RUGBY | Two out of three ain’t bad for Dundalk RFC U12 Girls
On Saturday last, Dundalk RFC’s U12 girls rugby team traveled to Navan to take part in a well organised blitz where they played some excellent rugby.
The girls have been training week in, week out and the dedication and enthusiasm shown in their training sessions paid off as they won two out their three games.
Dundalk v Mullingar
Dundalk faced a very strong Mullingar side in the first game but the Mill Road girls confidently stepped up to the plate and positioned themselves deep in attack, allowing the fast ball carriers Bronagh Hughes and Sophia Murdock to find space and score two great tries in the first half.
The second half saw a determined Mullingar side come back at Dundalk, putting the Mill Road side under pressure up front but Dundalk’s Mia Coan and Jennifer McElroy put in some big tackles denying Mullingar the try line and turning over possession to Dundalk’s advantage, enabling Aoife Purcell and Sophia Murdock to run in two more tries.
Dundalk v Barnhall
Well warmed up now and raring to go, Dundalk’s second game was against a well trained Barnhall team but with the pace of Rebecca O’Connell and Sophie Wolfe, Dundalk just wouldn’t be denied.
Barnhall came back at Dundalk but the defensive efforts of Eve Conway and Nicola Campbell denied them any scoring opportunities in the final minutes of the game.
Dundalk v Navan
The first two games were the build up to the penultimate game against Navan — which the girls had been training for — and Dundalk showed plenty of passion and aggression against their Meath rivals.
Playing in horrendous weather conditions, the Dundalk girls showed true grit and determination and tackled like demons. Dundalk’s defence stood firm in the first half, brilliant only letting in one try which they immediately replied to by getting one back. Some great running and passing from Saorla O’Mara and Isobel Holmes made this try happen.
With the game tied at one-all at half time, the fearless Dundalk girls came back on the pitch and played some top class rugby. They defended well and gave it everything they had in the tank but Navan found the space to score their second unanswered try. Until next time Navan!
