Newbridge RFC celebrate league success

Newbridge RFC wrapped up a season to remember then they rounded off their league season with a 27-24 win away to Portarlington. The result of the game mattered little as the  Leinster Division 2B league title was already in the bag but it was still nice to end on a high. 

The side were relegated to Division 2B from Division 2A last season, after a poor season which saw them lose all but one game last season. However, this season has been an incredible success and they finished 12 wins from their 13 league games.

The Newbridge RFC side presented with the trophy after their win over Portarlington.

At the start of this season the club appointed Robbie Waters as Head-Coach of the side, which has proven to be a huge success.

Newbridge RFC’s Barry McCann said that he was delighted with the side’s season, and he is already looking forward to next season in Division 2A for the men’s first team in the club.

“We had a poor year last year. We drew one game and lost the rest. But the lads were eager to put things right. We held onto everybody from last season. That was huge. We had huge numbers when we came back for pre-season. We also got a few guys out of retirement, which was brilliant as well. Next season we will be looking to be up near the top of Division 2A. All our lads have experience of playing there. They will want to do better than when we were there last. I think we will hold onto everybody, including the lads that came out of retirement. They have been huge for us and the lads are enjoying their rugby,” said McCann.

McCann touched on the depth in the club at adult level and how important that was to Waters’ side’s success this season.

“We used 37 players in our men’s first team in the league this season, which is huge. We have a lot of depth. It’s a huge advantage we have on other teams is that depth. We have three adult men’s teams in the club, which is brilliant. We have a great youth academy there also from 16 to 18. It’s great to see many of them young lads at our games. We want that pathway from the youth academy to our adult teams. We have a very mixed team when it comes to our age profile. We had the lads that came out of retirement and then we have a lot of young lads. Our average age is about 22 or that. We have a lot of young lads, but we have that nice blend which is important. Maybe last season we didn’t have that blend, and we were too young. But now we have that perfect blend of youth and experience,” explained McCann.

Their only defeat in the league so far was against North Meath, last November. That game finished 10-7 in favour of the side from the Royal County.

The league champions have incredibly scored 443 points in the league and finisheed with a scoring difference of +248.

Newbridge opened their league campaign with a narrow, 22-17 win over Clane last September. They claimed the league title just over a week ago, when they defeated Portlaoise 27-15.

McCann is hopeful this success can inspire the next generation in the club.

“Hopefully it can bring the club together. I think this group of lads have done that this year, hopefully more of the youth academy lads will come down. We want to inspire the next generation and hope that these young lads will want to go on and play adult rugby with Newbridge. We won the league back in 2004. I remember that inspired the next generation, so hopefully this will do the same.”

McCann also paid tribute to head-coach Robbie Waters and captain, Denis Clarke, who were hugely influential in this season’s success.

“We have a new head-coach in Robbie Waters. He has done a fantastic job. He has a very strong management team there also. They have all done a brilliant job. Our captain is Denis Clarke. He’s been hugely influential behind our success,” said McCann, and club are already looking forward to returning to Division 2A next season.