Grosvenor In View Magazine 2025

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be told, escorted him to the try line. Grosvenor did respond with tries from Justin and a contender for try of the season as the backs moved the ball wide, only to find Darragh Duggan and Lucas Adair in the outside channel. Speed from Lucas followed by an audacious off load from Darragh again found the hands of Lucas, who dotted down to bring the scores to 14-10 at half time. It was the introduction, however, of the diminutive Peter Gray who changed the momentum of this game. The Carrick number 8 ran full tilt at Peter, but Peter didn’t take a backward step and embraced the challenge as he took him down, not once, but three times in five minutes. This impact had the desired effect and from that moment on, Grosvenor cruised to victory scoring several tries in the second half and especially late on as the floodgates opened. Justin Bejenaru completed his hattrick, while Ted McClay, Daniel Bates, and Lucas Adair, again, dotted beyond the whitewash to complete a 51-14 victory. U13 Grosvenor Tournament Grosvenor U13 rugby team capped off a remarkable season in the most emphatic fashion, storming through their end-of-season tournament undefeated and without conceding a single try. The young team displayed a superb blend of skill, determination, and team spirit across a series of challenging fixtures against strong opposition. The tournament saw Grosvenor pitted against Down High, Banbridge, Methody ‘B’, RBAI ‘B’, and Killicomaine, with each game providing its own test. However, the boys rose to every challenge with unwavering focus and collective effort. The opening match against Down High set the tone for the day. From the first whistle, Grosvenor dominated possession and territory, moving the ball fluidly through the backs while their forwards provided a powerful platform. A series of well-worked tries combined with resolute defence ensured an impressive opening win. Against Banbridge, Grosvenor’s forwards were outstanding at the breakdown, consistently winning turnover ball and maintaining momentum. Their defensive line remained watertight, frustrating their opponents and capitalising on every opportunity to build a commanding lead. The third match against a talented Methody ‘B’ side showcased Grosvenor’s adaptability. Quick ball and dynamic running saw their backs exploit gaps in the defence, while disciplined tackling shut down Methody’s attempts to respond. RBAI ‘B’ posed a physical challenge, but Grosvenor rose to it with tremendous grit. The defensive effort in this match was particularly impressive, with several try-saving tackles highlighting the team’s commitment to keeping their line intact. The group stages concluded with a

at the breakdown by Tammy Olakojo and then George Marshall capitalising with an intercept try as Bangor tried to run the ball from under their own posts. Grosvenor did concede on the final play of the game but ran out 26 22 winners in an excellent and enjoyable game of rugby. Banbridge Academy After a short break in the season as the SEAG train rolled through, it was back to Saturday morning action with a home fixture against Banbridge Academy. The shortage of matches and training sessions in the ten days prior definitely played a part in our lacklustre performance and much of the first half was played between the two ‘22’s. Neither side took the initiative until late on when Banbridge put together a few phases to outnumber the Grosvenor defence scoring a converted try to lead 7-0. In the second half, there continued to be very little separating the teams, but Grosvenor’s inability to clear their lines on two separate occasions put the defence under pressure and they found themselves 21-0 down leading into the last ten minutes. The introduction of Daniel Bates was having a real impact as he took the remainder of the game by the scruff of the neck as he tried to force the play. It was from a scrum on the 22’ that someone, from somewhere, suggested a cross field kick! Daniel duly obliged putting the ball on a ‘sixpence’ and with a kind bounce it allowed Sam Baird to skate in untouched for a beautifully executed score. With the last play of the game, Daniel again, chipped over the defence as the ball rolled to a stop just before the try line. Daniel put the full back under significant pressure, forcing the mistake and allowing him to dot down for a converted try and bring some respectability back to the scoreline. Despite the 21-12 defeat, it was a pleasing finish and gave some confidence to take into the next game. Dromore High School An away trip to Dromore on the eve of Christmas provided us with a competitive fixture, as Dromore dominated the early stages of proceedings both physically and territorially. Grosvenor had to dig deep, and it was only when they started to put together multiple phases that they took control. Our reliance on Justin Bejenaru continued as he broke through several tackles to power his way over for a couple of tries; but it should never overshadow the work done by Jake Duncan in defence and attack as he made key tackles and scored a critical try in the context of the game. Josh Rickert also went through under the posts as his deceptive pace allowed him to show a clean pair of heels to the Dromore defence. 24-10 was the final score! It was a slow start in January due to extremely cold and frosty conditions which saw the cancellation of our fixture against Rainey Endowed. That meant that our first fixture of the new year was away to Carrick Grammar. The home side made a fast start with their number 8 scoring two tries from a distance that the Grosvenor defence, truth

GROSVENOR IN VIEW > 2024/25