Pendleton Rugby Football Club from Indiana, USA were welcomed with a Céad Míle Fáilte to Heffernan Park on Monday March 16th. They played Ballina RFC at both U18 boys and U18 girls grades on under lights.
Both games were played to a very high standard of rugby with Ballina winning both games. Pendleton U18 boys were very unfortunate to concede the deciding try which was converted at the end of the game. However these games were not about the score line.
The real winner was the spirit of rugby and the worldwide friendships that accrue from sport. It was great to see the teams swopping shirts after the matches.
Ballina RFC presented the tourists with a plaque and jerseys as momentos of their trip to Heffernan Park.
Pauline Langan and the wonderful parents committees catered for the teams after the matches with a small feast.
Coordination of the tour matches was done by Deirdre Whyte of Ballina and Connacht Rugby.