5th November 2011, U12s Vs Edenderry:
Newbridge U12s travelled to Edenderry on Saturday (November 5) for a series of closely contested, physical games.
The blue squad began their opening match in lively fashion running in three early scores. However, the home side bounced back in the second half, and Newbridge had to dig deep to win by a try.
The second game was an even tougher affair with some great rucking and mauling by both packs and strong running by the backs. Newbridge got the only score of the first half. Edenderry were camped on their try line for long periods of the second half, but Newbridge’s pack put in a brave performance to hold them out. The blue backs linked well to score a number of breakaway tries which sealed the game.
The green squad produced some great tackling and some powerful rucking and counter rucking in their opening game. It was a high scoring, entertaining affair which ended 4-4.
The greens let their performance slip a little in their second match, with the Offaly boys running out winners.
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29th October 2011, U12s Vs Naas:
"The Newbridge blue squad backs causing havoc."
"The Newbridge green squad pack halt a Naas attack."
"The Newbridge orange squad pack in action at the breakdown."
Newbridge U12s produced some cracking rugby at Rosetown on October 29th in a closely contested affair with Naas.
Once again, the U12s fielded three squads, with more than 35 players playing for Newbridge on the day.
The blue squad began the day with a lively, free-flowing game. They moved the ball well to score six tries, in deservedly drawn game. They continued to show great commitment in the second match, but paid dearly for momentary lapses in concentration which resulted in them losing by a single score. Jordan Nolan and Cian Butler were the best in a strong team performance.
The green squad played two closely fought games. They produced some great rucking and counter rucking during both games – an area of their play which has improved dramatically in recent weeks. They were unlucky to concede scores at crucial times in each game. Among the best players on the day were Jamie Morgan, Ronan Foley and Stephen O’Brien.
The orange squad lost a number of key players during the week. As a result the depleted squad faced a difficult task on the day. However, they dug deep. Their rucking and counter rucking meant they remained competitive for much of their game against a stronger Naas side. They finished the day on a bright note, running in three tries in the final quarter. Best for the oranges were Salvatore Dudas and Aidan and Luke Dempsey.
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15th October 2011, U11s Vs Portarlingon:
Just 18 of the Newbridge U/11 squad turned up at the Green Road Pitches to play Portarlington, the team that beat us most comprehensively in all aspects of the game at u/10 level last year.
By agreement with Portarlington two separate matches were played.
Newbridge “one” were very slow to get into the game and despite winning the set pieces were beaten by a strong Portarlington side that played far more comprehensively as a team. Some weak tackling and failure to protect our own ball resulted in Newbridge conceding some very easy tries. However as the game went on tackling and rucking improved and both teams were more evenly matched in the end.
Oisin Mc Sweeny, Mark Hughes, Mark Doyle and Jack O’Connell put themselves about and constantly disrupted the stronger Portarlington team and were some of the better performers for Newbridge in the first match
Newbridge “two” started with much more aggression and held their defensive lines throughout. Good set pieces and strong rucking gave the backline plenty of ball which they used intelligently spreading the ball wide and scoring some outstanding tries. While all the team performed well David O'Sullivan and Aaron O' Hora put in some great tackles and some strong running saw them score a number of tries each. Josh Symes and Connell Sharkey in the pack rucked strongly while Luke Myers and Ruari Creamer controlled the backline defense limiting the Portarlington side to just two scores resulting in a much improved performance and a comprehensive Newbridge win.
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15th October 2011, U12s Vs Portarlington:
Newbridge U12s fielded three teams on Saturday (October 15) when they hosted two
squads from Portarlington and one from Cill Dara at the Green Road.
Players, parents and coaches all played a major part in this great achievement (one of the
first times the club has fielded three teams from a single age group), which resulted in
almost 40 under-12s playing for their club on the day.
The blue squad produced two impressive performances to win both their games. Some
strong running and fast off-loading were features of the opening game against Cill Dara,
The pack had to dig deep in the second half of their match against Portarlington, with
some real battles in the rucks and mauls against a determined visiting pack.
Best for the blues were Jack Ryan and Killian Corless. The players made a special effort
on the day for departing team mate Alex O’Brien who impressed in his last game with the
team before moving to Cork.
The green squad started well against Portarlington, before the visitors got the upper hand
in the rucks and mauls. A heavy drizzle had an impact on their game against Cill Dara,
making handling difficult. Newbridge impressed on a number occasions when they
moved the ball wide. Best for the green squad were Harry Quirke and Calum Doyle.
The newly formed orange squad (featuring a selection of players from the blue and green
squads) made a lively start against Portarlington, running in three tries in the first quarter.
The visitors responded to leave the game level at the interval.
Some great attacking and strong defending left Newbridge leading heading into the final
quarter. However, Portarlington again fought back, scoring in the dying minutes for a
well deserved draw. Brendan O’Driscoll and Brian Galavan impressed for Newbridge
on the day.
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8th October 2011, U12s Vs Athy:
Newbridge U12s produced some gutsy rugby last Saturday when they played host to Athy in Rosetown.
The green squad lost their first game by a try in a closely contested match. They came from behind to level the game, before Athy took the lead and then hung on to it as Newbridge camped on their line in the dying minutes. Their second game was a tougher affair against a better organised Athy side who ran out winners.
Among those who played best for Newbridge greens were Con Creeddon and Salvatore Dudas.
The blue squad also some produced a spirited display. They rucked and mauled ferociously against a stronger Athy side in their first game before being edged out. In their second game they were level at the interval in a very tight match. But as they began to run out of steam in the second half, they paid dearly for some lax tackling.
Best for the blues were Ben Morgan (making his debut) and Fionn Moran.
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25th September 2011, U12s Vs Athboy / Clondalkin:
Newbridge produced a lively performance in Clondalkin on Sunday (September 25), to beat the hosts and Athboy in a mini blitz.
Newbridge got off to the best possible start against Athboy, scoring from the kick-off. As their confidence grew, so did the number of off-loads in the tackle. They led by three tries at the interval. Athboy bounced back in the second half, but Newbridge hung on to win by two tries.
The second game against Clondalkin was a real battle, with both sides closely matched. Newbridge were unlucky on a couple of occasions in the first half to be denied scores, with the teams level (one try each) at the interval.
Newbridge had a purple patch in the second half, going two tries up. Clondalkin hit back and pulled it back to 3-3. Newbridge defended doggedly for much of the final quarter, before scoring in the dying minutes to clinch a deserved victory.
All members of the 16-man panel played their role in a great team performance. Among those who played best were Jack Moore (playing only his second game) and Aidan and Luke Dempsey.
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24th September 2011, Clane Vs Newbridge:
U12s Report:
Newbridge U12s North Midlands fixtures kicked off on Saturday (September 24) with a trip to Clane. Newbridge started the brightest, playing some good rugby and running in a couple of tries in the first quarter courtesy of Aaron Jacob. They were rucking and tackling very well and held the lead after the first quarter .
But Newbridge took their foot off the gas for the next two quarters and paid for some missed tackles with Clane taking charge of the match. Despite some brave performances from man-of-the-match Killian O’Brien and a rallying performance in the last quarter Newbridge lost by two tries to Clane.
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17th September 2011, U12s Vs Carlow:
"All wrapped up: Newbridge (multi-coloured tops) halt a Carlow drive. Carlow are in blue bibs because of a clash of kit colours."
Newbridge U12s kicked off their season in style with two exciting matches away to Carlow on September 17.
The two Newbridge squads travelled to Carlow directly after watching Ireland’s World Cup victory against Australia. And they displayed the same determination as the national team.
Tobi Sobola and Patrick Corrigan were the best in a lively pack for the blue squad, while Victor Gillen impressed behind the scrum in his first match as scrum half.
The green squad also produced two strong displays in their matches against two physical Carlow squads. Cian Butler (in his first game for the U12s) and Griffin Kennedy were among their stars.
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