Senior Rugby Round Up

Longford Senior Men had a scheduled weekend off and now look forward to the visit of Cill Dara to CPL Park on Sunday.  In the last set of fixtures played in the ‘19/20’ season before Covid hit, Longford recorded two victories, 43-18 and mounted a stirring comeback to win 22-29 in the return fixture.  However, form from two seasons ago is probably not a reliable indicator with all sides still finding their feet after Covid.  Longford have played well in their first two fixtures versus Wicklow and Boyne and indeed had chances in both the matches to record wins.  However, frustratingly for all involved they had to settle for losing bonus points in both fixtures.  Head Coach Glenn Baskett and Captain Hubie Connolly will be hoping that the weekend off will allow some of the players in the physio room to get back to full fitness and that this Sunday will be their first win of the year.  However, Cill Dara are a tough side who will not give Longford anything easily.  The home side will certainly need to be more clinical if they are to notch up at least four points on Sunday.

Longford Senior Women’s first league game was disappointingly called off by Portlaoise with Longford awarded the points. They would have been hoping to build on their tremendous victory in the Paul Cusack Plate final but now must refocus on the tough away challenge offered by Naas on Sunday.

Longford v Cill Dara 2019

Provincial Round Up

The second round of the URC took place on the weekend past, with a clean sweep recorded by the Irish Provinces.  Most impressive was Connacht’s big win in the wind and rain versus the Bulls.  New signing, Mack Hansen, who is Irish qualified scored a brilliant solo try to set Connacht on the way to a 34-7 bonus point win.  Ulster easily saw off the challenge of Zebre 3-36, with Munster mounting a comeback to secure a bonus point win versus the Stormers 34-18.  A uncharacteristically off-colour Leinster scrapped to 6-7 win versus the Dragons.  It was an error strewn performance from the current Pro-14/URC champions, that they will want to quickly forget.  Hopefully it was one of those performances where champions win while playing badly rather than a sign of more fundamental problems.  The visit of Zebre to the Aviva stadium next Saturday should hopefully be just the tonic they need to get the Dragons game out of their system.

New Rules

There has been a lot of comment on the new trial rules brought in at all levels of the game this season, here is a quick summary courtesy of World Rugby:

50:22

The trial

If the team in possession kicks the ball from inside their own half indirectly into touch inside their opponents’ 22, they will throw into the resultant lineout. The ball cannot be passed or carried back into the defensive half for the 50:22 to be played. The phase must originate inside the defensive half.

Primary intention

To encourage the defensive team to put more players in the backfield, thereby creating more attacking space and reducing defensive line speed.

Goal line drop-out

The trial

If the ball is held up in in-goal, there is a knock-on from an attacking player in in-goal or an attacking kick is grounded by the defenders in their own in-goal, then play restarts with a goal line drop-out anywhere along the goal line.

Primary intention

To encourage variety in attacking play close to the goal line and to increase ball in play time by replacing a scrum with a kick that must be taken without delay. An opportunity for counter attack is also created.

Flying wedge

The trial

To sanction the three person pre-bound mini-scrum by redefining the flying wedge.

Primary intention

To reduce number of events where the ball carrier and multiple support players are in contact (latched) prior to contact, and to protect the tackler who can be faced with the combined force of three opposing players.

Men’s Leinster League Fixtures 2021-2022

10/10/2021 Longford v Cill Dara CPL Park (1^st XV 3 2^nd XV 1.30)

17/10/2021 Clondalkin v Longford Gordon Park, Kingswood (1^st XV 3 2^nd XV 1.30)

31/10/2021 Longford v Carlow CPL Park (1^st XV 3 2^nd XV 1.30)

07/11/2021 Longford v Tullow CPL Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

28/11/2021 Mullingar v Longford Shay Murtagh Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

05/12/2021 Wicklow v Longford Ashtown Lane (1^st XV 2.00 2^nd XV 12.30)

12/12/2021 Longford v Boyne CPL Park (1^st XV 2.00 2^nd XV 12.30)

09/01/2021 Cill Dara v Longford Silken Thomas Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

16/01/2021 Longford v Clondalkin CPL Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

23/01/2021 Carlow v Longford Oak Park (1^st XV 2.30 2^nd XV 1.00)

06/02/2022 Tullow v Longford Black Gates (1^st XV 3 2^nd XV 1.30)

13/02/2022 Longford v Mullingar CPL Park (1^st XV 3 2^nd XV 1.30)

Women’s Leinster League Fixtures 2021-2022

10/10/2021 Naas v Longford

24/10/2021 Longford v New Ross CPL Park

31/10/2021 Arklow v Longford

14/11/2021 Longford v Greystones CPL Park

05/12/2021 Garda/Westmanstown v Longford

12/12/2021 Portlaoise v Longford

16/01/2021 Longford v Naas CPL Park

30/01/2021 New Ross v Longford

06/02/2022 Longford v Arklow CPL Park

20/02/2022 Greystones v Longford

13/03/2022 Longford v Garda/Westmanstown CPL Park

Sin Bin

The Sin Bin Event Centre is back open as per Government Guidelines.  Superb food and drink are available across the weekend (Friday to Sunday) and lunch on Wednesday/Thursday.  Phone 087 346 4914 for bookings or email sinbinbookings@outlook.com.  Check out the Sin Bins Facebook page for updates and specials;  www.facebook.com/thesinbinlongford/