Not only was it a weekend of woes for Irish representative rugby but it wasn’t that hot for your friends at the FRU either.
Tootling off down to the Irish Women’s match in Ashbourne, with a car full of young ladies, the old FRU mobile started to make some inopportune rattling noises a few miles out from our destination only to completely give up the ghost as we rolled up the lane leading to the clubhouse.
Now, I know what you’re all thinking, “Oh dear ladies! The car has broken down, we’re miles from home and there is only one room left at the hotel”, type scenarios, but no, the old banger had finally rattled it’s last! (That’s the car folks not me!) Fortunately it chose to do so at the entrance to the spill over car park at Ashbourne Gun Club so with the help of a few stewards we were able to get it off the road and out of the way and thankfully, a not so, Raging Raven agreed to come down and collect us after the game.
The game itself was worth the trip (and just about worth the new car I’m now shopping for) as this was a cracking encounter full of thrills, spills, a few brawls and no shortage of good rugby as the Women’s game continues to improve.
You can read the full report here, but what really sells the Women’s game to me is the out and out commitment from the players. It’s all a bit more emotionally charged than the men’s game, but it’s all the better for it, and I find it more and more difficult not to get involved . I just know that one of these game I going to jump off my camera perch and hug one of the Irish girls when they score the winning try. 
Ops there goes my press accreditation for the England game!
Good old Rooster over on the UAFC had a copy of the U20’s match waiting for me in my inbox when I got back to Larne that night. Started the download and left it to get up early and watch in the morning while editing the women’s game. Unfortunately my attention wasn’t diverted from my photo editing too much as a somewhat depleted U20’s took a bit of a pounding by a huge French side. Game looked over after 20 minutes and to all intents and purposes it was, though it’s good to report that Ulstermen Patrick Jackson and Niall Annett acquitted themselves particularly well.
No school or club game on Saturday as I tried to get the car towed away, and I must say the chaps at the Ashbourne Gun Club couldn’t have been more helpful. My lack of transport meant however that I had the dubious pleasure of watching England v Italy and Scotland v Wales – both equally depressing in their own way.
Italy were woeful but now, at least, with the overhyped English fat boys firmly believing their own publicity, it will make watching France hammer them in a fortnight’s time all the more enjoyable.
Scotland and Wales were woeful but at least one of them will beat Ireland despite the Irish sides improved performance on Sunday against the French. A game which probably backs Ireland further down the road to disaster that will be their World Cup, the rebuilding of the team ignored for another season.
Didn’t watch the Irish game live, as I was at the Rosie Stewart Cup semi final between Belfast Harlequins Ladies and City of Derry, but had to listen to the last 20 minutes as I drove home in a borrowed car as I was unable to work out how to turn off or change chanels on the radio. (Infact it took me 20 minutes to even find the radio controls!) Despite spoiling my excitement for watching the game later I must say that I thought Dennis Hickey, on 5Live as co-commentator for the match, gave excellent analysis throughout the 20 odd minutes that I heard.
Got back in time for the depressing Ulster debacle where we showed little imagination and completely failed to utilise the backs. I think it was 50 minutes before I heard Gilroy mentioned. I think we’re now got into the habit of picking our team to counter our opponents strengths rather than pick one to play to our own.
Playing to your strengths is certainly something that City of Derry Ladies know how to do as they defeated Harlequins Ladies in a pulsating Rosie Stewart Cup match at Deramore Park on Sunday afternoon making this my Match of the Weekend.
Big and strong up front, the Derry side play their variation of nine man rugby very well and very ruthlessly and on possession alone disserved their win, if not the margin.
Quins played some beautiful rugby with a back line that at times moved the ball as well as any side I have seen this season, it’s just a pity they didn’t get the ball often enough. I must say that Quins are shaping up into an exciting side.
I’m already looking forward to the encounters between these two sides next season!
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