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| News archive from May 2003 - June 2003 |
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| New Zealand won the Under-21 rugby World Cup on Sunday, beating the Australians by 21 points to 10. The 'Baby Blacks' defensive play proving the difference at the Kassam stadium.
Captain Sam Tuitupou, playing for the third time in this event, was delighted with the victory. "Our plan through the tournament was to take each game as it comes," he said. "After each game the boys grew another inch. Today we stuck to the plan. We knew it was our last game as a team and we pulled through. This is very special for us."
Australian captain Lachlan McKay was gracious in defeat. "In the end we let ourselves down. We made mistakes every time we got any momentum," he said. "You have to give the Kiwis credit, particularly for their defence and their driving maul. We couldn't have been better prepared and the tournament has been a fantastic experience."
The New Zealanders dominated throughout the match, with second-rower Ross Kennedy opening the scoring with a powerful solo try in the 12th minute. Two penalties to Stephen Donald gave NZ an 11-0 halftime lead after Australian halfback Josh Valentine was sent to the sin-bin for repeated infringements and, minutes after his return, five-eighth McKay followed him.
Australia pressured the Kiwi line early in the second- half but were unable to penetrate stout defence. An exchange of penalties between Donald and Australian fullback Mark Gerrard took the score to 14-3 but New Zealand winger Hayden Pedersen sealed the trophy with a 75th minute try.
Australia scored a consolation, but spectacular, try through Elia Tuqiri in the dying minutes, but it was all too late for the young Wallabies to avoid their third successive final loss. They went down to New Zealand in 2001 and South Africa last year
New Zealand 21 Australia 10
The Irish U21s scored a try in injury time at the Henley Hawks Rugby Club, Oxfordshire yesterday to snatch a 24-19 win over Italy and finish ninth in the World Cup tournament.
Ireland dominated from the kick-off but over half an hour had elapsed before they crossed the try line through centre David Telford. Fly half Michael Rainey, converted. Italy struck back when left wing Valerie Santillo crossed for a try. Andreo Marcato added the conversion points to bring his side level 7-7 at half time. Ireland pounced for their second try, 10 minutes after the restart.
After a line-out, Ulsterman Neil McComb started a drive which was ended with a try for Kieran Potts. Scrum-half Connor O'Loughlin touched down from a similar move, moments later and Rainey added the extra points. Then Italy began to fight back and full back Mirco Bergamasco quickly had his side's second try. Four minutes from the final whistle Ireland's David Gannon infringed at an Italian line-out in Ireland's 22.
Italy kicked to touch five metres from Ireland's left wing corner flag. From the resultant line out, Sergio Parisse dived over the line. Substitute scrum-half Andreo Brancoli landed the conversion to tie the scores. But Ireland dug deep. They won a line-out near halfway and started a move involving backs and forwards.Flanker Neil Ronan fed replacement wing Richard Lane who dived over for a try in the seventh minute of injury time. |
25 June 2003:
"GRAFTON MEN OF STEEL EXPORTED WORLDWIDE"
Belfast, April 2003. Grafton Recruitment, Ireland's largest independent recruitment company, this afternoon announced the winners of the Grafton "Man Of Steel" Competition. The outright winner is named as Darren Barbour with the runners up Ajay Derwin and Roger Wilson. The title is awarded to the best player in the AIB All Ireland League Division 1 over the course of the season. It was judged by a panel of independent experts and journalists at each home and away game.
As the overall winner, Darren Barbour will travel to Chile where he will visit Grafton Recruitment's Santiago offices and take part in a rugby development programme organised by Grafton in association with a number of rugby playing international schools and clubs. The two runners up will travel to Central Europe where they will participate in promotional work on behalf of Grafton in Prague, Budapest and Warsaw.
James Kilbane, Group Chairman of Grafton Recruitment commented,
"On behalf of Grafton Recruitment, I'm delighted to congratulate our Man of Steel, the runners up and the entire Grafton Belfast Harlequins Squad. The club has worked hard this season - we're pleased with the progress that has been made to date. We're also very pleased to be able to use the Grafton International Network to incentivise and reward players in this way. We're confident that the Grafton Belfast Harlequins and this competition will grow in success and stature going forward."
Darren Leaves for Chile on the 25th July and has promised a comprehensive report on all aspects of his trip. We look forward to reports from Ajay and Rodger on their respective trips also which will be undertaken during the summer.
20 June 2003: In South Africa, Andre has signed Harlequin's new overseas player. He is Willem Slabbert, a native of Bloemfontaine and currently playing for the Free State Cheetahs. He is a 6'5". 16 stone outhalf/fullback. He is a big goal kicker and has knocked kicks over from 70m (admittedly this is up on the high veldt).
17 June 2003: Ireland U21 win against Scotland
Tries from Ciaran Potts and Peter O'Brien and eleven points from the boot of Michael Rainey gave the Ireland Under 21s a 21-15 victory over Scotland in Newbury this afternoon.
Rainey kicked three first half penalties and Potts scored his try to leave the Irish 14-8 ahead at the interval.
They scored a superb second try in the 74th minute, full-back Peter O'Brien finishing off a move that the ball go through half a dozen pair of hands before O'Brien touched down. But minutes before the final whistle the Scots struck back with their second try of the game.
The Ireland U21 team was as follows: 15. Peter O’Brien - UCC 14. Keith Matthews – UL Bohs 13. Barry Murphy – UL Bohs 12. Glen Telford – Instonians 11. John Hearty – Blackrock College 10. Michael Rainey – Glasgow Hawks 9. Fiach O’Loughlin - Shannon 1. Jason Moran – UCD 2. Rory Best – Belfast Harlequins 3. Declan Fitzpatrick – Belfast Harlequins 4. David Gannon – UCD 5. Neil McComb – Dundee Highschool 6. Stephen Keogh – UCC (CAPTAIN) 7. Niall Ronan – Lansdowne 8. Ciaran Potts – St. Mary’s Replacements: 16 - Kevin Corrigan (UCD), 17 - Eugene Mc Govern (Old Crescent) 18 - Simon Crawford (UCD), 19 – John Muldoon (Galwegians), 20 - Conor O’Loughlin (Buccaneers), 21 - David McAllister (Terenure College) 22 - Richard Lane (UCC
17 June 2003: Chris Weiniger who played 1st XV rugby 1999-2002 , and scored the first two tries in the inaugural match of Belfast Harlequins got married in Lithuania on the 6th June 2003 to the lovely Loretta. Belfast Harlequins extends best wishes and future happiness to Chris and Loretta
15 June 2003: Simon Best became the first member of Belfast Harlequins to win a full Irish cap when he came on as a replacement against Tonga yesterday. Well done, Simon. Everyone in the club is very pleased for you. Keeping this in the family, Rory Best had a very good game for the U21s against South Africa. He and Declan Fitzpatrick had outstanding games according to sources at the match in England.
14 June 2003: Two people heavily associated with Belfast Harlequins were honoured in the Queen's birthday list. Eric Bell, former Collegians President was awarded the OBE and Dr Paula Kilbane, wife of James Kilbane of Grafton was awarded the CBE. Congratulations to both.
14 June 2003 : Ian Graham past Chairman of Belfast Harlequins RFC was elected Junior Vice- President of the Ulster Branch for the season 2003-2004 at last night AGM held at the CIYMS club
13 June: Despite a superb second half display, in which they outscored their opponents 15-3, Ireland came up short in their opening World Cup game, losing 36-27 to the holders South Africa in Oxford this afternoon.
In a game played in blistering weather conditions, the Irish trailed 26-12 at the break all their scores in that period coming from the boot of out-half, MIchael Rainey.
However in the second half, the Irish produced a tremendous team performance, full of courage, commitment and no small amount of skill to rattle their illustrious opponents and threaten the shock of the round.
The Irish had tries from Keith Matthews and Ciaran Potts and were just two points adrift, 29-27, as the game entered it's final minutes. Disaster struck then for the Irish when the South Africans fashioned a break-away try to score under the posts and deny the Irish even the compensation of a bonus point. That was the very least this Irish side deserved.
11 June 2003: Christians in Sport (CiS) table quiz: Quiz teams should consist of a maximum of five persons, and there will be a team entry fee of £10 but all proceeds will go to ‘A Game of 2 Halves.’ This is a project aimed at making people aware of issues facing children in developing countries, and to enable people to do something about these problems.
Local retailers, Marks & Spencer at Forestside will be providing the prizes for the evening.
It should be noted that the clubhouse bar will be open for normal business.
“We are hoping for a good night's craic, with successful fundraising for a worthy cause. In addition to the quiz, we are also looking forward to welcoming Graham Daniels, the executive director of Christians in Sport, who is travelling from England for the occasion.”
For further information, please contact Ross Collins on 9048 1339, or by mobile on 0781 557 5664.
10 June 2003: Ian Montgomery has been elected President of the Ulster Referees Society for the season 2003-2004.
09 June 2003: Chairman of Rugby, Ian McAvoy presented the following awards at the AGM tonight. Player of the year 2002/2003 to Darren Barbour who received the Stephen Elliot Memorial trophy. This trophy was present by Stephens family afer his untimely death. Stephen played fullback for North 3rd XV and was captain of the team when he tragically died in a domestic incident. Joe Dunn took over as captain and led North to victory in the Crawford cup at Ravenhill, defeating Ballymena 2nd XV in the final. In respect for Stephen, and at the request of his parents his North shirt (The only one without a number) was worn by Mark Horner at Fullback during the final. Stephen had also toured Japan, Honk Kong and Malaysia with Queens University in 1976.
Lewis Stevenson received the trophy for The Young Player of the year. Both Players were unable to attend the presentation and Darren's award was collected by his father, and Ian Graham collected the award on behalf of Lewis |
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