On Thursday 1st September Alloa U16s embarked on a four day tour to Ennis Rugby Club in Ireland.
This was the first tour held by Alloa at this age in many a year.
Spirits were high as everyone met at the club at 7am to board the bus for the trip. Ahead lay a bus journey to Cairnryan, a ferry to Belfast then a further bus journey to Ennis, not too far from Limerick in the Irish Republic.
En route there were many interesting questions like “what language do they speak?” “what is the time difference?” and “my mum gave me money but I don’t think its real (euros)”
The first day was taken up with travelling and our young players made it onto the hotel in Ennis at about 7pm only to find when they got to their rooms that there was already people in them - double booked!
The hotel staff soon sorted the problems and everyone then made it down for tea. After a good three courser the boys were allowed to use the pool and other leisure facilities. It was then into the bar for some killer pool, winning of teddies in the grabber machine and competing to see who could punch the punch bag hardest - Adam Bell being the winner.
Friday saw everyone up bright and early for breakfast and the kangaroo court. There were fines including no use of social media for the day, hula hooping while drinking a cup of water, serenading the tour captain etc. For various misdemeanours such as no sunglasses, not wearing the club badge and also for stupid questions, (see above!)
From there the club visited Thomond Park home of Munster Rugby and were taken around the museum, into the changing rooms etc and then out onto the park.
After lunch there was a bit of time for using the hotel facilities again. Into the evening and they teamed up with Ennis U16s and their coaches and went paintballing.
The teams were split up with the Scots and Irish kids being split up into two teams with coaches also joining in.
At times it seamed that the teams were actually kids v adults with coaches being shot in the back by their own team on more than one occasion!! The evening ended back at the hotel with pool etc again.
Saturday morning again saw breakfast and court with the coaches gaining some revenge for being shot in the back so often. Then off to the games.
There were to be two 40 minute games, one v Ennis and one v Monivea from Galway. First game was against Monivea with the Alloa boys taking the match to the Irish from the first whistle. The effort and commitment was excellent as was the standard of rugby on show. Bruce Black, Liam Knox and Aaron Bremner, scored tries in what was an excellent all round team performance. The Monivea boys afterwards commented that they had never been in such a physical game nor been hit so hard.
The second game versus Ennis was much tougher and Alloa were on the back foot from the off, losing three tries early on. The Alloa lads never let their heads go down and roared back and scored the last try of the half scored by Liam Knox after some concerted pressure on the Ennis line. Ennis scored again in the second half but again, much to their credit, Alloa never gave up and scored the last try of the game with Lachlan McMaster crossing again after some more sustained pressure that was bravely defended by Ennis but Alloa kept going and got the try that they richly deserved.
All of the games were played in great weather conditions on a fantastic pitch which allowed for the excellent rugby on show from all three clubs. The games were also played in great spirits even though it was very tough rugby.
From there we all went to Ennis RFC clubhouse for a BBQ and presentations. Alloa captain, Lachlan McMaster presented Ennis with a quaich engraved with the ARFC badge as a token of our friendship and Monivea were given a tour shirt.
All of the Alloa tourists received a special local slate with the Ennis badge on them.
Monivae donated a player of the tournament trophy and all of the coaches and club representatives present voted for this. The unanimous decision of all was that Alloa centre Aaron Bremner was the standout player amongst the 60 plus players there.
Later that evening, the boys went into the town escorted by some of the Ennis lads, lifelong friendships made, while the adults stayed in the club and were hosted fabulously by Ennis in the shape of ex Alloa member Paddy Langan, coach Shane Galvin and of course Alan “Harv” Harvey along with many others. They were ably assisted by Monivae president Des Mahon and his coaches.
Next morning up bright and early for the return journey home, arriving back at Earlsfield at 8:30 pm. A long but very enjoyable tour and hopefully the first of many for these boys in Alloa colours. Each and every one of the boys did themselves, their families and the club proud.
The players on the tour all deserve a mention so they were, Andrew Fraser, James Pearson, Josh McCallum, James Bailey, Aaron Bremner, Lachlan McMaster, Mitchell Guild, Jordan Russell, Owen Gwynne, Blaine Gilchrist, Finlay Currie, Kerr Vickers, Liam Knox, Adam Bell, Bruce Black, Aiden Nimmo. Also in attendance were Cammie Nimmo, Elliot Evans and Marcus Harrison.
Special thanks to Cha Christie for driving the bus, Karla Harrison for the organisation, Louise Nimmo and Paula Evans for fundraising and coaches, Hamish Mcintyre, Michael Nimmo and Scott Harrison.