MID SEASON REPORT
As we have now reached a break in the season, it is worthwhile to review the first half.
We have had a significant number of new playing members join the club at all levels and they are all very welcome. I hope that they are enjoying rugby in Clontarf as well as the social side of the club.
Our social activities are driven this season by our new Marketing and Commercial Committee led by Willie Ball. Many of you will have been at a new function in our calendar – the White Collar Boxing – which was a great success due to the efforts of Willie and his hard working committee (not omitting the committed boxers themselves). It is hoped to make this an annual event.
I am sure that you will have also noticed the many new pitchside signs around the senior pitch—many of these sponsors are new to the club and hopefully we can enjoy a longterm relationship with all of them. Again our gratitude is due to Willie Ball and his committee for their work in this regard
There has been a drive to get membership subscriptions paid by all members and a number of messages have been sent to all reminding them of the outstanding amounts. The club committee recognise that we are all in difficult economic times and cutbacks have to be made. We would ask you to try to recognise what is being done in the club for the members, the local community and the future of rugby in the area. The full support of our members is a vital part of the process.
I would plead therefore with all those who have not yet paid their subscriptions to include this in their New Year resolutions.
There are many functions scheduled for the New Year including pre-match lunches before all our home games in the Ulsterbank AIL League. The cost of these has been reduced so if you are free, do not hesitate to ring Mary Walshe in the club office in the couple of weeks before a game and book a place. The lunches are no longer considered only for corporate groups and Mary will facilitate any number of places that you and your friends may require.
There will be a joint Cricket and Rugby Club sponsored walk to raise funds for the renovation and redecoration of the clubhouse itself and hopefully there will be more news of this early in 2012.
From a rugby perspective there have been some successes and many of our teams are performing well in their leagues although there have been a few disappointments also which have tempered the successes.We are fielding teams in all divisions down to J5 which is a great achievement and hopefully this can continue despite the fact that many other clubs are having difficulties in fielding teams at various levels and games are being cancelled as a result.I would urge all our players to continue their commitment to training and playing even if they do suffer the disappointment of losing games or worse, having their weekend game cancelled.
1sts
The 1st team are performing well in the AIL and are lying second after 5 wins and 2 losses. It is fair to say that performances have been a little inconsistent with tremendous performances such as Shannnon followed by dissapointing ones such as St Marys. The fact that we are having such relative success when not always playing to our full capacity augurs very well for the second half of the season. A second place position in the AIL and expectations of further improved performances means we have an excellent opportunity to defeat all other teams, whether home or away and win the ultimate prize that has been so tantalisingly close in recent years..The support of all members and their friends, at the next 11 games, but particularly the home games, will be of critical importance to our success.
The performance of the 1st team in the semi-final of the Leinster Senior League Cup was disappointing.We had an opportunity to win this trophy this season and indeed Old Belvedere ,who defeated us in the semi-final ,went on to win the final comfortably.
We did win the Senior 2nds League Cup in a final against Old Belvedere at the end of October and it would have been very satisfying to have made it a double .We will of course have two opportunities early in 2012 to get revenge in the AIL fixtures and hopefully we can avail of those, the first being on 14th January in Castle Avenue.
J1s
The J1s have already won the first two trophies of the season for the club. In addition to the Senior Seconds League Cup, they won the Frank Kennedy/Harry McCann Trophy in the semi final against Terenure College.
The team lies 3rd in the J1 League having won 4 and lost 2 games.Interestingly the two teams that defeated us in this league—St.Marys and Old Belvedere-had been defeated by us in the Senior Seconds League Cup so that we should have a good chance of reversing the recent defeats and catching them before the end of this league.
J2s
In Phase 1,Pool 2 of this league ,we played 5 games and won 5,finishing top of the pool and progressing to Phase 2 Section A.However we have not done so well since then and have lost the first 3 games but with relevant points carried forward from Phase 1 ,we are lying 4th and again should be able to improve on this in the 2nd half and hopefully challenge for overall victory
J3s
The J3s are playing in Section B and are top of this league at the moment with 27 points having won the 6 games that they have played.They have a double header at home on 6th January against Naas and then all the remainder of their games are at home.These games are played on a Friday night and are worth going along to watch before having a drink or two in the bar.
J4s
The J4s started Phase 1 in Section A,Pool 1 where they won 2 and lost 3 games.They then went into Phase 2 in Section A Division 1 where they are top of the table with 16 points after 4 games
J5s
The J5s have played 8 games ,have won 5 and have 23 points to lie second in their table at this stage.This team has many new members and so their performances to date are particularly satisfying.
U21s
The U21s have played 6 and won 2 in Phase 1 of the JP Fanagan Premiership league.They have 2 games left in Phase 1 and it is unclear whether they will be in Section A or B for Phase 2.This team has improved significantly since the start of the season and have played some great rugby in the last few weeks but there are 3 teams in the league that are stronger than the remainder and it is likely that one of that three will win and succeed us as JPFanagan winners
U19s
The U19s have recently started training and although they have not participated in the Schools/Youths league they intend to compete in the Cup competition when it commences early in 2012.
U17s
Our U17s compete in Section A of this league and have won 5 out of their 6 games to top the section with 20 points. They have earned a home semi final which against Skerries early in January 2012.
Minis
The minis continue to thrive and the U13s in particular have had a few very notable successes already in their games.
Overall therefore we have had a good start to the 2011/2012 season at all levels and all aspects of the club and we can look forward with enthusiasm to the rest of the season in 2012 and indeed the future.
Best seasonal wishes to all players,coaches managers and supporters and I look forward to meeting all of you in the new year.
John Glackin
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAURENT:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurentcgeo/collections/