Match Reports 2006/2007

Match reports 2007/2008

Newport V Kilfeacle

07^th October 2007

Newport kicked off their first ever match in the Heineken Munster Junior League Division One to Kilfeacle at home in Newport on Sunday last, 7th October. This was a Tipperary Derby between two old rivals which promised and would deliver a close fought match.

Newport kicked off the match and maintained pressure on Kilfeacle in their half which resulted in Shane Ryan converting a penalty for Newport after three minutes. From the restart Kilfeacle retained the ball and rucked their way into the Newport 22. Kilfeacle made it over the line but the ball was held up, no try was awarded, this resulted in a 5 metre scrum to Kilfeacle from which their scrum half scored a try. The score 3-5. Newport went back up to the Kilfeacle half from the kick off and from the pressure, forced Kilfeacle into giving away a penalty. Shane Ryan once again converted this and the score was 6-5 to Newport.

Kilfeacle kicked off the second half and put Newport under pressure from the restart. Newport gave away a penalty infront of the posts and Kilfeacle easily converted, the score 9-8. Kilfeacle scored a try from the maul after a lineout thrown in 10 meters from the Newport line. They converted and the score was 15-9 to Kilfeacle. Newport upped their game and went back in to the Kilfeacle half. Newport had the throw-in into the lineout following a penalty, Kieran O'Connell secured the ball for Newport, they mauled for 5 metres, Daragh Ryan spun the ball out to Shane Ryan, a switch pass to David Bourke sending him over the line, the score 15-14 to Kilfeacle. Newport maintained the pressure on Kilfeacle but failed to convert this to points with the result remaining 15-14 in favour of Kilfeacle. Newport gained a valuable bonus point and are well placed midtable following the first round of matches.

Next game Sunday 14th October Cashel V's Newport K.O. 3pm

Cashel V’s Newport

14^th October 2007

Newport traveled to Cashel in the second match of the Munster Junior League, with the hope of repeating the win over Cashel last season in the Mansergh Cup semi-final, but it was not to be. Cashel kicked off the game and were awarded an early penalty which they converted 3-0. Cashel scored two converted try’s to leave the score 17-0 in the first half. Newport scored the first points in the second half a penalty converted by Dave August. Newport upped the pressure and were denied a try after crossing the line due to accidental off-side. Cashel responded with a converted try bringing the score to 24-3. Newport scored a try when Mylie Shinners went over the Cashel line half way through the second half, this was converted by Dave August. Newport kept the pressure on as a converted try would have earned a bonus point but a Cashel interception of the ball resulted in Cashel winning 29-10 and gaining a bonus point. Newport are 8^th in the table following the match and Cashel top the table. Next match at home to Skibbereen Sunday 21^st October.

Newport V’s Skibbereen

21^st October 2007

Newports third match in the Munster Junior league was a home to Skibbereen, who came to Newport well placed in the top half of the league. The match was kicked off by Shane Ryan for Newport and following a great first tackle by Ray Ryan Newport won the ball from Skibbereen. The ball quickly made its way to the backs, where Michael Ryan slipped through several tackles and offloaded safely to Kieran Kett to score the first try of the match. A difficult conversion was missed and the score after four minutes was 5-0 . Newport continued to pressure Skibbereen but their defence held well and the next score of the match was a try to Skibbereen. It was looking positive for Newport at half time with the scores level and Newport went out in the second half hoping to add to their tally and win, but the next score came from Skibbereen with a try after ten minutes and this was followed by a converted try for Skibbereen ten minutes from the end. Newport kept trying to the final whistle but they were not to be rewarded with another score. From a promising start came a disappointing result. The final score 17-5 to Skibbereen.

Clanwilliam V’s Newport

04^th November 2007

Newport traveled to Tipperary Town to play Clanwilliam in their first meeting in Division 1 of the Munster Junior league. This would be no easy match for Newport knowing Clanwilliam would be looking to right their defeat to Newport in the Mansergh Cup final last season. It was Newport though who settled fastest into the game and had Clanwilliam under pressure from the kick off. Before Clanwilliam had any chance to settle, Newport were awarded a scrum ten meters out from the Clanwilliam line the ball was passed from the scrum by Daragh Ryan to Shane Ryan who chiped it ahead perfectly for it to be collected by Christopher O’Connor for Newports first try. Shane Ryan converted this and Newport took the lead. Newport kept the pressure on Clanwilliam but let them through for a try before half time. The missed conversion left Newport in the lead at half time. In the second half Newport showed great composure when after a series of attacks on the Clanwilliam line, the Clanwilliam defence held strong, Shane Ryan dropped back to kick a drop goal which went straight through the uprights and Newport extended their lead. A penalty converted by Shane Ryan gave Newport a cushion of eight points with ten minutes on the clock. Clanwilliam defence was tested once again when Philip Ryan caught the ball from a lovely chip ahead and had plenty of room to gather and touch down over the line in the last minutes of the game. Clanwilliam came back strong and took the game to the Newport line, but time was running out for them and when the final whistle went Newport won 18-5.

Richmond V’s Newport

11^th November 2007

Newport had to travel away again this weekend to play Richmond in Limerick. Newport came away with a great win on the day and now overtake Richmond on the league table. The first half yielded only one score following some very tough defending and creative play going forward by both teams. They were very equally matched as both teams were trying to settle and gain the upper hand. Richmond got the only score of the half by converting a penalty 3-0. The second half Newport converted a penalty which leveled the match. Newport drove hard at the Richmond defensive line and broke through, Capt Tom Ryan ran through a gap and offloaded to Shane O’Connor who touched down for Newports first try. This was converted by Shane Ryan. Richmond came back and scored an unconverted try and a penalty which put them ahead by one point. Newport showed their endurance and kept plugging away at Richmond’s defence, Newport kept moving forward and were rewarded with a try scored by Michael Ryan, who ran after a kick ahead to score after 30mins of the second half. Richmond pressured Newport in the last minutes but were unable to break through. Final score 11-15

Newport 2^ndXv V’s Scarriff

Saturday 17^th November 2007

Newport 2ndXV had their first outing of the season at home in Freigh Park against old rivals Scarriff. On a very wet and windy day both sides took to the pitch with hopes of a win in the Evans League. It was not to be Newports day and Scarriff took the points with a good 0-21 win, three converted trys. But Newport showed promise and should be able to up the ante for their remaining games in the league.

Newport 2^nd XV V’s Kilfeacle 2^nd XV

Saturday 24^th November

Newport traveled to Kilfeacle on Saturday evening to play a 2^nd’s friendly under floodlights. Newport saw this as an opportunity to move players around and try out positional changes. Newport and Kilfeacle were well matched in the pack with the scrums from Newport challenging Kilfeacle. Neither team gave away position or points and half time score was 0-0. Kilfeacle started the second half well with a try and convertion after 5 mins of the second half. But Newport defended well and that was the only score for Kilfeacle. John Berkery, out half for Newport, kicked a penalty to give Newport 3 points 20mins into the second half. This was the final score of the match and it ended 7-3.

Thurles V’s Newport

Sunday 25^th November

Munster Junior League Division 1

Newport had their third victory in a row against Thurles, in Thurles at the weekend. Newport were the first off the mark to score in this tight match, with a try following a kick through and a fortunate bounce caught by Michael Ryan and touched down under the posts, converted by Shane Ryan. Newport kept the pressure on Thurles and scored again when Newport won back the ball and Dave August chipped ahead for Philip O’Brien to gather and made some ground before passing to Christopher O’Connor who touched down under the posts. This was converted by Shane Ryan. Thurles scored next with the referee awarding them a penalty try for a collapsing scrum which they converted. Newports third try was scored following a period of pressure within the Thurles 22. Kieran Kett almost made the try line but was bundled into touch at the corner flag and following a Thurles lineout Shane Ryan blocked down the clearance kick and grounded the ball. Thurles made the half time score 12-19 after scoring an un-converted try from maul. The second half proved to be a competitive contest with the only score of the half, an unconverted try by Thurles. Both teams came close to scores but, solid defences held. Thurles almost grabbed victory in the last minutes following their decision to run a penalty, but on the line Newports defence held and the ball was ripped from the advancing Thurles player by Ray Ryan. The ball was cleared and the match ended 17-19, a victory for Newport.