On a cold windy morning the U12 squad visited Clontarf for 3 matches. The games were played in St Paul’s College on Vernon Avenue.

Green Team

Greystones kicked off playing against a strong wind and following some good rucking by the forwards and running by the backs, tries were scored from close in by Liam Lupton Smith and Harry Noonan. Clontarf replied when their right winger scored a fine try after good team play created an overlap. Greystones restored their 2 try lead shortly before half time when prop Harry Noonan again used his strength to drive over. Greystones controlled the majority of the second half and despite good defence from the home side further tries were scored by Mick O’Gara, Darragh Rochford and David O’Brien. Clontarf attacked strongly for the last few minutes of the game but the Greystones defence held firm.

The Green team displayed good discipline and structure to their game against a strong Clontarf team who never gave up attacking at every opportunity.

Final Score:  Clontarf 1 Greystones 6

Team:

Harry Noonan, Jonathon Landers, Conor Lacy, Liam Lupton Smith, Rory Wilson, Jack O’Caoimh, David O’Brien, Sean O’Brien, Mick O’Gara, Darragh Rochford.

White Team

Clontarf started the game strongly and through their backs scored two tries within the first couple of minutes. Greystones gradually found their way into the game, and following some good interplay between forwards and backs, Jeremy O’Donovan broke free and scored in the left hand corner.  He quickly followed this up with another good try, fielding a clearance kick and sprinting into the right hand corner. The Greystones pack gradually began to get on top and following sustained pressure, Liam Marshall battled his way to the line for an excellent score which helped Greystones reach half time with the slimmest of leads.

Just like the first half, Clontarf restarted the game by immediately putting Greystones under pressure. Their pack began to dominate  and as a result scored a try to bring the scores level.  Greystones however struck back quickly. Conor McAleer took a quick penalty and passed to Jeremy O’Donovan who outstripped the entire Clontarf backline to score in the corner.  With the wind at their backs,  Clontarf were able to score two tries from broken play and take the lead. Despite a concerted effort from the entire Greystones team, Clontarf were able to hold on to their lead and win a very tight game.  This was a very close game that could have gone either way.  As this was the White team’s first game in some weeks, it’s not surprising that further work is required on rucking, discipline and overall structure.  Everyone put in a lot of effort, in particular David Furey, Conor McAleer, Callum McNulty and Jeremy O’Donovan.

Final Score:  Clontarf 5, Greystones 4 

Team:

Team: Greg Doyle, Cian Hall, Darren Magee, Liam Marshall, David Furey, Sam Dooley, Conor McAleer, Harry Begley, Callum McNulty, Jeremy O’Donovan, Andrew Neale.

Dark Green Team

From the outset, playing uphill and against the wind, Greystones put on an excellent display of rucking and straight running by the backs to notch up a number of tries in quick succession; Richard Slevin, Adam Kelly, Mike Hayes, and Oliver Haydock scoring. Clontarf were unfortunate not to score before the break when a sustained attack and good rucking saw them go close to Greystones' line before a turnover saw Greystones notch up another try on the half time mark through Joe Phelan.

In the second half Greystones continued to put Clontarf through their paces with the forwards driving the home team off a number of their own scrums. Again Greystones got the basics right with consistent rucking and quick ball allowing the Greystones' backs to run at Clontarf. Greystones managed to score further tries in the second half through Adam Kelly, Richard Slevin, Niall Dooley and Conor Doyle before Clontarf scored a last gasp try to complete the scoring.

Team:

Alex McAllister, Oscar Daly, Richard Slevin, Niall Dooley, Charlie Byrne, Ben Webster, Tony Jackson, Mike Hayes, Oliver Haydock, Joe Phelan, Adam Kelly, Conor Doyle, Conor Mulcahy.

A mixture of the White and Dark Green teams played St Brigids home and away on successive Sundays 8th and 15th January.

Match 1

Played in Greystones and the home team welcomed our visitors St Brigids on a fine but cool Sunday Morning to Dr Hickey Park. The match began at a ferocious pace and Greystones were immediately on the attack and moved the ball into the opposition half.  From a scrum won against the head Joe Phelan broke and split the defence to score. From the restart the Greystones forwards gathered the ball and drove upfield in a series of rucks resulting in the ball being moved wide by the backs and Jeremy O’Donovan beating his man on the outside to score. Greystones added another score after some fine interplay between backs and forwards resulted in Callum McNulty breaching the St Brigids defence. St Brigids kicked off and having won back possession, were rewarded when they crossed the line from close range. Greystones went on the attack from the restart and following a series of thrusts from backs and forwards the ball was moved left quickly resulting in Greg Doyle crashing over to complete the first half scoring.

The intense pace continued into the second half and Jeremy O’Donovan outsprinted the cover to open the scoring, Tommi Happonen then added another score with some direct running after the backs moved the ball quickly. Charlie Byrne then forced his way over to add another score for Greystones. St Brigids then scored after some fine approach play down the left hand touch line. Mike Hayes then added another score for Greystones working his way through the defence from the fringe of a ruck to score. St Brigids then replied with another try in the left-hand corner. From the restart Greystones moved upfield and Ollie Haydock sliced through the defence to score. Mike Hayes then added another fine try crossing on the blindside unopposed following a series of rucks. The scoring was completed when Ollie Haydock crossed the line after some quick handling by the backs.

Sunday 11th December:  Wanderers (away)

On a cool damp morning, Greystones brought a large squad of players to Merrion Road for their encounter with Wanderers.  The Green and the White teams each played two games of 25 minutes duration against two Wanderers teams. 

Green Team

Game 1 v Wanderers 2

Greystones took charge of the opening exchanges of this game and scored two tries in quick succession from Jack O’Caoimh who exploited defensive gaps on the blind side. A third try was scored by Callum McNulty following good recycling by the forwards and strong running by the backs. Wanderers replied with a fine try on the stroke of half time from their right winger.

The second half was a much looser affair. Wanderers had good field position for the majority of the half and turned over a lot of Greystones ball, however good defence kept them at bay. On limited incursions into the Wanderers half, tries were scored by David O’Brien and Sean O’Brien. In reply Wanderers left winger scored a good try after sustained pressure created an extra man.

Despite the score this was a tough physical encounter between two well matched teams.

Final Score: Greystones 5  Wanderers 2

The U12’s hosted Seapoint on Sunday 27th November in what has become a local derby fixture. Following the games, the parents and players from both sides repaired to the clubhouse where refreshments were laid on by a number of the home team’s parents and coaches and which was much appreciated by all. The tidy up was then carried out by a few of the coaches including a folically challenged ex Terenure prop well known for his housekeeping skills at home.