Navan at altitude after historic success

After waiting 84 years, Navan celebrated their first home league game in senior rugby in style when they steamrolled past Naas at Balreask Old on Saturday. There were warnings expressed before kick-off that Navan's big win away to Carlow in their debut AIL Div 3 outing the previous week was deserved yet was achieved against a poor side. This would be a different proposition, a much more demanding task. The viewpoint was soundly based on the knowledge that Naas are seasoned campaigners at this level. For most of the past 10 years the Kildare outfit have established themselves as worthy occupants of a place at the top table. They were relegated back to the Leinster Senior League a few seasons ago. It proved to be a short stay as they made a rapid return to the senior grade. They were expected to pose a lot of problems for the home side in this contest. They did that all right however, Navan were well capable of coming up with the correct answers. And for the second week in-a-row not only did Navan win, they did so by running in five tries and as a reward they bagged another bonus point. Two games played, two wins, with two bonus points collected. Not bad for starters and if Navan continue in this vein they will start to harbour more lofty ambitions than merely consolidation - and with some justification. The club had opened the gates for this one with spectators allowed in free. They produced a fine souvenir programme and with entertainment provided by the club for the youngsters in the shape of bouncy castles, the adults could relax and enjoy the occasion. It all contributed to a festive atmosphere and the players didn't disappoint when it came to contributing to the day. Understandably, Navan were a little nervy early on. It didn't last long as they soon got into the flow of the game. They started to move the ball through the phases, their backs benefiting on quick possession from rucks. Inevitably the chances came. By half-time tries from David Geraghty and Lee Jackson, added to a conversion from Karl Manning, gave the home side a 12-3 advantage. Jackson went on to add a second touchdown while David King and Eoin King added tries with Manning converting two of them. Eoin King's try just before the end was a little special with the prop doing a very decent impersonation of a winger to bob and weave his way past despairing tackles. Naas dominated the closing stages. By that stage Navan appeared to have dropped down a few gears safe in the knowledge that they had won the game. Naas were also helped by a late yellow card to Mata Fifita for a deliberate infringement and that gave the visitors the chance to move the ball wide and cause problems. The Navan scrum once more proved to be a powerful tool and the home side used it to gain a firm stranglehold on the game. It's potency ran Naas ragged and led directly to at least two tries. Led by Brad Harris, Navan succeeded in disrupting the Naas line-out early on and while the visitors caused their share of problems at the breakdown it was never enough to compensate for their difficulties in the set pieces. Harris was the main receiver from Navan's throw-ins and he managed to get a morale-boosting steal or two. David King had a fine outing, his work in the front-row going a long way to ensuring that Navan's pack was an effective wrecking ball in dealing with the ambitions of Naas when it came to creating something. The Navan pack generally were brilliant. They were a formidable sight once they got a push-on against their demoralised opponents, something that happened on a few occasions. Among the backs Fifita did well in making a number of marauding runs. He also did well in getting some thunderous tackles. He and his colleagues were also very effective in moving the ball smartly, the quick hands creating precious space in tight situations. It was two backs who were involved in creating the opening try for Navan. The score came out of nothing with 12 minutes on the clock. Naas winger Brian Fitzgerald attempted to execute a long punt forward from a midfield position. His kick was bravely blocked by Brian Forristal. The ball broke and bounced kindly for David Geraghty who moved up the gears as he raced for the line ahead of the chasing posse. Manning missed from the conversion attempt. Naas got moving and their out-half David Ahearne nailed a penalty before Navan struck for their second try just before the break. This score underlined the growing influence exerted by the Navan pack. The Kildare side were awarded a scrum a few metres out from their own line. Instead of benefiting from it Navan got a push on, won the ball against the head, Jackson took possession from the base of the scrum and went over. Manning converted and Navan were on their way. Soon after the break Jackson again used his considerable strength and technique to get a try and midway through the second-half Navan sealed it. Des Crinion did well to claim a line-out close to the Naas try-line. He off-loaded to David King who moved swiftly and with intent around the fringes of a ruck to claim his try. The lead up to the score involved a big hit from Harris and a superb turnover executed by Fifita. Naas did get a touchdown from Johnny Holmes after sustained pressure. However, the game finished on a high for the home side when Eoin King steamed in for his memorable touchdown, leaving a few bemused defenders in his wake. Manning converted and the Navan faithful were left to celebrate a big day for the club in more ways than one. Navan - K Manning, D Geraghty, B Forristal, M Fifita, T Geraghty, R Roberts, K Mattson; E King, J McCaghy, D King, B Harris, P Feeney, D Crinion, S Dawson, L Jackson. Subs - F Power for Dawson, S Hogan for D Geraghty, E Dunne for D King, S Byrne for Feeney. Naas - D Ramsbottom, B Fitzgerald, J Delaney, L Gough, E Harney, D Ahearne, J Delaney, D Miley, A Shirley, E Dalton, G Rowan, D Conneran, R Phipps, S O'Donnell, J Holmes. Referee - Barrie O'Connell (Munster Branch).