Balreask Old boys bounce back to earn dramatic draw

Down and out at one stage Navan staged a rousing comeback to earn a truly dramatic 24-all draw with Queens University in the AIL Div 2A at Balreask Old today.

What a finale we got in this encounter with Navan showing Lazarus-like qualities to earn a draw.

They looked well out of contention early in the second-half when they fell behind 5-24 with speed-merchant Curtis Graham racing through for two tries for the Ulster side.

Then, when on the ropes, Navan found a response. Evan Dixon had scored Navan's first-half try in the opening half, powering through after a fine move.

With 68 minutes on the clock the home side struck again. This time Jordan Finney went over with Ben Stephens adding the conversion. 24-12.

Shortly after another well-constructed Navan moved ended with Eoghan Noonan going over. Again Stephens converted. 24-19.

Again Navan pressed forward, putting together a mulit-phase move that ended with Paddy Fox skipping in to put the ball down in the corner and, incredibly, haul Navan level.

Stephens missed with the difficult conversion attempt but from a seemingly hopeless position the spirited Navan side had found a way to come back.

No surprise the players were loudly applauded off by their delighted supporters at the end.

FULL MATCH REPORT AND ANALYSIS IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE

Navan - Paddy Fox, Rory Gordon, Evan Dixon, Ben McEntagart, Sean McEntagart, Simone Ragusi, Ben Stephens; Evan Tyndall, Jack Nelson, Liam Carroll, Eoghan Noonan, Conor Hand, Leon Akopian, Conor Farrell, Hardus Van Eeden. Replacements - David Clarke, Jordan Finney, Conor Ryan, Diogo Salgado, Gabriel Akinwande.

Queens University - Rory Telfer, Simon McMaster, Graham Curtis, Ben Heath, Jonny Hunter, Richie McMaster, James Wright; Jack Boal, Alexander Clarke, Daniel Orubo, David Whitten, Tony Drennan, Peter Heasley, Curtis Pollock, Gary Dillon. Replacements - Harry Long, Cameron Hillis, Charlie Irvine, Chris Poole, Stuart Martin.

Referee - Jonathan Peake