Leinster Rugby had organised a tag rugby league over winter to try to encourage as many schools as possible to get involved in rugby. We would have prefered full contact rugby, but nonetheless we were happy to have some matches to play. We were heading to the finals in Donnybrook as Dublin Champions and very confident of getting through the play-offs and into the final. Wasn't to be though, was it? Still though, we had a great day, gave it our all and played as a team. You couldn't ask for more.
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| The girls. |
We had four matches to play to qualify for the finals out of our group, with the first one against the Sacred Heart team from Tullamore. To say the pitch was a swamp isn't going too far, but we were happy enough just to be out and playing. Katie led her team out and helped us into an early lead, with Jojo receiving a fantastic pass from Sinead Aspell to cross the line. SH came back at us fast, and thanks to some, perhaps, maybe, ever-so-slightly offside play they scored. Katie had a chat to the ref and asked him to ensure players remained onside and that they were playing tag rugby, and not basketball. That made a difference (for about five seconds) and soon we were trailing 2 - 3. Roisín got us back close to them with another try but fater that we couldn't get across for another score. Despite Lisa scooping the ball up after they had knocked it on and breaking for the line with no opposition players near us and being called back for the scrum. TWICE! Our place in the final was gone, more-or-less, but we were now playing for pride, and with a bit of temper too.
The next game was against Ardscoil na Trionoide in Athy, and we had a chance to give starts to a few more players. Anna Sherlock put on a great defensive display, single-handedly shoring up the right wing, and forcing the turnover. Katie got the first of her tries shortly after. We did notice that this ref (Maurice Logue, aka Ms Brady's crush) was calling people for offside, insisting that tags be handed back and that he could count to six. The difference a competent and fair ref makes is huge. Katie got a brace in this match, as did Roisín, while Anna, Claire and Jojo crossed the line. Even Lisa got one, showing that the old veteran of St Mac Dara's Girls Rugby still has it. She's our BOD basically! 8 - 5, and some pride restored.
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| "Who's Joe Schmidt?" Roisín Tisdall, 12.53 pm, 27 March 2014. |
We'd a bit of a break then so that Joe Schmidt could introduce himself to Roisín and compliment Jess on her tackling ability - in a tag match! Joe had a lot of kind words to say to everyone there, and then reassured us he'd be out to see us in a couple of weeks. Back to our match and tries from Kelly Walsh and Anna Sherlock helped to seal up the win, 7 - 4 to us. Saragh and Vickie put in great displays in this game, forcing a couple of turnovers which we pounced on. With one match to go we followed Joe Schmidt's lead and emptied the bench, ensuring that everyone had a game and got the chance to play on the day.
We had another tough game against Ardee and they romped into an early lead by two tries. We came back, with some great scores from Holly and Katie, while Sinead got possibly the score of the tournament. Ardee pushed again though, getting two quick scores. Claire Harrington then had a dazzling thirty seconds on the ball, getting two tries thanks to some amazing dancing feet along the touchline from Jess, and securing us the draw.
Seeing Sacred Heart Tullamore in the final, and indeed winning it through, did have us saying lots of "what-if"s and "but if he had"s, but we can only accept responsibility for what we did and didn't do. We conceded trys that we shouldn't have, we were slow to start off and get into a rhythm, we got angry with each other at the start, but we finished extremely well. It was a great day out, we got to play four games, only lost one, and had a lot of fun together. That's why people play sports, that's why teams come together. Well done girls.
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