ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Naas 33 – Queen’s University 50

For their first home game of the 2023/2024 Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B Naas entertained Queen’s University last Saturday afternoon. With the big Ireland v New Zealand World Cup quarter-final on later that evening, the attendance at Naas was a lot smaller than usual, but those spectators that did turn up were treated to a wonderful game, with no less than 13 tries and 83 points scored.

It was a beautiful day for rugby and two of the most attractive sides in the league attacked at every possible opportunity, treating us to a feast of open, running rugby. The visitors struck first after eight minutes. Some great handling by the Queen’s backs created an overlap out wide and Lucas Kenny scored in the corner. James Humphries missed the conversion attempt, and straight from the restart Peter Osborne was narrowly wide with a penalty effort for Naas, after Queen’s were penalised for a side entry at a ruck.

However, Naas were in front after 20 minutes. After a period of pressure, the ball was moved into midfield to Jack Sheridan, who sold the Queen’s defence a beautiful dummy before racing clear to score under the posts. Then just four minutes later Tadgh Brophy attacked at pace and when he was stopped, he offloaded to Charlie Sheridan who sprinted away to score. Peter Osborne converted both tries to leave Naas 14-5 in front.

The rest of the half belonged to the visitors, and they manufactured a fine score after 28 minutes. It was almost a replica of their first try, with their backs attacking at pace and some great handling creating space out wide. This time the move was finished by Johnny Hunter, with Humphries converting, and within five minutes they were back in front. This time it was the forwards who created the score, a series of pick and goes putting Naas on the back foot and taking play close to the line, before Harry Long crashed over. Although Humphries missed the conversion. Queen’s led by 17-14.

They extended their lead after 36 minutes. After Naas were penalised for hands in the ruck, Queen’s elected to kick to touch. From the line-out a driving maul was set up which Naas were powerless to stop. Queen’s crashed over for the try which was awarded to Alexander Clarke, Humphries converted to give them a 24-14 lead, which proved to be the half-time score.

The relentless pace of the game continued in the second-half with Naas getting a dream start to it, when a great break by captain Bryan Croke split the defence apart, he then passed inside to the supporting Tadhg Brophy, who finished in style. Peter Osborne added the conversion to reduce the margin to three points. But the lead was again extended after 51 minutes. From a scrum on the Naas ten metre line, the visitors attacked the blind side, and although Naas initially held the wave of attacks, finally their defence broke, and they were unable to stop Liam McLaughlin crashing over from close range. Humphries missed the conversion leaving the score 29-21 in favour of Queen’s.

Naas were then to suffer two huge setbacks within three minutes of each other. Firstly after 60 minutes Adam Coyle received a yellow card for handling in a ruck, and then on 63 minutes Peter King joined him in the sin bin for what referee Stuart Gaffikin harshly deemed to be a high tackle. From the latter penalty award Queen’s took a quick tap penalty, catching Naas unawares and Johnny Hunter ran in unopposed. The game was ended as a contest straight from the restart which Queen’s gathered, they immediately attacked a Naas team that was two men short, before kicking long downfield. Robert Davies won the chase for the loose ball, he was able to gather it and dived over another try. With Humphries converting both tries, Naas now trailed by 43 points to 21.

However on 72 minutes Naas did receive a try scoring bonus point when following good work by the pack, Paul Monahan dived over for a score which Peter Osborne converted.

The game was now being played in Barbarian style with both teams running everything, but the referee was enjoying himself with his yellow cards and managed to brandish two more before the end of play, with Robert Davies (Queen’s) and Evan Coyle (Naas) being the recipients. There was also time for two more tries in the game. Firstly, Ben Gibson sliced through the home defence to score with Humphreys adding the extras for the visitors, before Donal Conroy finished off a fine move by the Naas backs for a fifth Naas try. Peter Osborne was just wide with the conversion attempt to leave the final score 50-33 in favour of Queen’s.

Not the result Naas were looking for - or expecting - after their fine away win to Old Belvedere a week earlier. They will be aware that they will have to improve tremendously on this performance if they are to be competitive in this league, and they will be fired up to make amends for their next fixture, which is away to Old Wesley next Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always as support will be greatly appreciated.

Naas: Peter Osborne, Jack Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Sam Cahill, Bryan Croke (capt), Tadhg Brophy, Stephen Lackey, Niall O’Hanlon, Adam Coyle, Paul Monahan, Patrick O’Flaherty, Cillian Dempsey, Eoin Walsh, Conor McVerry. Replacements: Conor Doyle, Peter King, Evan Coyle, Muiris Cleary, Mattias Giannetii, Derry Lenehan.

Referee: Stuart Gaffikin.