ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Naas 43 – Banbridge 21

A clinical and ultra professional performance saw Naas take apart Banbridge and move up to third in the Division 1B table of the Energia All-Ireland League last Saturday afternoon. This match was over as a contest by the interval, by which time Naas had also secured a try scoring bonus point, as they notched up their eighth victory in their last ten games.

Aided by a strong breeze at their backs Naas tore into Banbridge straight from the start, and were just denied a try after six minutes. This scoring opportunity came after strong carries by Adam Coyle and John Sutton took play into the visitors 22, Naas then moved the ball out right to Fionn Higgins who was stopped just inches short. The home side quickly recycled the ball and Ryan Casey charged over the line but the referee Henry Richmond deemed that he was held up, and Banbridge were able to clear their lines.

However their respite did not last for long and in a blistering spell from the 16th to the 23rd minutes Naas scored no less than three tries. The opening score came after Naas were awarded a penalty for hands in a ruck. The penalty was dispatched to touch, and after David Benn won the line-out the home side showed great patience as they inched their way forward, before Tim Murphy picked from the base of a ruck to score. Within 120 seconds Banbridge were behind their posts again as Donal Conroy took a great line to split the visitors defence apart and race clear to score, and then on the 23rd minute Fionn Higgins left a number of defenders trailing in his wake as he showed blistering pace to score beside the posts. With Peter Osborne converting all three tries Naas were 21-0 in front.

It was all Naas at this stage but Banbridge did manage to stem the tide until the 37th minute when Naas got in for their fourth try, securing a bonus point into the bargain. This followed wave after wave of attacks which Banbridge bravely defended but they finally ran out of numbers. Naas created a huge overlap out to the right which they exploited and Sam Cahill ran in unopposed to score. Osborne again converted.

Just before the half-time whistle there was a controversial moment as Banbridge launched what was almost their first attack of the afternoon. The referee awarded them a penalty for a high tackle, but brandished a yellow card to the wrong player, with David Benn taking one for the team. Almost immediately the half-time whistle was blown with Naas no less than 28 points in front.

Banbridge needed a quick start to the second-half to have any chance and they got it. Naas failed to deal with the restart allowing the ball to bounce into touch. The line-out was not straight giving Banbridge a five-yard scrum and here the visitors used their numerical advantage to effect. Naas were driven back on a couple of occasions before the referee lost his patience and awarded Banbridge a penalty try to reduce the margin to 28-7. Any thoughts of a sensational fightback were quickly snuffed out however. Peter Osborne added a penalty for Naas on 47 minutes, and then there was no stopping Paulie Tolofua from close range as he crashed over for another try for the home side. A successful conversion by Peter Osborne stretched the lead to 38-7.

To their credit Banbridge never stopped trying and they were rewarded on 65 minutes when Ross Cartmill intercepted a pass which he quickly moved on to Aaron Kennedy who scored, and then on 73 minutes sustained pressure from the visitors saw Chris Allen get in for a try, after the referee had issued another yellow card – this time to Paulie Tolofua – for handling in a ruck. Joe Finnegan converted both to reduce the margin to 38-21.

However there was still time for Naas to finish off a fine performance with another try, which came in injury-time. From a Naas line-out 10 yards from the try line, Ryan Casey hung back as the ball was being thrown in. Casey then suddenly sprinted into a gap created by Naas in the line-out, caught the ball and scored without a hand being laid on him to cap a fine afternoon for the home side. Although the conversion was missed it mattered little and Naas were resounding victors on a 43-21 scoreline.

Next up for Naas is an away fixture against league leaders Old Wesley next Saturday afternoon. The Dublin side have only lost once throughout the campaign, but Naas could not go into this fixture in better form and an enthralling contest is in store. As always all support will be greatly appreciated for a game that kicks off at 2.30pm.

Naas: Peter Osborne (capt), Fionn Higgins, Donal Conroy, Matt Stapleton, Sam Cahill, Craig Ronaldson, Tim Murphy, Adam Coyle, John Sutton, Peter King, Paul Monahan, David Benn, Ryan Casey, Will O’Brien, Paulie Tolofua.

Replacements: Conor Johnson, Jack Coyle, Patrick O’Flaherty, Cillian Dempsey, Conor Halpenny, Shane Feta.

Banbridge: Conor Field, Dean Hayes, Joe Finnegan, Ross Cartmill, Troy Pinion, Harry Bird, Neil Kilpatrick, Ryan Emerson, Peter Cromie (capt), Stuart Cromie, Alex Thompson, Chris Allen, Max Lyttle, Matthew Laird, Robin Sinton.

Replacements: John Wilson, Christian Trimble, Alex Weir, Ryan Hughes, Aaron Kennedy, Lewis Nelmes.

Referee: Henry Richmond.