Match Report - Mark Herbert - Photos - Michael Linehan

ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Old Wesley 48 – Naas 26

For the second successive weekend Naas were involved in a high scoring shoot-out in the 2023/2024 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B, with unfortunately the same outcome. Last weekend they lost an 83 point classic to Queen’s University, while on Saturday they were on the wrong end of scoreline in a game against Old Wesley which featured no less than 74 points and 11 tries.

The match was played on the all-weather pitch at Energia Park, Donnybrook, which meant that all the rain that had fallen in the previous week had no impact on the game. Naas smarting from their defeat the previous week, came out fired up and were in front within 90 seconds. Donal Conroy fielded a clearance kick by Wesley and took play into their 22, when he was stopped the ball was moved out to Bryan Croke who fed Charlie Sheridan. The latter still had a bit to do, but a great sidestep left the Wesley defence for dead and he scored under the posts. Peter Osborne added the conversion to give Naas a dream start.

However, within two minutes Old Wesley had responded with a try of their own. From a line-out on the ten-metre line, quick hands by their backs created space out wide for winger Nathan Randles to score in the corner, with Ian Cassidy missing the difficult conversion. From there to the end of the half the home side dominated proceedings. They should have taken the lead after 10 minutes when a blocked clearance kick by Peter Osborne led to them winning a five-yard scrum. However, No.8 Will Fay knocked on the ball when attempting to pick from the base of the scrum, and the chance was gone.

The reprieve did not last long for Naas as the home side were in front after 17 minutes. The visitors were penalised for holding on in a ruck and the subsequent penalty was dispatched to touch. From the line-out Wesley set up a driving maul which Naas collapsed, conceding another penalty. Wesley again opted to go to touch and set up the driving maul, which Naas were powerless to stop with Stephen Smith being awarded the try. The successful conversion by Ian Cassidy put the home side 12-7 in front. Within four minutes the lead was extended. To the surprise of nobody when Naas were again penalised for holding on in a ruck, the subsequent penalty was kicked to touch and a driving maul set up. This time Naas did well to stop the maul, but a series of pick and goes by the home side brought play right up to the line, before Cronan Glesson crashed over from close range. Cassidy added the conversion to make the score 19-7.

From the restart Naas were given the chance to reduce the margin when Josh Pim played the ball in an offside position. However, Peter Osborne was narrowly wide with his penalty attempt and the visitors were made rue this on the half hour mark when Wesley scored again. It was their pack that made the hard yards taking play up to the Naas 22, before they moved the ball wide right out to Stephen Smith, who was standing alone in acres of space. He had the simplest of tasks to finish off the move for another try, although Cassidy missed the conversion.

Naas did finish the half strongly, winning no less than three penalties inside the Wesley 22 and forcing the home side into a major defensive shift. However just as it looked as if Naas were going to break the defence down, Alex Molloy managed to get his hands on the ball in a ruck, winning Wesley a penalty. The clearance kick proved to be the last action of the half, with referee Robbie Jenkinson blowing for half-time immediately after with the home side in front by 24 points to seven.

Naas needed a quick start to the second-half but the opposite was to happen. The visitors launched an attack just inside their own half on 43 minutes, but Eoin Murphy managed to intercept a pass, he quickly fed Ian Cassidy, and the Wesley No.10 was not to be stopped as he raced away to score under the posts for a try that he also converted, making the score 31-7 in their favour.

To their credit this young Naas side were in no mood to surrender meekly, and two quick tries brought them right back into the game. On 47 minutes a lovely break by Bryan Croke split the Wesley defence apart, the ball was moved right out to Fionn Higgins, who shrugged off a couple of tackles to race clear and score under the posts. Then on 53 minutes after the Wesley captain Reuben Pim received a yellow card for handling in a ruck, some powerful carries by the Naas pack took play up to the Wesley line, before a quick pass by Tadhg Brophy to Donal Conroy saw the winger crash over for a score. Sam Cahill converted both and suddenly Naas were back within touching distance of Welsey trailing by 31 points to 21.

The home side were clearly rattled and Naas had their chances to reduce the margin even further. They had Wesley pinned into their own 22, but a needless high tackle gave the home side the penalty to clear their lines, and then the visitors butchered a great two on one overlap when a score looked certain.

An Ian Cassidy penalty on 67 minutes eased the Wesley nerves, and they then went on to score another two tries from Reuben Pim and Harry Noonan, both of which were converted by Ian Cassidy to make the score 48-21 in favour of the home side.

But Naas managed to salvage something out of the day in injury time, when following a five yard scrum, they moved the ball out to the left wing and Donal Conroy showed great strength to power over for an important score. Although the conversion was missed, this try gave Naas a try scoring bonus point, and who knows how vital that may be come the season’s end. Immediately after the referee blew the final whistle, with Wesley deserving winners on a 48-26 scoreline.

Not the result that Naas were hoping for, but thankfully they did emerge with the try scoring bonus point. Next up for them is a home fixture against St. Mary’s College on November 4th. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

Old Wesley: Tom Larke, Nathan Randles, Alex Molloy, Eoin Murphy, Thomas O’Callaghan, Ian Cassidy, Gary Bradley, Harry Noonan, Stephen Smith, Cronan Glesson, David Motyer, Billy Corrigan, Reuben Pim (capt), Josh Pim, Will Fay. Replacements: Howard Noonan, Robert O’Donovan, Kieran O’Shea, Josh O’Hare, Fergus Jemphrey, Keith Kavanagh.

Naas: Peter Osborne, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Gary Kavanagh, Sam Cahill, Bryan Croke (capt), Tadhg Brophy, Adam Coyle, Niall O’Hanlon, Peter King, Conor McVerry, James O’Loughlin, Paul Monahan, Evan Coyle, Eoin Walsh. Replacements: Aidan O’Kane, Conor Doyle, Francisco Bartorelli, Muiris Cleary, Fionn Higgins, Derry Lenehan.

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson.