Archive for the ‘Club News’ Category

New season – for further details see under Junior Rugby

Portadown Under 12s play at Aviva Stadium opening

Portadown RFC Under 12s have been invited to play in one of the two mini rugby exhibition games to be played at half time during the first ever rugby match to be played at the new Aviva Stadium (formerly Lansdowne Road). The opening match will feature young Academy players from Ulster and Leinster who will play against their Munster & Connacht counterparts.

During half time four mini rugby teams representing their Provinces will play – the young Portadown players will play against Buccaneers (Connacht) and Mullingar (Leinster) will play against Ballincollig (Munster).

Portadown were one of the first clubs in the Province to play mini rugby .Present club Youth Chairman & current IRFU Mini Rugby Chairman Willie Gribben, along with former Irish & Lions Number 8 Ronnie Lamont, first introduced mini rugby to Ulster in 1972 when their respective schools-Edenderry PS (Portadown) & Springhill (Belfast) – piloted the “new game!” Since then the game has grown enormously with practically all clubs in Ireland fielding mini rugby squads aged between 6 and 12.

The present squad came together at the start of the year and was mixture of two age groups due to new age regulations which meant the U 12 coaches were pretty much starting from scratch to build a new team.  Throughout the season the squad has developed and improved significantly resulting in strong credible performances at end of season tournaments.  They also hosted and defeated a very strong touring team from Ayr in early March.

Playing at the opening of the Aviva stadium is a fitting  end to mini rugby for these boys and should help keep their interest in the game as they progress through to youth rugby for the under 13’s next year.

The squad have been presented with a new set of commemorative jerseys for the game by club sponsor Wade Training.

The Portadown squad is: Jordan Chapman; Nathan Meredith ;Christopher Duggan;

Reece Somerville; James Wright;Thomas Gracey; Aaron Henderson; Mathew Wickham; Michael Orr;William Holden; Ross McCullough; Scott Tumelty

 Coaches: Phil Orr; Alan Wright & Bill Holden

The Ulster Branch youth rugby season reaches its climax on Saturday with the Brewin Dolphin Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 cup finals taking place at the home of Ulster Rugby, Ravenhill. The U 17 final kicks off at 13.30

Portadown U 17s, sponsored by local firms MODERN MEATS & WHITEHAVEN OFFICE SUPPLIES, will travel to Belfast to take on a strong Malone team in the show piece under 17 final in what promises to be a very good game given that the sides have met twice already this year with the honours shared. Both league matches were highly competitive affairs with both sets of players displaying good team work and a lot of high quality individual performance were also on show.

 Portadown’s preparations for the final have gone well and last weekend’s trip to Scotland were they played two hard matches against under 19 opposition from Biggar Rugby Club and Darlington Rugby Club gave the young locals the perfect platform to approach the final in confident form.

Coaches Ian Cooke and David Mc Master have been delighted with performances to date and know that the match with Malone will present the squad with their toughest game of the season. However they are confident of the ability of the players within their squad and will look to experienced Ulster Under 18 players Craig Fyffe & Luke Montgomery to show leadership and help settle any early nerves.

The front five will have a vital role to play in securing good quality first phase possession and players like Jordan Fiddes, Steven Coll, Robert Morton, Johnny Herron, Aaron Mc Alinden and Ryan Stevenson are all perfectly capable of providing this. The back row, with players like Stuart Lyness, Matthew Davison & number eight Montgomery, are good at the breakdown and Montgomery in particular carries a threat that Malone will be well aware of.

In the back line out half Robbie Thompson has been a key player with his place kicking adding to the team’s try scoring ability. Jonny White & Kenny Anderson are the potential danger men out wide with their pace.
The team as a whole would like to thank parents, family and friends for their support in the games leading to the final as it has really spurred them on. In the knowledge that Malone will have a very large and vocal support it is hoped many club members will join the families and friends to cheer on the players of the future of the club as they take on Belfast opponents, Malone.

The team will leave Chambers Park at 11:00am on Saturday morning so if you can’t make the game come along and give the lads a hearty send off. Kick-off at Ravenhill is 13:30hrs.

Jonny McAfee won the 2nd outing at Silverwood with an impressive 45 pts. Andy Gribben was 2^nd with 40 and Keith Jackson 3^rd with 39. A very good turnout of 21 had some excellent weather and look forward to the next outing on Sunday 9th May at Dungannon. Tee off 10.00 am.

Darren Henderson won the 1^st outing at Down Royal with a massive 49 pts. Ken Guy was 2^nd with 35 and Andy Gribben 3^rd with 34, beating Paul Grant on the second nine. The main comment of the day was Darren won’t be playing off that handicap again.

2010 Fixtures – see under Golf Society

Wind down for the weekend over

a relaxing family meal

Family Fridays are back

starting Friday 6th November

Specials  & kiddies meals available

in the function room

4-30 to 6-30 pm

As you may be aware we no longer have a full time groundsman.

Many years ago the club existed with a willing band of volunteers.   This is ably demonstrated today by the great job done on the playing surfaces by Aiden, Geoff, Sid plus others.

However, we need more helpers in order to bring both the rugby and social facilities up to scratch.  An hour or two each week, when it suits you, could make a tremendous difference to the Club.

Outdoors, we need volunteers to brush up, collect litter and generally maintain the appearance of the grounds.  The pitch-side advertising signs also require constant maintenance and cleaning.

Inside, we would appeal for those with special talents such as electricians, plumbers and joiners.

We already have begun cleaning the changing rooms in preparation for painting so if you are handy with a roller get in touch now!

As well as the initial blitz on the changing area we need to introduce a cleaning and maintenance programme each week or twice weekly to keep the area clean and tidy and a more comfortable experience to use.

I am confident I can get about 10 Alickadoos (not all on the same night!!)

So how about joining us each Mon and Wed at 7.30 (or at a time that suits you) until completion.

Let’s be proud of our facilities.  Remember it was volunteers who put them there for us.  It’s time, boys, to honour that legacy!

Please register your willingness to help with Ann in the office, the Social Centre staff, both at Tel: 38335269 or myself at robingill49@hotmail.co.uk

Thanks in anticipation.

Robin Gill