ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Highfield 21 – Naas 7

Match report - thanks to Mark Herbert and Photos thanks to Naas Rugby Photos

For their penultimate fixture of their Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B campaign, Naas travelled to Cork to face Highfield last Saturday afternoon. Having already secured their league status for next season and with the play-off places beyond them, for them there was nothing but pride to play for. To their credit they put a tremendous effort into this contest and made their Cork opponents work extremely hard for their victory.

To be honest this was not a game that will live long in the memory. All the endeavours to play open rugby came from the visitors. However, the home side were content to play ten man rugby, relying on their big, heavy pack to secure victory, while their backs were spectators for long periods. It certainly was not an attractive brand of rugby.

Naas played with a strong breeze at their backs in the first half, but it was the home side who came close to opening the scoring after 11 minutes. Highfield were awarded a penalty inside the Naas 22 and elected to take a scrum. From this followed a series of pick and drives by the forwards, but some great Naas defence led to a knock on and the visitors were able to clear their lines.

Then after 19 minutes the Highfield lock Eoin Keating somehow let the ball slip from his grasp with a try at his mercy, and the home side were made to pay for spurning this chance six minutes later. Naas won a penalty, awarded for the home side not releasing, and Craig Ronaldson dispatched it to touch just inside the 22. David Benn soared highest in the line-out, and the ball was then moved out to Henry Smith in midfield. He passed inside to Donal Conroy, who took a great line to split the home defence apart and he raced clear to score beside the posts. Craig Ronaldson kicked the conversion and Naas led 7-0.

However, the lead only lasted four minutes. Highfield again relied on their big pack and carries by Cillian Buckley and Sean Garrett put Naas on the back foot, taking play close to the line. Another series of pick and drives ensued before Robert Murphy was able to crash over from close range. James Taylor added the conversion, the sides were level at 7-7 and there was to be no further scoring in the half.

The wind, if anything got stronger for the second period and Naas found it hard to get out of their own half. The home side assumed control and James Taylor was narrowly wide with a penalty attempt after 44 minutes, before Miah Cronin was held up over the line by some tremendous Naas defence. However, the home side took the lead after 57 minutes. After winning a penalty they kicked for touch and from the line-out a driving maul was set up. Naas defended this well and stopped it close to the line, but Highfield pounded away and eventually Eoin Keating crashed over for the score. James Taylor successfully kicked the conversion and Highfield led 14-7.

As stated, any attempts to play open rugby came from Naas, and on 70 minutes they moved the ball smartly out the back-line. However, Miah Cronin was lurking out wide on the ten-metre line, he smartly intercepted and try as they might Naas could not get back in time to haul him down. Cronin scored under the posts with Taylor again converting to make it 21-7.

Highfield were desperate for a fourth try which would have given them a try scoring bonus point and aided their play-off chances. They threw everything at Naas but again stubborn defence by the visitors kept them at bay. However deep into injury time it appeared that they would gain this important score as Ben Murphy broke free, but out of nowhere Charlie Sheridan came across to make a superb try saving tackle, and immediately afterwards referee Robbie Jenkinson blew the full-time whistle with Highfield winners by 21 points to seven.

Naas conclude their AIL campaign with a home fixture against Old Wesley on Saturday week, April 15th. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

Highfield: Sean Quaid, Ben Murphy, Liam McCarthy, Mark Dorgan, Luke Kingston, James Taylor, Richard Cassidy, Cillian Buckley, Travis Coomey, Daragh Fitzgerald, Sean Garrett, Eoin Keating, David O’Connell (capt), Amhlaoibh Porter, Miah Cronin. Replacements: Robert Murphy, Ian McCarthy, John O’Callaghan, Mark Fitzgibbon, Chris Bannon, Gavin O’Leary.

Naas: Bryan Croke, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Henry Smith, Fionn Higgins, Craig Ronaldson, Oscar Cawley, Adam Coyle, Conor Doyle, Peter King, Paul Monahan (capt), David Benn, Cillian Dempsey, Will O’Brien, Ryan Casey. Replacements: Tadhg Dooley, Simon O’Shea, Eoin Walsh, Koronato Kiripati, Conor Halpenny, Jack Sheridan.

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson.