Charleville & District RFC V Killorglin RFC, Sunday 12th November

One of the most difficult challenges for a team is to train for weeks, wanting that opportunity to come, so you can show yourself and your supporters how good you can be.

With rain affected weekends putting Charleville & District RFC U14 behind in the run of fixtures, their chance finally came on Sunday at home against the visitors Killorglin RFC.

Although difficult under foot, the sun shone on a still day as Charleville took the field with the message to respect themselves and the opposition by putting in the top class performance they know they are capable of. And they did that in spades.

With excellent commitment across the park, Charleville put pressure on the opposition from the start, closing the space in defence and winning a string of turnover ball at the tackle and ruck.

This pressure was matched by strong carries, excellent support play and getting the ball to the wide channels where Charleville’s first two tries were scored without reply.

Killorglin fought hard and with a sequence of penalties of their own came close to scoring twice, only to be repelled by huge commitment from Charleville on their own line to force a turnover and knock on respectively.

Charleville established a good lead after the first 17 minute period, but the job was by no means done.

Early in the second period Charleville managed to run the ball back directly and with a pass out to the wide channel, which had been so fruitful in the first half, Ronan Hayes was in for another try. This score proved vital, as undaunted by the score line Killorglin dug deep to come back through strong runners of their own to score twice in the corner with one of their tries converted very well from a difficult wide position.

The pressure was on. Charleville needed to refocus and concentrate to close the match out. They went back to their direct running and great support play which sealed the 25 - 17 win.

In the time since the team played their last competitive fixture at the start of October there have been a number of new players that have joined the group, particularly in the U13 age. To say that there is a seamlessness in skill and even more so in attitude between the ages is no exaggeration. Charleville brought in all the new players as well as those coming back after a long time away from the game for the final period. The desire and commitment they showed was highly impressive, with some excellent carries and tackling which kept Killorglin scoreless for that period. Charleville scored two great tries, including a full length of the pitch breakaway from Alan Krause to seal a 14-0 win.

Weather permitting, the fixtures will be coming thick and fast to make up for lost matches. Charleville will be looking to build momentum, continue to raise the standard and intensity to a crescendo as they make their assault on the league table!