Well, well, well what a Saturday of unadulterated pleasure that was …… We catapulted ourselves up to the very top rung of Leinster Junior Rugby (- albeit with the uncomfortable heat of our old buddies from Enniscorthy who sit right there beside us ….. of which more anon! )……For the second week in a row, we have double whammied a big one!.....this time Skerries RFC who came up the road with serious intent having plundered Tullamore with a bonus point win the week before …… they may have come up with intent, but they went back down the road with their tails between their legs and a big fat duck egg of a zero from 2 matches, but even more than the results, there was the performances ……So come with me now for a nice little wallow as we reflect on a perfect day!

 

First up was our Seconds in the far College field ( Inadequate dressing room accommodation in Rosetown!......and no money for prefabs!) A very fine young Skerries side (“90% of them are under 21-they have been together from U/12 and won the All Ireland when they u16s” stood between us and the top of the table……Young bucks running at old dogs is not really accurate -Dan the man, Sharky, Liam Dempsey and young Hogey hardly qualify as senior canines) but I’ll use the moniker anyway as it sounds romantic !

 

Johnny Hannon is coach, lately joined by Michael Doyle as manager ……...A few years ago this pair ploughed for Newbridge in the front row, now they prowl the sideline with a glint in their eyes as they contemplate the glint of silverware. Our scrum was solid, our lineout way ward but we cut a fine dash in the loose with Liam Heavey and Jon Downie being joint chiefs of our law enforcement department.. We raced into the lead thanks to the Skerries full back mishandling a Sharky kick ahead gratefully touched down by soon to be 21 Niall Hogan..

 

Skerries then went on to harry us for half an hour scoring under the posts despite a fine try saving tackle from David Brannigan..They led 13-12 at half time, we might have succumbed to their mobility and their kicking were it not for the wiles of Newbridge management who sprung a high octane runaway steamroller by the name of Eoin Walsh who on the day was just too hot for the youthful Skerries side to handle. We scored two tries via Hogey junior (again!) and then a one two involving JD and Branno. The final stake was driven through their pulsating little hearts at the death by our battle scarred dog of war –battering, battered Barry McCann who ran a loop that ended up in him touching down after under the posts…… 33-16 to the Bridge ……followed by the dash to Rosetown!

 

The Firsts match was played at a speed close to 500km/hour. It was heartening to see our captain Ben Swindlehurst back in harness looking trim, slim and brimful of lethality with his red boots .. Himself and Peader Downey look the real deal in the centre of a line completed by two very capable road runners….. (poor old coyotes are going to be busy! )Robbie Waters is pure class in whatever position he is asked to play …..Our half backs Harry Murphy and Ryan Jones are pure rugby players playing behind a pack that are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

 

Forwards coach John Campbell has given his men great belief and I can tell you here and now……..they are not going to roll over for anyone ! The game was so fast that the predominant recollection is a blur of speed and intensity, but some things stick out …..Prop Cillian O Shea making a fantastic surge for the line only to be thwarted by by 3 Skerrians hanging out of various parts of him…..Mick Byrne as genuine a rugby player that ever laced a boot….. honest and hard and still not 22 grafting ,grafting, grafting ……... Colin O Brien in a Newbridge jersey is a dervish - mad f***** ….,he fought for balls as if his very life depended on getting it ,and then scoring his try at the bottom of that maul…….

 

Their out half Hewitt with his blue scrum cap carving us open to score their first try, then kicking two penalties before starting the move that ended with the referee running to the centre of our posts to award Skerries the penalty try bringing them clear of us by 20 points to 12…… Robbie Waters sublime prevention of their penalty from finding touch and passing to Ryan Jones who launched the counter attack that ended with Harry going in under the posts to kill them stone dead.36-20 which so easily could have been 29-27 with 90 dangerous seconds to play.

 

So, Enniscorthy RFC are coming back to Rosetown on Saturday evening, looking to shove us off our perch. Our paths didn’t cross last year but we know each other well…. How we cope with their intensity and game plan will tell us alot about ourselves and where we are at…….They too have two bonus point wins in their back pocket and for sure they will not be lacking in confidence having turned us over when last we met in Rosetown, the season before last…….So we owe them one and I happen to know that Manners does not like to owe anyone anything!!

 

PS There is a late kick off on Saturday. Firsts 7pm,…..Seconds 5pm.If you can get out to the pitch that little bit early you can see our U11s playing an exhibition at half six or so.

 

PS Eile. After the game, and the grub ( -thank you Catherine Johnson)…. Revelate, from the banks of the canal in Ballyteague play a gig in our newly done up bar…..They are a class band and will seriously rock Rosetown. Colin O Brien has tickets.

 

PS eile Aris …. Ireland beat Australia because of the vibes sent over the waves from the Rosetown Clubhouse . We are doing the same deal next Sunday morning after the night before. Stephen and Valerie get cracking!