Cogan double sets up victory
Division 4
Newbridge 12 Old Belvedere 2XV 7
November 27 2011
A brace of tries from utility forward Louise Birchall sealed this against-the-odds victory by Newbridge Ladies at Rosetown last Sunday.
Two last minute withdrawals left Newbridge able to field only a scant 13 players on Sunday morning. Old Belvo turned up with a full complement plus substitutes, and opted to field 15 against the Kildare girls.
What Newbridge lack in resemblance to spring chickens with legs full of running, however, they make up for at this stage with battle hardiness, wiliness and a dogged refusal to quit in the teeth of adversity.
They opted for a brand of 'stuff-it-up-your-jersey' rugby from the off, with the forwards hurling assault after assault at the greener Old Belvedere side.
Birchall led a maul over the line for her first touch down twenty minutes in, most of which Newbridge had spent camped in the Old Belvedere half.
While Newbridge hurled the kitchen sink, kamikaze-like, at the visitors in attack, their defence was committed and stubborn. Debut season players Aoife Whelan, Caroline Gavin and Tracey Roycroft came into their own during the match, making unbelievable double tackles time after time as they dealt with wave after wave of superior numbers in the opposition attacking line.
Full-back Orla Cullen made the run of the match mid-way through the second half, clearing half the pitch with Belvo players hanging out of her, to whoops from the sideline.
Newbridge employed hard-earned years of wily old tricks to destroy the Old Belvedere scrum with hooker Emma Fagan regularly turning over the ball. Recently returned pack veteran Fiona Behan, fired up by lifter Laura Cogan, shone in the lineout to nick more opposition throw-ins than she had a right to.
Birchall went in for her next try ten minutes into the second half, shooting through a gap from a tap-and-go penalty five yards out with the trademark sidestep that's earned her the nickname 'Twinkletoes'. Kaylee Cogan converted to leave the home side 12 points clear.
Old Belvedere, to their credit and thanks to their bench of fresh legs, kept pressing to the end, and were rewarded with a try and conversion off the back of a maul near the Newbridge line.
But the home side weren't going to throw away their bloody-minded victory. They defended like warriors for the last five minutes before a turned-over ruck let Kaylee Cogan boot the ball into the car park for the hard-earned final whistle.
Newbridge: Laura Coates, Emma Fagan, Laura Cogan, Linda Shaughnessy, Dee Rooney, Louise Birchall, Aisling Mahon, Fiona Behan, Aoife Whelan, Kaylee Cogan, Tracey Roycroft, Caroline Gavin, Orla Cullen
Cogan double sets up victory
Division 4
Newbridge 10 Tallaght 5
November 13 2011
Two tries from centre Kaylee Cogan set up Newbridge Ladies for a 10-5 victory in an often times fractious affair at Rosetown last Sunday.
Newbridge dominated possession for much of the match, but could only translate that into a five point victory after Tallaght came back with a late try.
Cogan struck first ten minutes into the match with one of her trademark looping solo runs from half way.
The Newbridge pack got stuck in against the inexperienced Tallaght side, but handling errors cost them several attacking chances. The loss of captain and scrum half Aisling Mahon early on in the game in a try-saving tackle was a blow to the home side's organisational plans, but they rallied well.
Cogan replicated her first half strike fifteen minutes into the second half. But with the Newbridge girls a woman down due to loss of back Claire Comerford to injury, it was more than could be asked that they extend the lead.
Tallaght put some points on the board with a break-away try, but Newbridge's tight defence and spot-on tackling left the home side with a margin of victory that was narrower than the game deserved.
Newbridge ladies get a league victory
Division 4
Newbridge 20 Arklow 5
Four tries without answer was the result of bloody-minded determination by the black-and-yellow clad women of Newbridge in their clash against Arklow at The Oval last Sunday, October 9. After two harsh losses to Enniscorthy and Mullingar in their opening games of this season's league, the Kildare girls were hungry to make amends.
The home side crossed the whitewash first with an excellent break-away try from their out-half. But as Newbridge settled into the game, they pinned Arklow back to their own half for long periods. Winger Tracey Roycroft opened Newbridge's account after pouncing on an excellent cross-field kick from out-half Aoife Courtney.
Centre Kaylee Cogan made it two for the Newbridge ladies before the break with one of her trademark looping sprints to skin the Arklow defence and touch down under the posts. Newbridge camped on the opposition line for much of the second half and flanker Laura Cogan, winger Aoife Whelan and full-back Orla Cullen were unlucky not to add their names to the scorers list.
Courtney made it three for Newbridge with a sniping dart off the back of a ruck and prop Laura Coates made it four to for the Kildare girls before the finish.
Newbridge played the smarter game in the windy conditions, pinning Arklow back with their intelligent kicking. The physical Newbridge pack completely disrupted Arklow's scrum and line-out, creating space which the attacking back-line used to their advantage. Next up for Newbridge is Carlow at home in Rosetown next Sunday. Newbridge RFC ladies squad is always looking for new members.
All new and experienced players are more than welcome to come join us for a run around. For more info contact Aisling Mahon 085 7635658.
Ashbourne blitz match report.
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