Youths Rugby

Very good standard at these games in Dooradoyle on 4G. 80+ played for each province between the two age groups.

Quin_Dub wrote: »

Any players stand out in particular?

Plenty but didn't know names of too many though will say brother of Jack O Donoghue was good in older game while Pat Lams son is a fine prospect

Blackclaret wrote: »

Some informative heats taking place at U16 this weekend, Skib V NCW will likely be a cracker, with Skib looking very strong and the Limerick lads only beaten by Ennis. Meanwhile Midleton must head to Clare where Ennis are unbeaten, hope to get a look at the Con V Charleville game if my under tens match finishes early enough.

Con and Charleville looks tasty. Tralee Bandon also looks good.

Skibbereen Cashel and Dolphin Dungarvan in 18s Cup also are potentially very good games.

And one of the first finals of leagues is this weekend - East Munster u14 final is Saturday evening between Nenagh and Clonmel

U16:
Nenagh 14 - 7 Bruff
Killorglin 6 - 3 Cobh
Ballincollig vs Waterpark called off.
Ennis 11- 8 Middleton

U18:
Nenagh 20 - 23 Killorglin

Quin_Dub wrote: »

Surprised by the Nenagh vs. Bruff - I'd have had Bruff as much the stronger team there..Nenagh a good team though.

Newcastle West beat Skibbereen 10-7 in Skib.

Midleton missed a penalty with the last kick of the game to draw with Ennis.

Very good game. Ennis scored a try from the kick-off then Midleton came back strongly through their very big pack - excellent at the breakdown. 1st half finished 8-5 to Midleton.

2nd half, playing with the wind, Ennis got a bit more control and kept Midleton in their own half for long periods... Ennis kicked 2 penalties to take the score to 11-8 and then with the last play of the game Midleton broke out of their half and won a penalty on the 22 pretty much in front of the posts.. Unfortunately for them the kicker pushed it inches wide of the post for the game to finish at 11-8 to the home team.

According to mate at game. Nenagh were under huge pressure but their defence was top class and they took scores well but their defence just stopped Bruff from doing anything.

Blackclaret wrote: »

It was a good old battle alright, first game since mid November for Midleton and it showed with lots of poor handling and missed tackles. Thought Ennis full value for the win with nice hands and plenty of speed through the backline. The Mallow/Garry-Pres-UL was I believe a incident filled affair with Mallow coping two shoulder injuries and a bad concussion, played on astro turf I believe , big result for Con who are putting up a sequence and got their tactics right against Char. to grind out the points.

Played on 3G in Garryowen then.

The groups of 6 in Cups are really working well. Lots of games for all and tiered cups also working well...

Blackclaret wrote: »

It's a good structure for competition alright, no doubt there will be teething problems and hard luck stories but gives an insight into where all the teams are at in relative terms. Ennis are through to knockout phase if getting past Con, who are improving rapidly in this competition, Waterpark take on Cobh, think the deise side are quite good. Mallow go to Midleton who look to put their season back on track after being put in place by Ennis last week.
Balincolligs matches so far have fallen foul of the weather and meet a strong Bruff but the Cork team are well drilled and will be hard beat.

Of course there will be teething problems. Always is but this season has been successful. Just needs some promo on munster website/twitter/facebook.
Like below
https://www.facebook.com/EastMunsterYouthsRugby/?ref=hl

Blackclaret wrote: »

Ennis first through and must be favourite for the comp, Mallow were a big physical test for Midleton who converted two tries in first half and two penalties in second by my count, Waterpark beating Cobh and Bruff beating Ballimcollig surely Bruff are through also.

Wouldn't say Ennis are favourites but theyre one of the top sides. Newcastle West-Estuary are also through in 16s following this weekends results as are Bandon.
Group 1 is turning into a real dogfight. 3 sides likely to qualify from that group.
Ballincollig have only one game played so far but could do a lot as they've to play both Waterpark and Nenagh who are both on 8 points so far. Bruff are on 12 with a game extra played.

Will give thoughts on 18s and other 16s competitions later....

Quin_Dub wrote: »

Newcastle West won today 29-7 against Tralee leaving them 4 from 4 so they are through. Although Bandon are unbeaten there too so the head to head will decide who gets the home QF.

Bruff look like they should be through but Nenagh vs Waterpark in a few weeks will be a cracker to decide the other team coming out of that group.

Ennis made hard work of the Con game.. Ahead 17-5 at half time they just couldn't put Con away. Con had an excellent pack that made huge ground around the fringes. They brought the score to 17-12 midway through the second half and kept hammering away for another try, but very solid defending from Ennis did just enough to see out the game.

3 teams qualify from 2 pools. Nenagh and Waterpark will both most likely be in the quarters if they both win against Ballincollig as both would be on at least 12 and that would get them one of the best 3rd placed spots in the quarters

Sorry, Old Christians beat nenagh 29 - 7 in the u18. I had it the wrong way around.

So quarter finalists in cup competitions at this stage
16s: Newcastle West-Estuary, Bandon(both from group 2), Ennis(group 3)
Midleton and Cork Con both should qualify from group 3.
Group 1. Bruff most likely have qualified with 3 wins from 4. Nenagh and Waterpark have 2 wins from 3 and they play each other next week and both are also due to play Ballincollig(1 win from 2 games played). Whoever wins between Nenagh and Waterpark next weekend will qualify and if the loser beats Ballincollig they will qualify but if Ballincollig beat both(unlikely as they've to travel to both) and also beat Cobh they will qualify

18s: Newcastle West-Estuary qualified from group 1 and Skibbereen should join them in quarters.
Dolphin and Dungarvan have qualified from group 2.
Bruff and winner of next weeks Waterpark Sundays Well game will qualify from group 3. Not sure on who may qualify for last 2 spots yet.

Will look at Plate and Bowl competitions tomorrow....

Blackclaret wrote: »

Some good heats ran again this weekend, Garryown 15 Ennis 14 in a dead rubber was unexpected but shows how little is between most of these teams, Balincollig got back in the groove beating Cobh 17-10, with Waterpark good winners over Neenagh. Down south Midleton were very impressive in beating Cork Con 36-3. Con starting well with a penalty early on, however Midleton very big well drilled pack were not to be denied, Midleton no7 looks a very good player going over three times , Midleton 10 really put his stamp on the game with conversions and fine game management. Not sure what happened in Bandon , would be very interested to hear how that fixture went.

Nenagh lost 20-10 to Waterpark. Bandon and Newcastle West was called off as the pitch wasn't playable. Bruff beat Killorglin 41-5. Nenagh u18s beat Kilrush 17-12 as well.

In the 16s Cup
Group 1 Bruff have qualified top of the group. Nenagh next week and Waterpark the following week host Ballincollig to decide the other quarter finalists. Currently Waterpark are 3 wins from 4, Nenagh 2 wins from 4 and Ballincollig 2 wins from 3. 3 sides likely to qualify from this group. Will have to wait for both these games to be played to see who qualifies. Playoffs may be necessary
In group 2 Newcastle West-Estuary and Bandon 4 wins from 4. They play each other next weekend to decide first and second place. Skibbereen are third and travel to winless last placed Young Munster next week and must should win to come into reckoning for a quarter final place
In group 3 Ennis, Midleton and Cork Con have all qualified for the quarters. Ennis have finished first, Midleton have a game to play but will finish second and con third

In 16s Plate Group 1 all depends on how Kanturk do in their 2 games against Fermoy-Youghal. Richmond-Shannon-St Marys have 4 wins from 5 and Clanwilliam 3 wins from 5 and they clash in Tipp town next weekend. Kanturk have 2 wins from 4. Could be playoff needed here.
Clonakilty and either Castleisland or Fethard will qualify from group 2
A lot of games to be played in group 3 hard to say which sides will qualify. All 4 still in contention
Only 3 sides in group 4 after Crosshaven pulled out and Clonmel haven't played yet. Too early to say yet

16s Bowl group 1 Muskerry and Dolphin both to qualify. In group 2 Thomond have qualified and Listowel or Corca Duibhne may join them. In group 3 Kilfeacle have won group. Thurles could join them in knockouts..

Blackclaret wrote: »

Not so sure Con are certain quarter finalists, surely three third placed teams can finnish with 12pts. Half tempted to take a spin down to Bandon on Saturday if its a nice day. Charleville have conceeded so Midleton finish with 16pts. With a friendly V Bruff weekend after next.

I knew that when typing it just my prediction. Like Nenagh play Ballincollig next weekend in group 1. Nenagh win and they likely to go through. Ballincollig win and Nenagh are out and Ballincollig then play Waterpark and could go to 12. Don't see that happening but...

Quin_Dub wrote: »

I'd agree - Might have a play-off, or more likely names out of a hat as they are running behind schedule already due to the weather..

Drawing out of hat would be quite unfair and I wouldn't say theyre that far behind schedule, and if they are its not an issue, considering its the start of February and group stages are nearly over and we're nearly at munster knock out stages

What again is format for Plate/Bowl knock out stages?

Quin_Dub wrote: »

I think the challenge is that they have booked Thomond Park for the 12th/13th of March for the finals so they'll want to try to stick to that date..

The weather delays mean that the group stages aren't finished until the 14th of Feb (assuming that all remaining games go to schedule), so adding in a few rounds of play-offs leaves things very tight indeed to hit that date in March.

If 3 teams are tied for 2 places, they may draw 1 name out and then the other 2 play-off for the 2nd spot.

Agree completely that drawing names is very unfair, but it wouldn't be the 1st or last time that a competition has been decided that way...

In terms of the QF draw from what I understand the only rule they have is that 1st & 2nd from the same group can't face each other..

So for example, Newcastle/Bandon can't play each other nor can Ennis/Midleton but Ennis could play Con for example if they were to come through as a 3rd placed team.

They will but mid terms in schools are the week after next. If it had to go that way games could be played mid week. If 3 teams are level 2 will playoff and 1 drawn out. That has been procedure over last few seasons.
If it come to it could games not be played mid week during school mid term?

Quin_Dub wrote: »

They could play mid-week but distances might be a factor depending on the clubs involved - The home club would also need to have "Match" standard floodlights, which is not always the case..

They'll make it work either way, but suspect that they'd like to avoid too many play-offs if they can at all.

Im talking about the school mid term which is 15-19 feb which could be used where possible. Games wouldn't "have" to be at night if possible that week and that is an option.

Avoiding as many playoffs as possible is always best option. was lucky enough when playing age grade especially youths that I avoided playoffs though reached semis/finals in 5 of 5 years at principal age groups in virtually every year....

In u16, Nenagh are away to Skibbereen in a quarterfinal play off. Winners play Ennis in one of the quarterfinals. Not sure about the rest of the draw.

Blackclaret wrote: »

Are the fixtures online anywhere Gazump?

Always check Munsters website... they're generally very good thesedays.. it used to be terrible.

16s draw is Skibbereen v Nenagh next Saturday. Winner is away to Ennis in the quarter final...
Bandon v Cork Con, Bruff v Midleton, Newcastle West-Estuary v Waterpark