Portarlington Club Day A Grand Slam Success
A Saturday in July is not a time you expect to find over a thousand people packing out a local rugby club in the midlands, but that is just what happened in Portarlington RFC recently when they held a club day.
Leinster hero Bernard Jackman put in appearence and the Grand Slam trophies were proudly on display next to Portarlington’ss Provincial Town Plate. Club PRO Padraig Mahon gives us the lowdown.
Portarlington Rugby Club was a hive of activity recentlyas the club hosted the RBS 6 Nations and Triple Crown trophies for the day. A “Family Fun Day” was organised around the visit of the trophies and it was a huge success.
A guard of honour by players from the club’s minis and youths sections welcomed the trophies to the club as they were carried in by club captain Mark Petriw and Bernard Jackman. They were put on display in the clubhouse alongside the Leinster Provincial Towns Plate won by Portarlington last May.
Bernard was on hand during the day signing autographs and posing for photos with the trophies, while Midlands 103 broadcast their All Day Jukebox show live from the clubhouse, with DJ Mark Hughes conducting interviews with the some of those involved in the organisation of the day.
Out in the car park, a large contingent from the local Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann helped provide the soundtrack for the day, while the wheel of fortune, barbeque and the club merchandise shop were busy all day.
Also on display was the Fiat 500 car which will be raffled off by the club as part of a major fundraising drive to take place over the coming months.
Meanwhile, on the training field, the very full bill of activities included a sponge throw, coin toss, bouncing castles, slides, rodeo bull, face painting, name the doll, dart the cards, archery, crazy golf, shooting gallery, a children’s play centre and a sports day.
The main pitch was set aside for a Tag rugby tournament which ran right through the day, competed for between teams from the Rugby Club, the Soccer Club and the local GAA clubs.
The crowd were treated to a display by members of the Irish Parachute Club in Clonbullogue before the final of the Tag between the Rugby Club and O’Dempseys GAA Club took place.
After a thrilling encounter, the Rugby Club held out for a win despite a determined second half comeback from O’Dempseys.
The expected rain eventually came towards the end of the activities, but it failed to dampen the spirits of the large crowd of over 1,000 people, all of whom seemed to greatly enjoy the day.
Portarlington RFC would like to thank all involved in any way in the organisation and sponsorship of this event and also to thank those in attendance for their co-operation and participation throughout.
Related Links –
The Grand Slam Map – find out where the Grand Slam trophies have been and where they will be visiting next.