Naas 24 Portdara 17 – Sun 9th Oct 2022

Naas women entertained Portdara, the combined team from Portarlington and Cill Dara, in the opening game of their Leinster Division 2 campaign at a wet, windy Forenaughts on Sunday. Both teams had a mix of experienced players and younger women playing their first adult game. The teams didn't let the awful weather conditions hold them back in this tightly fought contest.

Naas started with the strong wind at their backs and quickly set up camp in the Portdara 22. The visitors kept the home side at bay with a fantastic defensive display until the relentless pressure created an opening for Nass winger Caitriona Sheridan, who raced into the corner for the opening score. Referee Cormac Nugent felt that the last-ditch tackle on Sheridan was high so he awarded a penalty try.

The two teams then traded tries as the weather worsened - Portdara scoring a superb coast to coast effort, which left the Naas defence clutching at thin air. Naas then came straight back with some patient approach play, before 18-year-old Katie Halpin, playing her first game for Naas Women, stormed up the right wing and forced her way over to make the score 14 10 to Naas at half time.

Portdara started the second half strongly, taking advantage of the wind and hill to pin Naas back on their own line, before another Naas debutante, Mary Hulgraine made a powerful break up the left wing, deep into Portdara territory. At the subsequent scrum, the Naas pack put the Portdara women under severe pressure, leading to an unlucky fumble on the line by the Portdara scrum half. Naas scrum half, Ciara Mckeown, who was a handful all day, was on hand to make a superb pick up and dotted down for a score.

Naas then pulled ahead further with a team try finished of by Molly Cullen, playing her first ever game of rugby. The score now stood at 24 10 to Naas.

Portdara were far from finished, as they showed their experience to work their way up the pitch, eventually crashing over for a great try and conversion to make the score 24 17 with 11 minutes left to play.

Both teams then threw everything into the closing minutes of the game, with relentless Portdara attack and resolute Naas defence. Eventually the strong Portdara comeback just ran out of time and Naas held on for their first win of the season.

Photos Thanks to @naasrugbyphotos