ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Malone 33 – Naas 16

Naas travelled up to Belfast last Saturday afternoon to face Malone in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B, knowing that a victory added to results going their way elsewhere, would secure a place in the play-offs. However in Malone they faced a side that were fighting for their lives towards the bottom of the table, so anything gained would not come easy.

The visitors got off to a fine start. They set the early pattern of play and were rewarded after eight minutes when Will O’Brien got hands on the ball in a ruck, which resulted in referee Jonny Erskine penalising the home side for holding on. From 30 yards out Peter Osborne made no mistake with the penalty to give Naas a 3-0 lead. However this lead only lasted for three minutes as Naas themselves were penalised for holding on in a ruck and Rory Campbell levelled matters with his penalty attempt.

The home side were ferociously hungry for the points on offer here and they soon began to dictate. They enjoyed the majority of possession and territory for the next quarter of an hour and they took the lead with a fine try after 17 minutes. Some great off-loads and quick hands put the Naas defence on the backfoot, this led to Malone creating a huge overlap out to the left and saw Aaron Sexton coast in for the easiest of tries. Although Campbell missed the conversion the home side now led 8-3.

Within five minutes this lead was increased. After Naas spilled the ball on half-way, Malone again attacked down the left wing and a chip ahead by Andy Bryans forced the visitors to concede a line-out seven yards out. From the line-out Malone attacked the blindside and Naas were powerless in stopping Dan Kerr from crashing over for another try. This time Campbell was successful with the conversion to stretch the lead to 15-3 in favour of Malone.

Naas did reply with a Peter Osborne penalty on the half-hour mark but this was immediately cancelled out by Campbell who slotted over from 30 yards out after the Naas backs were caught offside. However straight from the restart Naas roared back into the game. Adam McNamee fielded the restart and from the subsequent ruck Shane Kelly attempted to clear for the home side. However David Benn did brilliantly to charge down the kick and gather the loose ball before racing clear to score. With Peter Osborne adding the conversion Naas were right back in the game, only trailing now by 18-13, which was to be the score at the interval.

The opening quarter hour of the second half saw little in the way of open, attacking rugby and apart from a missed penalty attempt by Rory Campbell on 51 minutes, there was nothing of any consequence to report. However Malone changed that on 58 minutes with a superb try, when following a fine backline move they created space out wide and Calllum Smith finished off in style. Another missed conversion attempt by Campbell left the score at 23-13 in favour of Malone.

The Naas pack to their credit kept plugging away and were rewarded on 66 minutes when after Malone were awarded a scrum in their own 22, they drove the home side right back and won a penalty which Peter Osborne tapped over. But on 72 minutes the ten point lead was restored for Malone when following a fine carry by Ben Halliday, Naas were penalised for coming in at the side of the following ruck. Callum Smith took over the kicking duties for Malone and he made no mistake with his effort to leave Malone ahead by 26-16.

As the game entered injury-time Naas had the chance to gain a losing bonus point out of the contest, when after a fine series of phases by the visitors Malone were forced to concede a penalty. Peter Osborne had a shot at goal, but had the misfortune to see his effort strike the post and rebound back into the hands of a Malone player, summing up the day for Naas.

There was still time for the home side to have the final say. With the clock showing 84 minutes gone, a sweeping Malone move took the play from deep inside their own half, leading to Callum Smith touching down for a brilliant try. However the referee somewhat harshly deemed the final pass of the move was forward and ruled out the score. But Malone still were not finished. With the final play of the day they attacked right from a scrum on the Naas 22, and with the visitors now a beaten team, some quick hands saw Callum Smyton score a fourth try for Malone which earned them a bonus point. With the last kick of the game Callum Smith knocked over the conversion to leave the final score 33-16 in favour of Malone.

Although beaten by the better side on the day, this is an outing that Naas will be keen to forget quickly. For some reason they never got going on the day and made more mistakes in this game than they had for the whole of the season to date. However they received some good news after the game as the result of the St. Mary's v Old Wesley match came through. With St. Mary's losing that contest it means that qualification for the play-offs remains in the hands of Naas. Win their last game and they are through. That match is at home to Old Belvedere next Saturday afternoon with a 2.30pm kick-off and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

Malone: Aaron Sexton, Andy Bryans, David McMaster, Ben McCaughey, Rory Campbell, Calllum Smith, Shane Kelly, Ben Halliday, Dan Kerr, Ricky Greenwood, Adam McNamee, Zach Devine, James McAllister, Dave Cave (capt), Teigan Erasmus.

Replacements: Stewart McKendrick, Aidan McSwiggan, Callum Smyton, Jonny Betts, Conor Spence, Lee Barlow.

Naas: Peter Osborne (capt), Donal Conroy, Matt Stapleton, Craig Ronanldson, Sam Cahill, Bryan Croke, Conor Halpenny, Adam Coyle, Conor Johnson, Peter King, Paul Monahan, David Benn, Ryan Casey, Will O’Brien, Paulie Tolofua.

Replacements: John Sutton, Conor Doyle, Pat O’Flaherty, Cillian Dempsey, Tim Murphy, Gary Kavanagh.

Referee: Jonny Erskine.

Photos: © Naas Rugby Photos