By Tommy Butler Longford RFC PRO

Senior Men

The curse of the cancellation struck again for Longford Senior Men after Leinster Rugby cancelled all fixtures province wide on Sunday due to Storm Ciara.  So, we will have to go again at home to Boyne at a future date to be confirmed. One match did go ahead in the league on Friday where Monkstown had a resounding win versus DLSP to win the league with two matches to spare.  Congratulations to Monkstown.  The league might have looked a lot different for both sides had Longford converted a last minute chance to cross the white wash and plunder a win from Sydney Parade in the second match of the season.  However, instead Longford are now focusing on securing second place and a shot of promotion and are in an almighty scrap for that place with Tullow.  It will take Longford’s best performance of the season to turn over a Monkstown side who have won all their matches in the league to date despite a few very close shaves, one being versus Longford.  It’s still all to play for and Longford’s push for promotion continues this Sunday in CPL Park.

However, despite the cancellation brilliant news emerged during the week, Boyne conceded the J2 match earlier on in the week meaning that Longford J2s have won Division 1B league with two games remaining.  This is a massive achievement for the Philly Dardis Captained side and is a credit to Glenn, Steve, Ciaran and all the coaching team.  It is also a huge honour for the club.  Details of when the trophy will be awarded will be announced in the coming weeks.  Therefore, this Sunday will be a Sunday of Champions in CPL Park where J1 League Champions, Monkstown take on joint second placed Longford and J2 League Champions Longford take on second placed Monkstown.

So, all roads lead to CPL Park on Sunday February 16^th where we ask all members and friends to support the Senior Men in their penultimate home league game of the season and see the J2 Champions in action.

The draw for Seconds Provincial Cup was also made last week.  Longford got a bye into the second round, where they will take on Cill Dara on March 22^nd.  The Winners will take on Naas/Newbridge in the ¼ finals on March 12^th.  No doubt our league champions will have big designs on having a great run in the cup this season.  

Fixtures

160220 Leinster League Longford v Monkstown KO 1/3 J1&J2

22/230220 Leinster League Clondalkin v Longford KO 1/3 J1&J2

TBC Leinster League Longford v Boyne KO 1/3 J1&J2

010320 Provincial Towns Cup Navan v Longford KO 3 J1

220320 Provincial 2nds Cup 1^st Round Cill Dara v Longford KO 3 J2

League Table Leinster League - Division 1B

League Table Seconds League (J2) - Division 1B

Longford Women (Warriors)

Longford Women had the weekend off with their next match away this Sunday v Wanderers.  Longford Women welcome new players throughout the season with all fitness levels, shapes and sizes are welcome.  The Warriors really are on an upward curve and are making an assault on the Division 4 Title and want you to be a part.  Training is on Tuesdays and Fridays and 7.30.  Drop in to training for a chat or alternatively give Head Coach Nuala McGoey a ring on 0862482005.

Upcoming Fixtures

160220 Leinster League Wanderers v Longford KO 1

010320 Leinster League New Ross v Longford KO 1

150320 Leinster League Longford v Blackrock KO 1

League Table Womens Division 4A

Longford Mini/Youths

The Longford Mini/Youth Season is now in full swing.  All teams are now back training and playing.  

Training.

Remember new players are welcome at all levels with no prior experience required.  It could be you lining out for Ireland in a coming Six Nations!

Minis U6-U12 

Training on Sundays at 10.30 am in CPL Park for both girls and boys.  A full season planner can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/2NxGL1j 

U13 Male

U13s training every Thursday at 6.30 PM.

U14 Male

U14s training every Thursday 7-8.30 PM.

U15 Male

U15s train every Wednesday at 7.30 PM.

U16 Male

U16s train every Wednesday at 7.30 PM.

U17s&18s Male

U17/U18s train every Thursday at 7.30 PM.

U14 Female

U14s train every Sunday morning with an extra day per week TBC.

U16&U18 Female

U16s&U18s train every Tuesday and Friday at 7.30 PM.

 Saturday

U18M v Portarlington (Away)

U18FM v ARGO (Venue TBC)

U16 v Arklow (Home)

U16FM v Wolves/Naas (Home)

U14FM v Terenure (Venue TBC)

U12 Girls play at half time during Leinster v Cheetahs

Sunday

U15M v Wanderers (Away)

U6-U12 Training

Please check our website for fixtures; http://www.longfordrugby.com/clubFixtures/14013/f_i_x_t_u_r_e_s

Match Reports

The majority of matches fell victim to Storm Ciara.

EGM of Longford RFC 13/02/2020 at 8.30 (This Thursday).

All fully paid up members of Longford RFC are invited to attend an EGM of Longford RFC on the 13/02/2020 at 8.30 PM (Sharp) in the Sin Bin Event Centre, Longford RFC.

Leinster v Saracens

Longford Minis/Youths are organising another trip to watch the boys in blue this time in the blockbuster Champions Cup Quarters Final v Saracens at the Aviva stadium on Saturday April 4^th at 17.45.  Over 300 have already booked with the trip now full. However, a few places may be available due to cancellations if you are interested contact Padraig Murphy asap.

Ireland

Ireland made it two wins from two in this years Six Nations with a resounding 24-14 bonus point win against last year’s Grand Slam Champions Wales. Make no mistake this was an excellent win against a good Welsh side who wiped the floor with Ireland in last years competition.  The remarkable thing is that it was virtually the same side that Joe Schmidt fielded regularly bar the now retired Rory Best and Rob Kearney.  Ireland were well on top for the majority of the game and a last minute Justin Tupuric try put a bit of gloss on the score from a Welsh point of view.  So, now it is on to Twickenham for a chance to win a Triple Crown versus an England team that were largely blown away by a resurgent French side in their first game and ground out a gritty win in the howling rain in Edinburgh on Saturday night.  Sport is always great for blowing away presumptions at the start of a competition and turning them on their head.  Most pundits would have had England coming back to Twickenham after steam rolling France and Scotland and Ireland coming into the match perhaps with two loses.  It will be interesting to see if the two week break will allow Ireland to further evolve their game plan, which is not a million miles away from the Joe Schmidt template, which has to be expected as the new Andy Farrell led coaching ticket has had very little time relatively speaking with the squad.  A few things that seem clear is that Jordan Larmour seems to have license to run from full back, the Irish players are trying to play wider and with more offloads and also look to be backing themselves more playing heads up rugby rather than slavishly adhering to a set play book.  However, the cauldron of Twickenham will tell us a lot more about where this Irish side is heading.  

Finally, it was a weekend to remember for Ireland from a rugby point of view with a clean sweep for all teams versus Wales.  The U20s scored a thrilling 36-22 bonus point win in Cork on Friday night to making it two from two.  The Irish Women then rounded out a great weekend with a bonus point win of their own in stormy conditions 31-12 in Energia Park, Donnybrook yesterday.

If the trip to England was not exciting enough, the lure of a Triple Crown is certainly one to lift expectation even further, especially as all sides will be aiming to lift the prize.

Great Food/Events at Longford RFC

The Sin Bin at Longford RFC serves great quality and value food on Friday from 12-3 and 12-7 on Saturday and Sunday.  Booking for events such as birthdays, christening, confirmations, communions, weddings and funerals are also available.  For bookings and information phone Kris on 0872872357.

4G All Weather Pitch Rental

Our state of the art floodlight Mel Diffley 4G pitch is available for rental.  It contains shock absorption so that players can play contact sports/fall over without hurting themselves.  It is also perfect for 5 a side soccer.  If you would like to book it phone Damian on 0862757103.