Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup First Round

Wicklow 33 - Naas 2nd XV 39

Naas began their Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup campaign with an away fixture against Wicklow on Sunday afternoon. This was described as the standout fixture of the round, with added spice added by the fact that former Naas coach Dan Van Zyl is now in charge of Wicklow. It was a game that certainly did not disappoint.

A blistering opening half hour put Naas firmly in charge. They took the lead after three minutes when they were awarded a penalty after the home side collapsed a driving maul. Colm Doyle calmly slotted over the kick.

After 17 minutes they scored their opening try. After a great break by Ruairi Cleary who was stopped inches short of the line, the ball was quickly recycled and Tim Murphy powered over for the try. Colm Doyle added the conversion to make it 10-0 to Naas. Wicklow also lost Neil Dickinson to a yellow card in this passage of play.

Naas went further ahead after 23 minutes when a cross field kick by Colm Doyle was superbly gathered by Sam Cahill who raced clear to score. Doyle was again successful with the conversion. Although Wicklow responded with a Ben Watson penalty three minutes later, Naas got in for another try on the half hour mark. Andy Ellis collected a 22 drop out, the ball was spun wide to Ruairi Cleary and the Naas winger raced clear to score in the corner. Although the conversion was missed Naas now led by 22-3.

The game looked over at this stage but Wicklow had other ideas. They reduced the lead on 34 minutes when following a driving maul Sav Tuimataniaaqa powered over, and just on half-time Shane Faarer got in from close range. Both tries were converted by Niall Earls to leave the score 22-17 in favour of Naas at the interval.

Naas got off to a dream start in the second-half when after just two minutes a shuddering tackle by Tim Murphy on Shane Farrar saw the ball run loose and Sam Cahill was on hand to touch down to leave the score 27-17 to Naas.

This remained the score as the game entered the last five minutes and just as it looked as if Naas had booked their place in the next round, a storming finish by Wicklow forced the game into extra-time. Firstly Stephen Swan finished off a well worked line-out move to score, and then with the last play of the day, a cross field kick by Niall Earls was caught by Aaron Byrne to score in the corner. Earls had a kick to win the game with the conversion, but he dragged his effort wide of the posts to leave the score 27-27.

Wicklow started the extra-time period brightly and hit the front for the first time in the game when Ben Watson slotted a penalty after two minutes.

The home supporters were now anticipating victory and started roaring their side home, but Naas extinguished their hopes with two quick tries by Sam Cahill and Killian O'Brien. With Cillian Dempsey converting the latter Naas now led 39-30.

Try as the might Wicklow were unable to rescue the game for a second time and were only able to respond with a penalty by Ben Watson with two minutes remaining. So after 100 minutes of pulsating rugby Naas were through on a 39-33 scoreline, and book a place in the second round away to Ashbourne next Sunday afternoon.

Wicklow: Ben Watson, Aaron Byrne, Cian Reynolds, Shane Farrar, Jack Dunne, Niall Earls, Denis Higgins, Dave Nicholson, Jack McKenna, Neil Dickenson, J Van Der Flier, Stephen Swan, Jack McGrath, Conor Vize, Dylan Byrne.

Replacements: Fergus Ward, Mark Cullen, Jay Byrne, Sav Tuimataniaaqa, Mark Higgins.

Naas: Kevin McLoughlin, Ruairi Cleary, Andy Ellis, Cillian O'Brien, Sam Cahill, Colm Doyle, Tim Murphy, Jack Coyle, Graham Reynolds, Stephen Lackey, Colm Gorry, Cillian Dempsey, Killian O'Brien, Muiris Cleary, Pat Corrigan.

Replacements: Paul Carroll, Jack Barry, Jamie Smith, Derry Lenehan, Kaelan Burke.

Photos: Naas Rugby Photos (C)