Day 11 and 12 - Galway

After leaving Dublin we started our journey towards Galway in the West of Ireland. Our first stop was the city of Althlone; located on the River Shannon near the southern shore of Lough Ree. We took a Viking Ship cruise on the River Shannon with our Captain Viking Mike and his crew to Clonmacnois where the Vikings arrived in 842. The site at Clonmacnois includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th  -13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian graveslabs in Western Europe. The rest of the day was spent travelling to Galway where we would stay for the next two days in preparation for the game against Garbally College.

The next day brought with it a large amount of rain. This did not stop us, however, from visiting The Cliffs of Moher; Ireland's most famous tourist attraction. Despite the weather the view was worth battling the elements.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Game 3 - Catholic University School

Game 3 versus Catholic University School

28 September 2019

Back to our old mates in Dublin, we have been hosted by CUS since the original tour in 2003 and had the opportunity to host them in Townsville in 2012. Knowing fore well that very game in Dublin is going to be a torrid affair coaching staff tried to prepare the team for a tough and gritty game of rugby. With injuries starting to creep into the squad and sickness levelling others our depth was challenged.

Losing the toss, IPC was forced to run up hill and against a strong breeze in the first half – something they struggled with, starting very sluggishly. IPC, while not lacking effort across the field, failed to fall into their shape and were stalled at the breakdown on several occasions, giving away soft turnovers due to lack of support. This was also couple with not getting off the line quick enough and maintaining their spacing in the defensive line.

 With the wind at their backs, CUS capitalised on our mistakes and soon ran in a try which was quickly answered by IPC with one of their own before the half time break. Fighting hard to gain field position against the wind IPC consistently made it hard for themselves by turning the ball over once they had made inroads into CUS territory – only to be punished with the ball being put in behind them on a regular basis.

Half time saw IPC down 7 to 5 and with the lads looking for some guidance from the coaches. Aware of what they needed to do the team was simply guided at half time to weather the storm and ensure that our support and breakdown work was far more aggressive than what it had been in the first half. The second half saw IPC begin to dominate possession but still not take advantage of the wind at their backs. Making it hard work and with CUS willing to mix it up IPC scored another converted try along with CUS who scored one of their own.

With only a couple of minutes left on the clock and with CUS leading 14 to 12 IPC needed to stick to their guns and trust in the systems and their mates on the field. Banging a long kick into the corner IPC managed to string several phases together before gaining a scrum on the opposition’s 22m. Winning the scrum the forwards went to work, taking the ball up the middle until it was finally released to the backs who scored a final and game winning try in the right hand corner – IPC eventual victors, 17 to 14.

Tries: Nic Pearce, Asher Guy and Jack Kirkpatrick.

Conversions: Nic Pearce (1)

MVP’s: (3) Asher Guy – (2) Zac Thomson – (1) Terrence Rooney

Days 9 and 10 - DUBLIN

We woke up on Day 9 and headed to Dunlace Castle, built by the early Scots in the 1500's. It was then on the road to Dublin where the boys were billeted for 2 nights. While in Dublin IPC played Catholic Universtiy School (CUS), a private school for boys. A school that IPC Rugby has hosted in the past in Townsville and which we have a special relationship with - having been hosted by them for every tour since 2003. Under the custodianship of the Marist Fathers, the school has educated Irish politicians, leading academic and literary figures, and 3 Olympic Gold medalists. Thank you very much to those Dublin families who welcomed IPC boys into their lives. Hopefully, some life time relationships were established.

• 
• 
• 

Day 8 - BELFAST

The next morning we were up and on by the bus by 5am for the drive to Birmingham Airport to catch a flight to Belfast. After saying goodye to Joe, who had been our bus driver for the past week we boarded the plane and touched down in Belfast less than 1 hour later. So far on our trip we had been blessed with great weather and Belfast was no different. We jumped on a new coach and headed off to the Titanic Experience by the old ports of Belfast where the Titanic had been built and left for its maiden voyage. I think we all know how that one ended up. The museum was amazing and provided a great insight into the past. It was then off to the Giant's Causeway;an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. 

Next was a walk down to Carrick a Rede rope bridge; a bridge suspended almost 100 ft (30 m) above sea level, the rope bridge was first erected by salmon fisherman 350 years ago. After a couple of long walks we were all tired and were very grateful for the lovely homecooked meal we received that night at the Hostel.

• 
• 
• 

Game 2 - RUGBY SCHOOL

Game 2 versus Rugby School

25 September 2019

Excited about being in the birth place of Rugby Union, let alone playing on the hallowed ground of where Webster Ellis picked up the pig skin soccer ball and ran to invent Rugby was always going to be special. Rugby School only allow their 1^st XV team to play on the ‘Close’, so to play on this world famous field was a real opportunity for the boys.

After a good outing in their first game the boys were raring to go in their second hit out. Playing the Rugby School seconds and thirds combined we all expected a tough match. After initially starting well and starving Rugby of the ball we ran in two quick tries. It looked like it could be all one way traffic as the boys were playing very well up the middle. IPC scored another good try which was very quickly answered with a try to Rugby just before half time. IPC went into the break with a well deserved lead of 17 to 5.

However, Rugby came out in the second half with some extra intensity and momentum shifted quickly as they began to get into their stride. This change in intensity had IPC scrambling and before long the score board was locked up at 17 all. IPC did not start the second half well with ill discipline costing them valuable field position and Rugby’s exceptionally quick winger to run in three unanswered tries. Feeling the shift in momentum IPC had to make a decision to dig in and fight it out. Deciding to square up and do the work inside before going outside, it wasn’t long before IPC gained the ascendancy again. Rallying as a team the boys ran in five to Rugby’s three tries in the second half to become eventual winners 52 to 24 in a very gritty performance.  

Tries: Terrence Rooney, Lachlan Ryan,  Zac Thomson (2), Harrison Keir (2), Darcy Walters and  

          Jack Kirkpatrick.
Conversions: Declan Marchioni (5) and Nic

MVP’s: (3) Asher Guy – (2) Harri Keir – (1) Lachlan Ryan

• 
• 
• 

Day 5 - 7 - RUGBY

After the first game against Langston the boys spent another night with their Canerbury billets. The next morning we were back on the bus and travelled 3 hours to Bedford where we had lunch at Bedford College. Another 2 hours on the road and we arrived at Rugby, the birthplace of the game they play in Heaven.
It was only fitting that the first place we visited was the Rugby Hall of Fame where the boys were able to experience a variety of displays and multimedia experiences about the history of Rugby Union and some of the great players and teams throughout the years.

After a good night sleep we travelled to Stratford Upon Avon and the boys spent some time exploring the birthplace of some guy called William Shakespeare. It was then off to the Rugby school for a quick tour of the school. The boys were ready for Game 2 against Rugby and the chance to play on their number 1 field.

• 
• 
• 

GAME 1 - LANGTON SCHOOL

23 September 2019

Having had a great start to the tour the boys were very keen to get on the paddock and have a good hit out. Playing on a very impressive synthetic 4G field we were blessed with fine weather, for at least the majority of the game.

Receiving the kick off we managed to make a meal of it which resulted in a scrum to Langton on the 20m line – result, grubber kick and down seven nil due to the resulting converted try. Poor start but a chance to regroup and put this behind us. Matching it well up front and willing to throw the ball around both sides played some exciting and expansive rugby. While IPC was doing well by trusting their systems and defending well we were not protecting our own ball at the breakdown causing us to turn the ball over on several occasions cheaply.

These cheap turnovers made the boys work extremely hard to weather the storm but at the same time made them sit up and assess the situation. Realising what needed to be done IPC shortened up their support lines and accuracy at the attacking breakdown and began to make large inroads into Langton’s defence. Having adapted well the boys managed to dominate field position and came away at half time in front by two tries, Ethan Woods and Terrence Rooney, to one.

Starting the second half well, IPC found themselves up against a new look Langton team which was prepared to shift the ball from edge to edge to challenge our defence and really put us under the pump, having to scramble in defence on several occasions. Another challenge was just around the corner with the weather deciding to test the skills of the Townsville lads and challenge them it did.

With the wet weather came the call from coaching staff to tighten it up and be direct, something that did not happen straight away. Still playing as if it was a bright sunny day, IPC backed themselves out wide which resulted in a number of more than pleasing outcomes. While there were moments that were quite comical the boys worked extremely hard and ran in an additional three tries to two in the second stanza to come away eventual winners 31 to 21.

Tries: Ethan Woods, Terrence Rooney, Zac Thomson, Darcy Walters and Harrison Keir.

Conversions: Nic Pearce (6)

MVP’s: (3) Zac Thomson – (2) Ethan Woods – (1) Harri Keir

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•