Old Crescent RFC senior team travelled to Kanturk last Saturday to take on the local side in a UBL Division 2C clash. We were well beaten in the same venue last year in atrocious playing conditions so were determined to give a better account of ourselves on a bright sunny dry day.
Crescent started strongly and took the game to Kanturk in the early exchanges. This effort was rewarded on ten minutes when Crescent were awarded a penalty which Larry Hanly converted. This seemed to wake up the home side and they scored a try a few minutes later. The convert attempt was missed.
Kanturk had their best period of play in the second quarter of the match and they added to their total with a converted penalty on the half hour. There was no further scoring in the first half and Kanturk led at the break by 8 points to 3.
The Crescent team upped their game in the second half and after a short period of pressure in the Kanturk half, Brian Toughy touched down for a try and Larry Hanly added the conversion to put us two points in front.
Kanturk converted a penalty ten minutes into the second half to put them briefly back in front before Larry Hanly slotted a second penalty a few minutes later to restore our narrow lead.
We then went into the most difficult period of the game from an Old Crescent point of view, when our captain Cathal O’Reilly was harshly yellow carded for not rolling away. The remaining team members defended stoutly as Kanturk attacked time after time deep in our half for the next ten minutes. It is a tribute to our player’s commitment in putting their bodies on the line that Kanturk were unable to add to their total while our captain was on the sidelines.
With our team now back up to full strength, the Crescent pack began to turn the screw on the tiring Kanturk side. From a well won Crescent scrum, the ball was swiftly moved out our back line to winger Nigel Kerr who finished the superb move with a try in the corner with ten minutes to go. The difficult conversion was missed.
Crescent were now firmly in control and our win by 18 points to 11 was never in doubt in the remaining minutes before the final whistle. Man of the Match in a great team display was Brendan Guilfoyle. We have now had the best start to our season in many years and we go into our next home UBL fixture undefeated.
Next weekend, we take on Boyne RFC at home in Rosbrien next Saturday at 2.30pm. We call on all Old Crescent supporters to come to Rosbrien next Saturday afternoon to support our senior team as they build on their great start to the season. We will also be holding our usual excellent pre-match lunch at 1.00pm next in the Clubhouse before the Boyne game, and places can be booked by contacting Eddie Frost (087 6187832) or Don O’Malley (087 2596886) asap.
In other fixtures, our Thirds will play Garryowen in a friendly in Dooradoyle next Saturday at a time to be confirmed but likely to be 12 noon. Our Under 20 side will play Newcastlewest under lights in Rosbrien next Friday evening at 8.00pm.
Old Crescent RFC has received its allocation of tickets for the IRFU ‘Your Club Your Country’ Grand Draw 2015, and tickets are now available from any committee member. The IRFU organise this Grand Draw as a fundraising vehicle for affiliated rugby clubs and there are many fabulous prizes. All the monies raised by Old Crescent RFC through ticket sales will go to the club so please support generously.
