Leinster Under 20s Super Six Naas  9   Landsdowne  32 
 

The JP Flannagan - Super-six, represents the cream of Leinster Under 20 rugby. Naas qualified to join the elite in the pre-Christmas round-robin when they overcame such luminaries as Clontarf and Greystones, to qualify for elite post Christmas games. Naas were joined in the Super-six by the traditional Rugby Nurseries of UCD, Trinity, Blackrock, Landsdowne and St Mary’s. With their squads mainly made up of ex schools players the challenge facing Naas was immense, however without such challenges this Naas squad, with a large proportion of Under 19 players would not have developed to the level currently attained.

In recent weeks Naas have had a run of home games and the squad have been giving of their best. Injuries to key players has not helped, however the replacements have stood up to the challenge. This weekend’s game was against the very powerful Landsdowne side. This game should have been played a few weeks ago but the very unfavourable weather made Naas unplayable on the day. Despite having taken an Under 16 Cup game on Friday night (Naas defeating Newbridge) and a Culliton Cup Game on Saturday (Naas overcoming Gorey) the recent dry weather had left the ground in superb condition.

The opening 15 minutes was tough. It was clear that both sides fancied their forwards. The Landsdowne pack carried the extra pounds and pressed hard for an opening score. The Naas defence, however, was ready to meet the challenge. Naas withstood all that was thrown at them with Jason Harney, Tadgh Bannon, Ronan Kelly and Niall Osborne, to the fore. Naas lifted the siege on 12 minutes with a long clearance from Rory Stynes following a penalty for in infringement in the scrum. Unfortunately Naas lost Ronan Kelly to an injury on 15 minutes with Paul Mc Dermott the fray. Landsdowne opened the scoring with a penalty awarded against Naas for hands in the ruck. On 26 minutes Naas were caught by a quick break by the Landsdowne mid-field. Moving the ball across the three-quarters the ball reached the right winger who crashed over in the corner for an unconverted try, making the score 8 points to nil. Naas were forced to go to the bench again with Barry Conlon replacing Tadgh Bannon


Naas won a penalty on 32 minutes however after an off the ball infringement, the referee reversed the decision and showed the Naas second row Andrew O’ Hara a yellow card. The Naas defence held strong during the next 9 minutes, however following another cross field move Landsdowne again scored in the corner, making the score 13 nil at half-time.

The second half opened with pressure from Naas; however this was not converted into scores. On 46 minutes following a kicking exchange between the full backs, the Landsdowne full back took advantage a dropped catch to break into the corner to score making the score 18 points to nil. Naas responded aggressively and put the Landsdowne defence under severe pressure. Quick thinking by Geoff Delaney and speed of hand by Rory Stynes, Shane Bergin and Gavin Dooley took the play deep into the oppositions end. Diving over the ball resulted in a penalty for Naas converted excellently by Bergin. The Naas front five were now well on top and had the visitors under severe pressure. Dan Ryan was striking fast and this enabled the back row to provide a greater influence on the game. On 21 minutes the Naas side again showed a lack of fear bringing the backs and forwards together in a crisp move. Kaylin Dommican broke against the run bringing Colm Brady into the move. Brady broke into the Landsdowne half before passing to Daragh Williamson. Daragh fed Barry Conlon who set up a ruck on the 22. Desperate measures were required to stop the Naas attack. The Naas Landsdowne conceded a penalty when their forwards were penalised for coming in from the side. Bergin again converted.

Naas introduced John Cleere for Daragh Williamson. On 32 minutes with Paddy Barcoe and Paul Mc Dermott making the hard yards the ball was released to the three quarters. The ball finally reached Quinn Brophy on the right wing. Brophy, who had been making some big tackles in defence, now showed a significant burst of speed to take the ball well into the Landsdowne half. The pressure was taking its toll on Landsdowne who conceded a penalty as the cheaper option as Naas pressed for the all important try. Again Shane Bergin scored to make the score 9 points to 18.

With 8 minutes left on the clock Naas looked for an opportunity to close the gap. Naas were forced to replace three injured players O Hara, Brophy and Conlon, introducing Alan Murphy, Jonathan Corcoran, and Tadgh Bannon. Unfortunately the pressure of the earlier 75 minutes had taken its toll on the Naas defence. Some loose defence was now punished severely with Landsdowne running in two tries.

The first came following a good handling move by the three-quarters. The second scored on 91 minutes when, following a clear case of hands in the ruck when the Landsdowne forwards shovelled the ball back to their No 9. Making a few yards, the scrum half released the ball to the second centre who went in under the posts under the posts to make the final score 32 points to 9.

Naas will have learned a lot from this game, particularly the need to concentrate in the final minutes of the game. Naas have one more game against St Mary’s, on Sunday next, before the Mc Corry Cup game with Old Belvedere in the middle of March.

Naas team: G. Dooley; Quinn Brophy (J. Corcoran); K. Dommican; S. Bergin; C. Brady; R. Stynes; G. Delaney; J. Harney (T. Bannon, Blood injury); D Ryan; T. Bannon (B. Conlon); R. Kelly (P.Mc Dermott); A. O’Hara (A. Murphy); P Barcoe; D. Williamson (J.Cleere); N. Osborne.
 

Leinster Under 20s League Naas  10   Clondalkin  0 
 

Naas RFC Under 20’s got back to

 winning ways with a hard earned victory against local rivals Clondalkin at Forenaughts on Sunday afternoon. In wet and miserable conditions Naas played with the elements in their favour and struggled to get a foothold in the Clondalkin half for the first 20 minutes. In the early passages of play Clondalkin looked the more likely to score and some frantic defending from Naas kept their line intact. 

Eventually, Naas got more into the game and they were rewarded with a try from second row forward Brian Phelan after good interplay among the forwards with Austin Doyle, John Clear and Conor Mc Cluskey to the fore. At halftime and with Naas leading by 5 points to Nil Clondalkin were the happier team as they had the advantage of the strong wind in the second half.  

However the Naas team seemed to spark into life and they showed much more control and better ball retention playing into the wind. Daragh Kiely, Ross Brosnan, Kevin Rooney and Alan Murphy were now controlling the forward exchanges and following the best passage of play in the match play was brought deep into the Clondalkin 22. Quick ruck ball was fed out along the backline for Sean Dennison to score wide out in the right hand corner. This was the killer score and Naas where as they made hard work of the victory they were deserving winners in the end.

 
Naas: Barry Conlon,(Alan Murphy) Conor Finan, Austin Doyle, Brian Phelan (Ross Brosnan)  Daragh Kiely, Conor Mc Cluskey Kevin Rooney, John Clear ( c) (Andy Coyle), Neil Casey, Robert O’Hanlon, (Karl Cunningam) (Darach Lacey) Sean Dennison, Aaron O’Neill, Johnny Corcoran, Darren Fox, Johnny Mullen (Joe Hare). 

Leinster Under 20’s Super Six  Naas  11    Blackrock   18 
 

Naas RFC Under 20’s played host to Blackrock in the Under 20’s Super 6 Competition in terrible conditions on Sunday afternoon in Naas. This unbeaten Blackrock Team were mightily relieved to come away with a victory after a stirring performance from a well drilled Naas team. This level of competition is new to Naas and they were in no way daunted by the star studded Blackrock 15 as they took the game to them from the off. 
 

Playing with a strong wind Shane Bergin kicked a huge penalty from almost halfway after two minutes to give Naas a 3 nil lead. Blackrock responded with a fine passage of play and on two occasions they seemed sure to score but last ditch tackles from Gavin Nyawata and Daragh Kiely denied them. Naas responded well and after 25 minutes scores an excellent try after Daragh Williamson broke from a ruck and quick passing from out-half Rory Stynes who released Gavin Dooley into space.  Gavin drew two defenders and put Colm Brady away and he outstretched the cover to score wide out on the right. This brought the score to 8 nil and 5 minutes before half time Shane Bergin added another penalty to leave the halftime score 11 nil to Naas who were fully deserving of this lead. 
 

The second half was a different story as Naas faced the wind and the conditions deteriorated with driving rain resulting in the floodlights having to be switched on. Ten minutes into the second half Blackrock registered their first score of the afternoon with a well struck penalty and on the sixteenth minute scored a well worked try through their forwards to leave the score 11 points to 8.

Naas responded with some excellent passages of play and went very close to scoring after Luke Denvir broke from a scrum and Gavin Nyawata made great ground and the supporting Quinn Brophy was stopped a couple yards from the Blackrock line. With 18 minutes remaining the rather harsh sin binning of Rory Stynes put additional pressure on Naas and Blackrock took full advantage and scored two tries during this period to take the lead for the first time in the game.      

Naas kept fighting right to the end and try as they did a further score eluded them and Blackrock ran out winners 18 points to 11. Naas can take great pride in a spirited and committed performance that will send out the message to all in Leinster that Naas are fully deserving of the place in this Super 6 Competition. On a day when all Naas players stepped up to the mark it is difficult to pick out a Man of the Match performance however all those present in Forenaughts will agree that Naas no 8 Luke Denvir was the outstanding player on the pitch.

Finally huge credit must go to Joe Moran and the ground staff in Naas for the condition of the pitch that on a weekend when a lot of grounds were unplayable this pitch had the AIL game on Saturday and the Harry Gale game on Sunday before hand.

Naas travel to play Trinity (Away) next weekend and all support will be most welcome.  

Naas: Jason Harney, Dan Ryan, George Beattie, (Barry Conlon) Ronan Kelly (Daragh Kiely) Tommy Kerrigan (Tadgh Bannan)  Daragh Williamson (Brendan Tiernan), Luke Denvir, Quinn Brophy, Rory Stynes, Gavin Nyawata, Kaylin Domican, Shane Bergin, Colm Brady, Gavin Dooley (c).

Leinster Under 20 League - Harry Gale Cup Naas 8 Navan 13 

Autumn was clearly in the air at Forenaughts for this mid-day kick off.  The conditions were excellent, with little on no wind to affect the game.   

Navan kicked off into the Johnstown end. The game opened badly for Naas, with the loss of their No 10, Robert O’ Hanlon in the opening minutes. Having cleared back into the Navan half, O’Hanlon pulled a muscle in chasing the ball.  Jonathan Corcoran, who was at Goffs Sales half an hour earlier, had taken an early lunch to provide cover for a side already stretched due to injuries.  He was now called into the fray to play at Number 10. 

There was plenty of enterprising football played by both sides in the opening quarter.  The opening score, a penalty by Sheridan, the Navan No 8, was equalised on 21 minutes by Darren Fox.  Navan were threatening when they got the ball wide.  Leinster panel member, Kelvin Ekanham was proving an elusive runner when he got opportunities. A missed tackle on half way on 25 minutes allowed Ekanham to use his lightening speed, to cut down the touchline defeating two retreating defenders on the way to score close in.  Sheridan converted. 

The second half was to be a more entertaining affair.  The Naas forwards, particularly Barry Conlon, Conor Finan and Austin Doyle were dictating the scrums.  The Navan jumpers included one to the tallest second rows ever to play at Naas.  His extended reach put continuous pressure on the throwers and the jumpers.  Conor Mc Cluskey and Kevin Rooney met the challenge head on and made some inroads as the half continued, taking several Navan throws. 

The referee was being very strict on the forwards and on 21 minutes penalised the Naas back row for incorrect binding.  Sheridan converted to make the score 13 points to 3.  Naas responded directly from the kickoff.  Navan hoisted a long ball into the Naas 22.  Joey Hare ran the ball back towards half way, before passing to Jonathan Corcoran.  The former Kilfeakle and Munster Schools fullback used his power to charge through the Navan midfield before releasing his forwards inside the Navan 22.  Several phases later the ball was picked up by Rooney who charged for the line.  Setting up a ruck the ball was picked up by Mc Closkey who went over to make the score 13 points to 8. Naas went to their bench and bringing on Eanna Walsh, Paul Keena and Alan Murphy, to boulster the pack. However, the loss of John Clear to injury did not help the attack.  The remainder of the half saw a lot of pressure from Naas with Karl Cunningham and Aaron O’Neill pressing for the crucial try to equalise the game.  Unfortunately  there was no further scores. 

Naas Squad:  J Hare; D Fox; C Cunningham; A O’Neill; D Lacey; R O’Hanlon; N Casey; B Conlon; C Finan; A Doyle; D Chanendlor; B. Phelan; C Mc Cluskey; J Clear; K Rooney; E Walsh; J Corcoran; A Murphy; P Keena