Gdánsk trip for Mayo rugby club a huge success

The third Westport RFC Youths Amber Cup Tour took place on the first weekend of October, in the city of Gdańsk, Poland, after a two-year Covid postponement and was accompanied by gorgeous autumnal weather.

Setting out at 2 a.m. on Thursday morning, September 29, for Cork airport (Dublin departure not being an option), the spirits were high and excitement building as we left our hometown in the dark cover of night.

Being the veteran tour manager, Marek had planned the non-playing time in Gdańsk of Thursday afternoon and Friday with military precision, frequently quoting ‘I love to walk’ but heard with dread by some towards the end of the trip, a hurdle overcome by more and more resorting to public scooters and thankfully the use of the very efficient train service.

The 55-tour contingent, visited the Museum of the Second World War, which is a must for anyone traveling to Poland, followed by a recreational visit to the Aqua Leisure Centre for two to three hours. So Thursday ended quietly with the troupe exhausted from the strategic planning of you know who!

Friday brought more fine weather and a much anticipated visit to the Karting track, taking up most of the day. Competitions were grouped by youth teams (Under 15s and Under 16s) and the adults.

For those that know him, it was little surprise (although others ran him close) that Brian O’Malley, secured the overall win of the Under 15s whilst Bartosz Palamarczuk worked hard for the Under 16s title. Adult racing as may come as no surprise, was just as competitive and conquered by the graceful control of Steven Edmundson. What went on behind him was less so, but hugely entertaining.

Friday ended with a trip to the nearby shopping centre or the Galeria Baltycka, having a meal and a little recreational shopping.

Rugby action started early on Saturday with both teams having four 17-minute matches. It didn’t seem like a lot but the intensity and drain on players took its toll by the end of the day and we found out later, a bout stomach infection ran riot through both squads, We also lost the very capable and athletic Finn Hanley from the Under 15s with appendicitis, missed by his squad but recovering well. Finn will be back to haunt teams soon.

By the end of the day, the Under 15s squad won three of their four matches, whilst the Under 16s had a far tougher standard of play against more physical sides losing to Academy SSG (of Latvia), Sochaczew (Poland) and Lechia (Gdańsk).

The results for each squad, left work for doing on Sunday morning with their final pool game, before the Finals later in the afternoon. With both of our squads having to play their Ogniwo (Sopot, Poland) counterparts, the Under 15s would secure a place in the final if they could win, whilst the Under 16s had a hard assignment to reach the third-place playoff match against a well organised and pacey Sopot group.

Up first were the Under 15s and following their well organised routine, they commanded the game after their first score, seeing the opposition off with a final score line of 24 – 0. They protected their defensive record by only conceding one visit over their try line in the five-match pool stage (a try scored by Lechia, who beat The Bulls on Saturday 0 – 8).

Up next were the Under 16s and our lads took to the field with their heads high and full of determination and that ultimately paid off. The lads put in as good a performance as you’ll see from this squad. Their grit was there for all to witness, overcoming the absence of members of their squad through injury and ‘jelly belly’, they would not be passed and a single score win of 7 – 0, was enough to gain the opportunity the Under 16s richly deserved by securing their place in the third place playoff.

I’ll take a breath, because you had to at this point, the atmosphere created by the Under 16s (and I recommend you watch their final two matches again) had the palpable effect of two inches of growth on all our players. Suddenly there was confidence in abundance.

Once more the Under 16s took to the pitch for the third-place playoff against the Lechia side who the Bulls failed to score against the previous day. But this day was a different day, they were in bullish form!

Thinking another such performance might be too great an expectation, this squad didn’t do just themselves proud, but the coaches, parents and especially the crest they wore with honour. I’m not going to rattle on with a commentary of this match, but would rather you watch this match again full-time score of 5 – 5 secured by a fine wing try from Cormac McNamara and a kicking shoot out to settle the tie with only one effort crossing between the posts. Well done Cormac O’Malley, a truly well-deserved third place finish for our Under 16 boys squad. Na zdrowie.

And as our Under 16s had led as the best possible example to their Under 15 understudies, our juniors followed suit, losing also to Lechia the previous day, the Under 15s had their own personal revenge to inflict.

A rousing chorus of Irelands Call quietened the spectators who feared what might be coming and having fallen 0-8 on the Saturday to this very physical squad. Our lads matched their effort with the pride they felt and put their opposition to the sword shutting them out with a 12 – 0 championship win. Not to make light of this match either, this squad and the Under 16s benefitted greatly from the coaching of Marek Palamarczuk and Michael van der Klei, who joined the sessions this season and gave them a renewed focus as new coaching can often do for developing squads.

The Under 15 boys squad showed great maturity, resilience and determination to absorb the attacks of the Lechia group, who found that their confidence was being consumed by the boys from the west and regenerated it into their own growing belief in attack. Great teamwork finally broke the Polish lines to run in two well-orchestrated ties finished by Brendan Witzl and Alan Gannon. I know they won’t mind if I say it wouldn’t be fair not to mention others who collectively, subs and all, delivered this success.

Academy SSG ran out as stylish winners of the Under 16s tournament, collecting the pools best players award from organisers as well. Congratulations to our Luke Cox (Under 15s) who won the corresponding award in his section, a No.10 to watch. The Westport travelling coaches selected their own best player awards and they went to Cormac Brawn and Marcel Baszczynski of the Under 16s and Under 15s, respectively, well deserved boys.

In conclusion, this was the truest of club efforts, goals and results for Westport RFC, at youth level. If what we wanted from this excursion was to build character, bond teams who believe in each other and who support themselves and others on and off the field and do it in a way which gives you pride by association, then undoubtably the players, parents, coaches and club have exceeded every expectation.

Credit to one and all and thank you Amber Cup for this fabulous opportunity.