The Old Crescent Under 20 side hosted Highfield in our last game of the Donal Walsh Trophy campaign in Rosbrien last Saturday. After winning the opening kickoff with a clever kick and chase, we controlled territory and possession for the opening ten minutes. We created a couple of scoring opportunities but failed to take them. We also lost winger Mark Dillon with a broken collar bone (best wishes Mark for a speedy recovery). Then, in their first incursion into our half, Highfield opened the scoring with an unconverted try.

 
To their credit, our Under 20’s picked themselves up and launched another wave of attacks on the Highfield line and after a couple of near misses, Ian Clein crossed under the posts for a try which Conor Lenihan converted to put us in front. We held this advantage to the half time interval.
 

The larger Highfield pack came more into the game in the second half but the introduction of Paul McNamara at half time gave us an additional cutting edge in the back line. As in the opening half, we again had the better of territory and possession but failed to execute. Ten minutes into the second half, Highfield regained the lead with a converted try following some smart play.

 

There then followed a period of play where Highfield were in control and looked like adding to their score but our defence held firm throughout. The determination of our side shone through in the last quarter when we again took the game to Highfield, and we scored three late tries, two by Evan Moloney and one by Andrew Harrison all converted by Conor Lenihan, to give us a convincing win and bonus point victory.  Final score, Old Crescent 28 Highfield 12.

 

Next weekend, our Senior side are back in UBL action when we make our last away trip of the season to County Meath to take on Navan RFC. Confidence is high as we head to the royal county that we will consolidate our position at the top of the 2C UBL Division ahead of our final UBL fixture of the season at home in Rosbrien the following weekend when we take on take on our nearest rivals in the Division,  Tullamore RFC.  We expect a large turn out of the Old Crescent faithful in Navan next Saturday, and an even larger turn out in Rosbrien the following Saturday, 2^nd April.

 

In the only other senior fixture this holiday weekend, our Third’s side will play a friendly against Bruff next Friday evening at 7.30pm in Rosbrien.

 

Old Crescent RFC members were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Joan O’Dwyer (nee Neville) last weekend.  The O’Dwyer and Neville families have long been associated with and involved in Old Crescent RFC. The late Mrs O’Dwyer’s sons and son in law played for the club, and her eldest son Jed was a highly respected coach of the club for a number of seasons.  Several of her grandsons now play with Old Crescent at senior and under age level.

 

Ger McNamara, President of Old Crescent RFC, expressed his condolences and those of all members of Old Crescent to the O’Dwyer and Neville families.