Rugby World: The Champions

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CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION CHAMPIONS EDITION
Banbridge 22-9 and Instonians try by Colin Morrissey and a penalty bonus points to their rivals’ two. Having lost coach Dan McTharland
demolished Queens University 69-17 and conversion from Pat O’Connor. Cashel had a stronger squad than to Connacht last summer, Monivea
with 11 tries. Coach Boyd cleverly last year as some former players had recruited Kiwi Panapa, who is a
opted for very light training ahead of RE/MAX LEINSTER LEAGUE returned from other clubs, and the former assistant of Hika Reid at
the big game because his squad CILL DARA squad’s conﬁ dence grew as the Portadown. They won the league
were weary. “Before the ﬁ nal we just Captain Eamonn Fitzpatrick months passed. They lost 9-3 at with 13 wins from 14 games.
trained on the Thursday for about Coaches Enda Finn, Wayne Crosshaven in October and 14-9 to Monivea is a tiny village, but the
half-an-hour. I thought, if they don’t Middleton (assistant) Clonmel in November, but won every team is home-grown and the U16s
know it by now…” says Boyd. “We THE Kildare-based club won the other game, ﬁ nishing with a 13-0 win won their title this year too.
really felt we could have beaten Bruff league for the ﬁ rst time in their over Crosshaven’s conquerors,
in the league so there was no 32-year history, just holding off Skibbereen, to seal the title. KUKRI ULSTER QUALIFYING
problem with motivation. Also, Bruff Seapoint. Finn and Middleton took Secretary Andrew O’Dwyer paid LEAGUE SECTION ONE
turned up to the ﬁ nal wearing ﬂ eeces over the coaching, having retired tribute to the squad’s effort, saying: PORTADOWN
with Division Three Champions on from playing a year ago, and, “We had a strong panel of players Captain Diarmuid O’Kane
them and that got our boys riled!” together with some new playing and they all played important parts Coach Hika Reid
Tries from veteran Malone, recruits, turned Cill Dara from a at different stages. We hope to learn HAVING been relegated from AIB
Adam Telford, Kenny Morton and mid-table side to champions. from our ﬁ rst Round Robin Division Three last year, Portadown
Owen McMurray, who also kicked The most inﬂ uential new signing experience for next season.” achieved their aim of bouncing
12 points, gave Instonians the win was Tongan Silla Va’anuku, who was straight back by taking the Ulster
and Boyd says: “Niall Malone was recruited via the internet. Australian CONNACHT JUNIOR LEAGUE title and then winning the Round
Man of the Match. He’s an assistant Regan Sheppard partnered him in MONIVEA Robin. Their squad was stronger
coach but started playing again and the centre and Barry Flanagan and Captain Kevin Higgins than last season, thanks to the
had a big inﬂ uence on our young Mark Beever also had great seasons Coach Hohepa Panapa return of a handful of former
backs, especially Owen McMurray.” in the backs, while Barry White, Chris AFTER ﬁ ve unsuccessful attempts Portadown players who had been
Winger Adam Telford scored 12 Moore and Damian Broughal were at gaining an AIB League place via gaining experience elsewhere.
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tries and New Zealander Scott Uren outstanding in the pack. the Round Robin, Monivea won this Kiwi coach Reid used his contacts
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played well all year in the back row Director of rugby Paddy White is league, came second in the Round in his second season at Portadown
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before successfully moving to centre delighted with the work of the new Robin and thought they were going to bring outside-half Ruki Tipuna
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for the semi-ﬁ nal and ﬁ nal. home-grown coaches and hopes the up after winning a promotion/ over from New Zealand and he
thriving youth system will continue relegation play-off against AIB played a starring role. In the pack
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ROUND ROBIN to strengthen the ﬁ rst team. Division Three side Waterpark, 35-3. skipper O’Kane, No 8 Stuart
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PORTADOWN were relegated from However, they were then found Douglas, prop Mark Neilly and N
AIB Division Three last year, but MUNSTER JUNIOR LEAGUE guilty of ﬁ elding an ineligible player hooker Ciaran O’Kane excelled.
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responded brilliantly by winning their CASHEL and impersonating another player Secretary Gary Elliott says: “We

Ulster league and then the Round Captain Jack Mahar on their team sheet, and the play-off had a slow start to the season and
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Robin play-offs, to regain their Coaches Kevin O’Dwyer (head), match result was reversed and then went on a steady winning run
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national league status. Padraig O’Connor Monivea remain a junior club. right through to the end. We’re
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The champion junior clubs from THE ability to pick up bonus points “Everyone is gutted, especially as conﬁ dent we will at least hold our
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each of the four Irish provinces enabled Cashel to win this league for about nine of our starting players own in Division Three this time.
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contest the Round Robin, with the the ﬁ rst time, as they ﬁ nished with won’t be available next season, so We have a pretty good, young
winners gaining promotion and the eight wins out of ten to Crosshaven’s we won’t be at full strength,” says squad now, but with a blend of
runners-up getting a chance to play nine, but having accumulated eight club spokesman Leon Noone. experience in there.” n
off for an AIB League spot against
Blood, sweat and cheers:
the second-bottom club in Division
Instonians celebrate their title
Three. Monivea went into the Round
Robin as Connacht champions,
Cashel were Munster’s team and Cill
Dara were Leinster’s champions.
Portadown won all three matches
in the series, with two bonus points,
to ﬁ nish as clear winners and replace
City of Derry in Division Three.
On the ﬁ rst weekend Portadown
won at Monivea 24-10 and Cill Dara
beat Cashel 10-5. A week later
Portadown beat Cill Dara 18-3 and
Monivea won at Cashel 14-8. Finally,
Portadown ran in four tries against
Cashel to secure the title with a
20-10 victory while Monivea took
second, beating Cill Dara 20-17.
Against Cashel, Portadown led
15-10 at half-time thanks to tries
from Dave Whitten, Nicky Jackson
and Jonny Holden. Hooker Ciaran
O’Kane scored the bonus-point try,
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while Cashel’s points came from a
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Rugby World’s club guide returns next season. In the meantime, if you have any stories and/or pictures for the Ireland club guide, then please email catherine_king@ipcmedia.com or write to: Rugby World, Ninth Floor, IPC Media, Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark St, London, SE1 0SU. Enjoy the summer!
RUGBY WORLD JULY 2008 117
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