ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Old Belvedere 18 – Naas 20

The 2023/2024 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B got underway last Saturday, with Naas travelling to Ollie Campbell Park to face Old Belvedere for their first fixture. A consistent thread of Naas teams for the last number of seasons has been their resilience, and this was very evident again here, as despite being under extreme pressure for long periods during this game, they rolled up their sleeves and dug out a great victory.

With temperatures in the low 20s it was a beautiful day for rugby, and a huge travelling support turned up to see the seasonal opener. However, Naas were rocked back on their heels within 90 seconds by the concession of a try. After the visitors were penalised for high tackle, Old Belvedere kicked the subsequent penalty into touch. From the line-out a driving maul was set up, and Naas were powerless in stopping the home side marching over the line, with Calum Dowling being awarded the try, although David Wilkinson missed the conversion.

Naas did respond with a Peter Osborne penalty after eight minutes, but the remainder of the half belonged to Belvedere. Wilkinson missed an easy penalty attempt for the home side straight from the restart, but they deservedly went further in front after 22 minutes. From a line-out win just outside the 22, they set up another driving maul which Naas collapsed, conceding a penalty. This time Wilkinson made no mistake and the home side led by eight points to three.

Referee Daniel Carson certainly earned the wrath of the Naas supporters after 25 minutes. Old Belvedere attacked to the right from a scrum on their own ten-metre line. Jack Keating then showed great pace to take play up to the Naas ten-metre line, before passing inside to Peter O’Beirne who raced clear to score beside the posts. However, the pass to O’Beirne was some way forward, yet somehow Carson and the touch-judges failed to pick this up and awarded the score. Wilkinson’s conversion stretched the Belvedere lead out to 15 points to three.

That brought the scoring for the half to a conclusion although Wilkinson did miss another relatively easy penalty attempt after 36 minutes, while Naas coughed up a great scoring chance just on half-time. A great break by Sam Cahill took play into the Belvedere half and the attack was then carried on by Tadhg Brophy, before the forwards took over. The home side conceded a penalty for hands in the ruck in their desperation to stem the flow, which Naas duly dispatched into touch. From the line-out Naas set up a driving maul which had real momentum before it was brought down by Belvedere. Another penalty was awarded which was again kicked to touch, but this time Naas lost the line-out and almost immediately the half-time whistle was blown.

Whatever Johne Murphy said to his troops at the interval certainly worked, as Naas came out for the second-half fired up and they went straight on the attack. The big improvement in their play led to them reducing the margin after 50 minutes. From a scrum on the Belvedere 22, Naas attacked to the left and some quick hands by the backs, created space out wide for Jack Sheridan who dived in at the corner. Sam Cahill took over the kicking duties and from right out on the touchline he landed the conversion, to make the score 15-10 in favour of Belvedere.

Straight from the restart Naas attacked again. A lovely break by Bryan Croke split the Belvedere defence apart, he linked up with Tadgh Brophy who in turn found Donal Conroy who took play deep into the Belvedere 22. Naas then went through a number of phases, before moving the ball wide left where James McLoughlin was lurking and the big lock crashed over for a great score. Cahill again landed the difficult conversion attempt and Naas had turned the game completely around and led by 17 points to 15.

Old Belvedere responded with a successful Wilkinson penalty after 61 minutes to regain the lead, but after 69 minutes Naas were back in front with the match winning score. A brilliant kick by Tadgh Brophy for a 50-22 won the visitors a line-out. This was won by Paul Monahan before Gary Kavanagh carried strongly. The Belvedere defence were then penalised for not rolling away, and up stepped Bryan Croke to calmly slot the resulting penalty and put Naas back in front by 20 points to 18.

The home side went on a desperate search for the score to win the game, and they should have got it after 73 minutes. Gary Kavanagh was penalised for a high tackle which saw him receive a yellow card and Belvedere receive a very kickable penalty just outside the 22. However, David Wilkinson dragged his effort to the right of the posts. There was still time for more drama. Deep into injury time Naas were penalised for handling in a ruck, giving Belvedere and Wilkinson another chance to snatch victory. This was a more difficult kick, and Wilkinson never looked confident in taking it. He dragged the kick harmlessly wide right of the posts, and straight away Daniel Carson blew the full-time whistle with Naas victorious by 20-18.

A great start to the campaign for Naas with a valuable away victory. They certainly had to ride their luck, but they showed great character in digging out this win, a win that will give them great confidence going forward. It would be unfair to single out any one player as this was a super team effort, but special mention must go to the League debutants Niall O’Hanlon, Conor McVeery and in particular Tadhg Brophy who certainly acquitted themselves tremendously well. Next up for Naas is a home fixture against Queens University next Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always, all support will be greatly appreciated.

Old Belvedere: Philip O’Dwyer, Jack Keating, Jayden Beckett, Conall Bird, Ariel Robles, David Wilkinson, Peter O’Beirne (capt), Adam Howard, Calum Dowling, Hugh Flood, Patrick Dowling, Fionn McWey, Thomas Mulcair, Nicklas Moelders, Kale Thatcher. Replacements: Cian Cunningham, Barry Dooley, Jacob Barrett, James Doyle, David Butler, Joe White.

Naas: Peter Osborne, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Gary Kavanagh, Donal Conroy, Bryan Croke (capt), Tadhg Brophy, Adam Coyle, Niall O’Hanlon, Peter King, Paul Monahan, James O’Loughlin, Cillian Dempsey, Eoin Walsh, Conor McVerry. Replacements: Conor Doyle, Stephen Lackey, Patrick O’Flaherty, Muiris Cleary, Derry Lenehan, Jack Sheridan.

Referee: Daniel Carson.

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