Strabane Rugby Club

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Team selection 👀

Our 1XV make the trip to face Coleraine RFC in the Solar Fix Junior Shield tomorrow 🏉

Let’s get out and support the boys
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Rugby returns this weekend 🏉

Our 1XV make the trip to Coleraine RFC in round 2 of the Solarfix NI Junior Shield

All support welcome to make the trip

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Strabane 1st XV climbed to the summit of Championship 2 on Saturday past, with a dominant display against previously table topping Carrick.
Strabane ran out 32-19 winners and secured the full 5 points, gained by scoring 4 tries, and crucially, they sent the visitors back up to Carrickfergus empty handed.
Number 8 AJ Gous opened the scoring for the homesters with a powerful charge from close in, after some sterling work by his forward companions.
CJ added the extras, and added another 3 for good measure, with a long range penalty shortly after, but Carrick showed their teeth, after Strabane failed to deal with the restart.
Indiscipline at a ruck compounded this error, the ref awarded a penalty, the visitors kicked to the 5m line and mauled over for an unconverted score to make it 10-5.
At this level, 2 mistakes in short succession usually mean you are severely punished.
Undaunted, Strabane went back on the attack, and turned down a very kickable penalty, to tap and go for the line, with AJ again forcing his way over for a try, taking the score to 15-5 at half time.

The Strabanimals got the perfect start to the second period, when off a scrum on halfway, a backs move straight from the training ground saw James Perry and Jonny Orr combine beautifully to deliver an inch perfect pass to the rampaging CJ, who hit a well crafted gap in the defence, and he went under the posts untouched, to give Strabane a healthy 22-5 lead. The home coaches could be seen lighting ci**rs and pouring the brandy after that masterpiece. This was improved soon after, when CJ converted another penalty, and the crowd found it incredulous that we were 20 points clear against a heavily fancied side from the big smoke. Strabane's much improved scrum had been on top so far, and they now dismantled their opponents with a great set piece, that marched on a good 10 yards. The visiting pack were enraged and as the scrum broke up, a couple of arguments were swung. The ref only heard the argument, but could soon see prop Tom McGilloway had been awarded a black eye. He yellow carded the guilty Carrick number 5, who had been less than sportsmanlike all game, and home ho**er Ryan McKitterick, who was only arguing back in defence of his comrades. The upshot was the scrum penalty was reversed for retaliation and Carrick again kicked to the corner and again scored from an opportunity gifted to the by indiscipline, making it slightly more nervous for the sizeable support, at 25-12.

As the game went in to the final quarter AJ had yet another telling series of contributions. First he snuffed out a Carrick counter attack by unceremoniously dumping their winger in to touch, then claimed the resultant lineout and finished by setting off out half Orr with an inviting pass. Jonny tore in to the teeth of the defence, and gathered in 4 men to deal with him. As the visiting defenders rushed around the corner in anticipation of a further onslaught on the far wing, scrum half Vergil Grootboom noticed the over-fold and he made light of his hamstring injury to glide in for a converted score, and restore Strabane's 20 point cushion. The battle was won, and although Carrick got a consolation score, when a mix up in defence saw their 13 run under the posts, the game finished 32-19 and Strabane were table toppers again in 2026. This victory was grounded on the excellent work of the pack and a suffocating defence. AJ's heroics have already been regaled, but his back row partner Jack Graham was also much admired. Jack continually gets through gaps he has no right to pass, and makes ground every time, as well as calling the lineout and harrying the opposition rucks, although it was noted later in the sheep shearing race, he was well beaten by lioness Ellie Duffy :). Returning captain Jake McDevitt reminded coach Magee what he was missing these last few games, with a trademark all action display of shuddering tackles and hard carries. Tom McGilloway is simply unstoppable on the gain line, and his yards after contact are what make him such an asset to the team. All the pack deserve huge credit for providing the foundation required for what was a fairly comfortable win, and when we kept Carrick outside our 22, they simply looked to run out of ideas in attack. Their final insult came when as they left the pitch, the cantankerous number 5 called the Strabane players a bunch of "f..ing culchies", to which seasoned campaigner Jimmy Hamilton replied, "just take a look at the culchie scoreboard"!

Team sheet 👀

Tomorrow sees our 1XV take on league leaders Carrickfergus 1XV.
Carrick are also unbeaten this season so it is sure to be a great encounter 🏉

Get down and support the lads at Bradley way

Of course the game is followed by our sheep shearing event…. More posts to come 👀 🐑

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