sunday at 2.30pm

S Mullen , A Sweetman,(D McGrogan) C Verdon. J Mullen, D Staunton, C Casey, K Healy, P Cullen (P Joyce) J Davis, C McDonald, A Whelan, G Dennis, (M Geraghty), S Malone (I McFadden) M Fay, C Malone

Here are some photos of Balbriggans Senior team, taken back in 2007. This was a match against Longford, though I think with all the muck it would be hard to make out who was playing! Photos kindly provided to Balbriggan RFC by Joe Curtis.

Balbriggans Womens team were presented with their new club jerseys, which they wore for the first time tonight, in their match against Clontarf, in the Leinster League. Pictured is John Gallen of gallenalliance, proud sponsor of the Womens team, receiving a commemorative jersey from Leigh O’Toole and Ivan McFadden. John, is keeping up the Gallen family tradition of supporting Balbriggan rugby, which goes back to over the generations. Sincere thanks to John for his sponsorship.

Balbriggan 68 Arklow 20

Arklow had only travelled with 16 men and unfortunately by half time they had lost three due to injury and had to play the majority of the game with only 13 men and by the end had lost a further man.

Babriggan had won the away leg by the narrowest of margins when Sean Malone had scored at the end of the game so a close encounter was expected. Balbriggan made a good start and with coach O’Sullivan making his seasonal debut he was in fine running form. Early on he made a good break and was held illegally on the ground but scrum half McGrogan missed the penalty. Soon after O’Sullivan was away again when skipper Malone fielded a penalty kick and O’Sullivan took the ball up the field where he put Tommy O’Toole away on the wing and he got in under the posts. McGrogan added the conversion. It was O’Sullivan himself who got the next try after he followed up a good break by full back Mullen and was on hand to finish off the movement.

Next up was Mcgrogan when he picked from the base of the scrum and went on the blind side and he got in in the corner. At this stage Balbriggan appeared to be cruising but Arklow dug in and a good break by their full back created the space for their winger to get into the corner. Minutes later their outhalf added a drop goal. They then gave Balbriggan back the three points with a penalty for going off their feet.

Mullen again made a break he dummied an inside pass to Verdon but then sent O’Toole away for his second try which McGrogan converted.

At the start of the second half despite being so far behind and down to 13 Arklow battled bravely and kept Balbriggan out for a long period however the pressure was too much and a penalty under the post saw skipper Malone take a quick tip and slip a short pass to outhalf Healy who scored.

O’Toole then got his hat trick when O’Sullivan set him away down the wing. It wasn’t Balbriggan who could score on the wing and the Arklow full back left the defence in ribbons when he ran outside them twice to score two tries and put some gloss on a brave fight by the Arklow men.

There were further tries by Verdon and Staunton.

Whilst it was a good win the score did not reflect the effort that Arklow put in and all praise to them for competing to the end in the true spirit of the game.

The Balbriggan man of the match this week goes to Tommy O’Toole for a wonderful hat trick.

Balbriggans U8s – U10s travelled to Italy this weekend to compete in the Pirati 3 Nations Rugby Tournament, playing teams from Italy and Switzerland. All our players did us proud this weekend, with the 8s winning the tournament in their age group, and the U10s reaching the semi-finals. Overall it was an amazing weekend which the kids and parents alike will never forget. Thanks to the parents for committing to this, we couldn’t have done it without your support.

Balbriggans Womens Team play UCD this evening at home. KO 8pm. Please come along and support the team.

Balbriggan 22 Wexford 17

The top of the table clash saw the home team just scrape through in what was an exciting game of rugby. With a gale blowing down the pitch Wexford opted to play the game with the wind at their backs for the first half. The wind advantage meant that Balbriggan would be put under pressure but Wexford not being used to the Balrothery gale twice kicked the ball out on the full giving Balbriggan scrum advantage back in the Wexford half and allowing the locals to absorb some of the pressure.

Balbriggan put pressure on a Wexford srum and won a turnover ball which they then turned into an attack. Unfortunately it was Wexford that ended up on the score board from that move when a floated pass was intercepted and the Wexford centre took off to score in the corner. Balbriggan went on the offensive from the kick off and continued to pressure the Wexford defence. A good attack was halted short of the line and Wexford were awarded a penalty to relieve the pressure but Balbriggan attacked back from the line out and from a ruck five metres out scrum half Grogan and out half Healy combined well before slipping the ball back inside for skipper Malone to score. Healy added the conversion.

With Wexford having much of the territority and using the wind cleverly Balbriggan defended well and the pack absorbed anything thrown at them. Anto Whelan carried strongly to relieve Balbriggan time and again. If Wexford didn’t find touch they found that Mullen and his two wingers, O’Toole and Staunton who were more than happy to run the ball back at them.

Nearing half time Balbriggan held a slender lead but fell behind to a second try from Wexford which Wexford failed to convert. Balbriggan struck back either side of the break. Early in the second half a great break from Mullen was just halted on the line and in the ensuing maul centre Verdon burrowed over for a try. Minutes later it again was Mullen returning a kick and combining with O’Toole sent O’Toole over to stretch the lead. Wexford however were not finished and hit back for a try before Mullen returned the favour to score one of his own. While that secured the bonus point it did not secure the victory. Back came Wexford with another score that left it 22 -17 going into the last few minutes. Wexford got a series of penalties that brought them up into the Balbriggan 22 but with time running out they had to run it and Balbriggan managed to clear the ball down field and Wexford desperately scrambled the loose ball into touch fearing a further Balbriggan score that would deny them the losing bonus point. This was a very hard fought win by Balbriggan. The return match will be eagerly anticipated by all.

Everyone will be looking forward to the return leg in Wexford in December. Another good display and great team work but the man of the match goes to Mullen who has been having a fine season and today was instrumental in three of the Balbriggan scores.

S Mullen, T O’Toole, I Murphy, K Verdon, D Staunton , K Healy, P Joyce, (A McKiernan) J Davis (J Keogh) C McDonald. A Whelan, G Dennis, M Fay. M Geraghty (D Healy) C Malone

To all Members of Balbriggan RFC,

As you are aware, the AGM of Balbriggan RFC held on 10 September last was
adjourned in order to allow further work to be done on the reform of the
Club Constitution as well as to allow for further information be gathered
on Project Phoenix. The AGM will resume on Monday night next, the 20th
october at 8pm in the Bracken Court Hotel.

At the adjourned AGM of Balbriggan RFC, the members were invited to make
submissions on proposals to reform the Constitution of the Club. Copies of
the Constitution with the suggested amendments together with explanations
and comments thereon, were circulated at the AGM and further copies were
made available to any member that requested a copy of same. Notice was
placed on the Club website of the invitation to the members to make
submissions on the proposals for reforming the Club Constitution.

The final version draft Constitution which takes into account the comments
and submissions made by the membership at the adjourned AGM and in the
subsequent consultation period is available from the Honorary Secretary,
Cathal McNulty on request. If you would like to review this final version
of the Draft Constitution in advance of the reconvened AGM next Monday the
20th, please e-mail Cathal at Cathalmcnulty@hotmail.com

It is proposed to put this new Constitution to the General Meeting of the
members when the AGM is resumed on Monday night.

We look forward to seeing you all there.