RLI Newsletter #3

BigDragon

Over the last few weeks the Leagues have begun to take shape, with teams returning to full strength following the recent Successful New Zealand Tour. However the increasing number of postponements is a small concern and RLI hopes to rectify that by imposing the conditions as agreed at the club meetings in April 2007. Also over the last few weeks the emergence of a 2nd Titans team is a welcomed relief and addition to the Emerald Rugby Southern Conference as they will replace the Tribesmen who have had a number of teething issues to cope with and no doubt they will continue to get the support they require to become a future force in the West. In the Lucozade Sport Elite League the Crusaders & Titans still hold their unbeaten records and next week their encounter will be a special occasion. In the Emerald Rugby Conference’s 3 teams maintain their unbeaten runs, the Exiles & Pumas in the Northern Conference with both meeting up next week for top dog status and the Knights in the Southern Conference. The first cross conference game took place last weekend between the Exiles and the Knights with both teams playing out a hard hitting draw.



This weekend see’s the start of the National Cup Competition. In total at the moment there are 6 Cup games with Athboy playing Tallaght on Wednesday 27th. The Cup match of the weekend has to be the all Elite tie of the Crusaders against the Blues in Carlow; this promises to be a mouth-watering game. Other fixtures include Athlone hosting the first Student team in a senior competition, the Munster Students. Athlone who have had a recent good win will be looking to put their mark as a senior team on the competition, but the Muster Kids will be no pushover. Injury struck Kildare will be hoping for some luck when they play host to the Crusaders ‘B’, both teams will be looking to the Cup to put together their seasons. The Eagles play host to the Wildcats at ALSSA; this promises to be a nervous game with both teams looking to work on performance. Portlaoise face a long journey up to Portadown who are on fire this season and Portlaoise will be hoping to travel will and put a halt to the good Puma start. The Knights who were to play the Tribesmen now face the Titans ‘B’ team. This will be a very interesting tie as the knights are missing a number of players and the Titans will be relishing a competitive fixture and will want to put halt the Knights unbeaten start to the season. The Titans ‘A’ squad have a BYE to the next round and so will take advantage of the rest weekend.



This weekend see the Wolfhounds ‘A’ and Development Squad start their campaigns this season, to date I do not have the Squads for print, but we wish them all the best. The ‘A’s play the Lionhearts. This will be a cruncher of a game with the Wolfhounds looking to overturn the unfortunate loss season.