Week 3 of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B campaign saw Naas travel to Trinity College last Saturday afternoon to face Dublin University. They arrived in the capital on the back of two previous defeats, and although unable to regain the winning thread here, they went down fighting, after a thrilling game that featured a number of momentum swings. The match was played in ideal weather conditions, with a pristine pitch leading to a fast paced, open game of rugby, that entertained the large attendance present.

Naas were forced to line out without their influential captain Will O’Brien, and to compound matters Ryan Casey was also unable to play due to injury, and they fell behind after just three minutes. The home side started with real intent and they immediately went on the attack, and following a half break by Matty Lynch the ball was moved out to Jack O’Neill on the right wing. The Dublin University hooker was hauled down just short of the line, before the ball was quickly recycled. Scrum-half Oscar Cawley fed the on rushing Artur Smykovskiy who was not to be stopped from diving over from close range for the opening score of the game. Matty Lynch added the conversion to put the home side seven points in front.

Tom Bohan replied with a penalty for Naas after 14 minutes, but for the next seven minutes they were forced to soak up some tremendous pressure from the home side. However to their credit the Naas defence stood firm, and were rewarded just as it appeared that the students were sure to score. They were camped on the Naas line before Oscar Cawley passed out to Mark Walsh, but Naas winger Donal Conroy read it brilliantly, managing to intercept and sprinting away. When he was hauled down on half-way he passed inside to the supporting Tom Monaghan, who in turn passed to Paddy Taylor who scored under the posts. Bohan added the conversion and Naas led for the first time in the game by ten points to seven.

From here until the interval it was all Naas, they completely took over and had the home side hanging on for dear life on occasions. Tom Bohan added another penalty after 27 minutes and six minutes later they got in for their second try. After a sustained period of pressure a long pass by Charlie Sheridan to Eoin Walsh unlocked the home defence, the latter passed on to Donal Conroy - who was in acres of space out wide right - and he dotted down in the corner for a fine score. Although the conversion was missed by Tom Bohan, Naas now led by 18 points to seven.

Bohan was narrowly wide with a long range penalty attempt on 37 minutes, a few minutes later Rob McGreer blew for half-time with Naas 11 points in front, a margin which in no way flattered them.

The home side had to up their play in the second half and to their credit they did. They began to dominate both possession and territory, and long spells of the half were played on their terms. The home side were right back in the game after 47 minutes following a superb try. From a scrum on their own ten metre line, some quick passes by the students moved the ball to Noah Byrne on the half-way. The full-back then showed blistering pace to race away from the Naas cover to score, and with Matty Lynch converting, the deficit was down to four points.

After that the home side continued to look the more likely to score, but were met with some stubborn Naas defence that refused to yield. However their resistance was broken after 67 minutes, although it was not a score without some controversy. Following a ruck in the Naas 22, the referee McGreer stopped play and had a long discussion with his touch judge. He then showed the Naas flanker Darragh Murphy a yellow card, and although the player protested his innocence the decision stood, which baffled many of the attendance who could see no infringement. The home took full advantage of their numerical superiority immediately, The subsequent penalty was dispatched to touch, from the line-out a driving maul was set up, when this was stopped the home side stayed patient, until finally Zach Baird was able to crash over from close range. Matty Lynch converted and the Dublin University were back in front by 21 points to 18.

Naas threw everything at their opponents in the closing stages to rescue victory, and caused the home supporters some heart stopping moments as the Dublin University defence looked like being breached on a couple of occasions. However the visitors simply ran out of time, and at full-time they were still three points short.

Although defeated, this was another major step forward from this young Naas side. Week on week they are improving, and certainly on this performance it is only a matter of time before they begin to climb up the league table. A special mention must also go to Paulie Tolofua who made his 100th AIL appearance for Naas here – a great achievement. Next up for them is a home fixture against Highfield. This game is on Saturday week, October 25th with a 2.30pm kick-off, and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

Dublin University: Noah Byrne, Davy Colbert, Alex Finlay, Mark Walsh, Johnny O’Sullivan, Matty Lynch, Oscar Cawley, Karl Brennan, Jack O’Neill, Eoin McDermott, Artur Smykovskiy, Tom Davidson, Kevin Jackson, Conall Henchy, David Walsh (capt). Replacements: Zach Baird, Hunter Deane-Johns, Dan Carroll, Garvan Woodcock, Conor Treacy, Hugh Goddard.

Naas: Charlie Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Paddy Taylor, Dylan O’Keeffe, Tom Monaghan, Tom Bohan, Tadhg Brophy, John King, Brad Clements, Adam Deay, James Stockwood, James O’Loughlin, Oisin Halpin, Eoin Walsh (capt), Paulie Tolofua. Replacements: Tadhg Dooley, Stephen Lackey, Darragh Murphy, Cillian Dempsey, Cormac King, David O’Sullivan.

Referee: Rob McGreer.

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