Rugby avalanche in the Abbey

©Abbey Grammar School, Newry

©Abbey Grammar School, Newry

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Rugby is beginning to avalanche at the Abbey with U16 & U18 squads regularly training and playing matches and involving over 60 boys. Next term we hope to work with U12’s and build on the success they had last year. There has been greater liaison and support from Newry Rugby Club involving use of facilities, training and fixtures with the benefit of more boys now joining their local club. Abbey rugby has greatly benefited from the coaching and organisational skills of Hamish Fraser, the URFU Development Officer.

The Under 16s opened their season with back to back fixtures against St Colman’s and then St Paul’s with two excellent victories, they then took part in Pollock Cup Subsidiary Competition wining 4 and drawing 1, ending up victors of the competition. The team was led admirably by their Captain Mike McGovern and Vice-Captain Darren Marshall who also provided two tries and numerous conversions. A brace of tries also came from John-Benedict Farrell, Mike McCann and Cathal McNally, but it was the excellent team work that provided the victory and the solid defending.

The Under 18s won their opening game of the season against St Colman’s with a comfortable 12 – 5 victory. The forwards are much improved on last year and provided a lot more quick ball allowing the silky handling skills of the backs to shine producing glimpses of champagne rugby. The focus then moved onto a 7’s competition held at Armagh Rugby Club for developing schools and despite much exhausting practice and some competent 7’s playing on the day, the boys were squeezed out in the semi-finals with a try in the dying seconds to lose 0 – 5 to our local rivals. The commitment in the tackling by Declan Price and the Captain Finbar Bradley was outstanding but unfortunately not enough. The U18’s look forward to the second half of the season with great expectation.

Thanks to Exitex, a local company and sponsor of our shirts, we now have our own match kit and training bibs. The New Year looks good and as always lets aim for fast flowing rugby and more victories!

In the photo: • Dominic Wadsworth – Teacher in charge of Rugby & Coach of U16s & U18s (far left in photo) • Hamish Fraser – Ulster RFU (Rugby Football Union) Community Development Officer (far right) • Adrian Gray – Director of Exitex (sponsor) (middle front) Exitex are based just outside Dundalk and are a manufacturer of "draught proofing products for doors and windows" and "glazing systems for roofs and windows". We employ just under 100 staff and have been in business for over 25 years.

© Abbey Grammar School