Scotland Fukuoka’d
With a brilliant 50 minute display post Hagibis on Sunday, Japan put Scotland to the sword and marched out of Group A as well deserved winners. If they were in the 6 Nations next year they would be contenders for the Championship. The Springboks will not be feeling comfortable about taking on the hosts in Tokyo next week.
England’s chariot was up on blocks for the weekend, and they have a nice loosener against Australia next Saturday to shake of any rust that may have gathered. Injury free, red card free they are in their best ever shape at this stage of the competition.
Wales came back from a 7-6 half time to dispatch the plucky Uruguayans, and with Gatland’s experience of running long campaigns away from home to lean on, they look good for a win over France.
All possible logic says that an All Black machine equally as well rested as England will do for Ireland, who have been under pressure in every pool match. It feels like they have taken the backdoor route, Mayo style, to the QFs. So maybe there’s a final in them yet.
Had by Hagibis
Typhoon Hagibis created the lowest scoring round in FRWC and F6NF history, by designating two of our 4 matches draws, which gives everyone negative points for those games. So if you had the All Blacks to wallop Italy, it’s sayonara baby.
One man who caught the tail wind from Hagibis was Tony Madden, who despite scoring a miserable -63 this weekend hung on to the lead from Conor Molloy by the tiniest of margins, a single point, to take the FRWC 2019 title.
Madden was unavailable for comment, still in shock he is having intensive typhoon counselling.
Final Standings
1 Tony Madden 82
2 Conor Molloy 81
3 John McMahon 80
4 Kennedy O’Brien 68
5 Paul, Reilly 64
6 Jason McGee 64
7 Saran O’Byrne 64
8 Paul O’Brien 61
9 Gareth Halliwell 59
10 Barry Shearman 59
“Gutted” said Molloy, “I thought I was well out of it last weekend and the two draws made a mess of the whole thing. I suppose there’s always next year”
Madden collects the Champion’s purse of €500, as well as the adulation and glory that goes with the title.
Weekend winner
Not everyone got it wrong, Paul O’Brien and Jenny Robinson both scored 8 points. Russell Lane and John Burke were also in positive territory, and Kennedy O’Brien was 5th best with a whopping Zero. The rest of us are all in deficit with minus scores.
Paul O’Brien takes the final weekend prize of €100, snatching it from Robinson on the basis of final position. O’Brien, a planner on the Children’s Hospital, accepted with gratitude.
“Look its never easy, we struggle along but days like this make it all worthwhile” said O’Brien from his swanky corporate office in Rialto. “Its great to have something to celebrate, there will be fireworks tonight. Well, actually there are fireworks every night here in October, but metaphorically they will be brighter than normal”
Thank You All
Not losing sight of the real winners in all this, LauraLynn and the Gaye Vaughan Foundation would like to thank each and everyone of you for taking part and giving so generously, on top of what you have done earlier this year in the F6NF.
You have raised over €36,000 this year for the children and their families supported by Laura Lynn, which is a fantastic effort.
Give yourselves a pat on the back, pour yourselves a cold Asahi and prepare yourselves for next weekend’s quarter final action – COYBIG!
