Northside Saints season was brought to a resounding crash yesterday when they were well beaten by Siddal in Halifax in the first round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup . Excuses could be given , most of the team had played Rugby Union in highly competitive games the day before , however they were also beaten by a better highly skilled and well drilled side and we wish Siddal the best in future rounds of the cup.
Northside Saints completed the Double today with a 48 - 24 defeat of the Dublin Blues in the Ireland Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Blackrock .Top scorer for the Saints was Donal Martin with 3 tries and 4 conversions .For details of scorers see the results page .
The match was a fitting farewell game for player/coach Tony Munnings who will be returning to his native New Zealand in early September .We wish him and Amanda all the best in the future and hope that there will always be a part of the Northsied over with the Kiwis.
The East Coast Panthers conceded their last match of the season to the Saints . This followed the Saints large win over the Panthers the week previous. This means that the Saints win the Southern Conference on points difference ,the Dublin Blues also having won 5 of their 6 league matches .
Saints finish Blues unbeaten run.
Up to yesterday the Dublin Blues had never been beaten by another Irish side in their 9 year existence .The Saints won a highly open and at times physical encounter by 38 points to 31. The Saints scored seven tries with doubles for Simon Keogh and Mick McLoughlin along with tries for Tony Munnings , Steve Walshe and Tommy Kearns .The ever reliable boot of Donal Martin added 5 conversions . A few lemonades were drunk (for rehydration purposes )after the match and into the early evening.
About this time last year , The Sun newspaper published an article titled Hornets to sting the Blues . Well last year it didn't happen , the Blues won both the matches . This year , new name , the Hornets are now the Saints and this Sunday at the ALSAA complex the Saints once more take on the Blues. The Blues won their home fixture earlier this season but only by 4 points . The Saints welcome back Tony Munnings and Pat Moore ,both back from injury and Tommy Kearns who has been away .Kick off is at 3 p.m.
Saints have another large win against the Tigers
Saints got back on the winning trail with an 11 tries to 2 tries (62-10)victory over the Tigers at Tiger Park .Amongst the try scorers were again doubles for captain Ray Monaghan ,centre Steve Lonergan and out half Stewart Cushion .
Saints Launch new Jersey
The Saints ,today ,in their match against the Dublin Blues wore the new jersey for the first time .The jersey is a plain Black jersey with the Saints logo on the left breast with the Peugeot sponsorship across the chest.
Unfortunately ,we lost the match in a close fought game 32 - 28 ,picking up
injuries to player coach Tony Munnings (shoulder) and Bill Rogan (lower leg).
Munnings scores for Ireland
Player coach Tony Munnings ,in his debut match , scored the opening try for Ireland Amateurs against their Scottish counterparts. Ireland won the match 21 - 16 .Club captain Ray Monaghan unfortunately was not able to travel with the team due to work commitments .
Saints Open with Emphatic win
The saints opened their 1998 campaign with a 50 - 18 victory over the Tallaght Tigers .The Saints scored 9 tries in all with doubles for Ray Monaghan and Stephen Lonergan .
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