Tipperary rugby club Kilfeacle sign off league campaign with a win
Munster Junior Cup tie against Richmond is next on the list
Kanturk RFC 27 Kilfeacle and District RFC 38
Kilfeacle and District faced Kanturk in their last game of the season in the Munster Junior Rugby League Division 1 on Sunday.
Kilfeacle had already secured second place in the league so this game had no significance other than pride. Travelling to Kanturk, who needed a bonus point win to push for a top four finish, is never an easy task but Kilfeacle were looking forward to using this opportunity to give some valuable match minutes to younger squad members.
This rotation, added to squad changes due to injury, meant that all in Kilfeacle approached this encounter with trepidation. The game was played in dry, warm conditions with a light breeze.
After 10 minutes Kilfeacle took the game to Kanturk and Shane Farrell scored under the posts after a great team effort. Luke Heuston converted and the score was 7-0.
In the 16th minute Kanturk replied in similar fashion with their own converted try under the posts, to level the scores at 7 – 7. In the 32nd minute Kanturk took the lead with a well-taken try from a fantastic lineout manoeuvre involving all the team. The conversion attempt from the touchline was unsuccessful and this proved to be the final score of the first half, so Kanturk led at half time by 12 points to 7.
Kanturk started the second half where they ended the first, having the better of the possession and territory. In the 45th minute they scored another unconverted try in the corner to bring the score to 17-7.
Kilfeacle managed to break out of defence slowly. After eight phases of play Killian Noonan finished off a fine team move to score a try. Luke Heuston added the two points to bring the score to 17-12.
Kanturk didn’t let this score deter them from their mission of a bonus point win. In the 60th minute they scored their fourth try, which was easily converted and the bonus point had been secured. Kanturk were in cruise mode and led by 24 -12.
However, the cruise didn’t last long as the wheels came off and in the 65th minute Kilfeacle found a new gear, which they maintained for the rest of the game. Club captain Kevin Kinane started the resurgence with a try under the posts, which Luke Heuston converted to reduce the deficit to 24-19.
In the 69th minute Jacques van Wyngaardt added another try after a fine move by the backs. Luke Hueston added the two points and Kilfeacle had wrestled back the lead by 26-24.
In the 73rd minute the forwards combined to set up an unstoppable rolling maul, which crashed over the line to score another try. When all the bodies were untangled the evergreen Simon Barry emerged with the ball. Luke Heuston, who had an excellent kicking game, scored the conversion to bring the score line to 33-24.
Directly from the restart Kanturk gained ground and were awarded a penalty, which they scored to reduce the gap, and it was now 33-27.
Kilfeacle didn’t lose any impetus because of this score and with only seconds remaining on the clock they notched up another unconverted try scored by Jacques van Wyngaardt. The visiting support was jubilant, as their team had won the game by 38 points to 27.
Kilfeacle’s next game is a tough fixture at home to Richmond RFC in the Munster Junior Cup. It will take place next Sunday, March 16 at 2pm. The team hopes that their supporters will continue to come along and support the “Boys in Blue”.
Kilfeacle’s squad on the day consisted of 1 Richard Whitney, 2 Brendan Barron, 3 Daniel Lambe, 4 Adam Crowe, 5 Bob Purcell, 6 Robert Noonan, 7 Gavin McCormack, 8 Brian Barlow, 9 Killian Noonan, 10, Luke Heuston, 11 Cathal Hallissey, 12 Muiri Lambe, 13 Jacques van Wyngaardt, 14 Shane Farrell, 15 James Hogan, 16 Simon Barry, 17 Paddy Finnan, 18 Beau Walker, 19 Thomas Fogarty, 20 Kevin Kinane, 21 Gavin Heuston and 22 Kevin Doyle.