8 November 2023
Hello everyone,
Well, four games into Division 1B and we’re sitting on 3rd place in the tables. Not bad for our first season back but it’s better than that! Our two losses were by 3 points each and both were matches we would be confident of winning on the return, we’re picking up bonus points with 3 of the 4 matches and we denied Queens a bonus point on Saturday – this is a side accustomed to scoring an average of 40 points against their opponents.
I may be biased but we look very much at home in this division. Amidst last season’s promotional celebrations there was also the question of whether we were ready for 1B. I think the players, the coaches and all the support teams around them have answered that emphatically thus far – we not only look ready, but we look strong, and I think we have more in us! There is a sense of momentum building and we have a good balance between a tough, aggressive pack and a backline capable of causing defences a lot of problems.
The Women's Senior team played Suttonians up the road and won 33-12, and the Women’s J1 team lost to Tullow RFC on the back of a change of venue which is always disruptive. This weekend sees our Women’s 1st XV take on Ballincollig away on Saturday 11th and the J’s are on a road trip to Tullamore on Sunday 12th. Good luck to both teams and safe journeys.
Our U20s had a good win away against Coolmine on Friday night beating them by 16 points to zero. Unfortunately, the Men’s 3rd XV narrowly lost to Old Wesley 31-24 on Saturday. That creates a nice segue into this week’s big AIL match also against Old Wesley and also away in Energia Park. Wesley have been knocking on the door of promotion from Div. 1b to 1a for a number of seasons and fancy themselves as contenders. We are two spots ahead of them on the table but only one point separates us – this is a huge game with all to play for.
So – you have now seen evidence that our club is back where it belongs and looks well capable of competing at this level. We all wanted this, and the players and coaching team have delivered. Let’s see the support back at the level it was at tail end of last season. Get to Energia Park on Saturday and let’s do all we can to support our team knock one of the favourites off their perch!
See you Saturday.
Paul
Paul Flavin
President 2023-24
Blackrock College RFC
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