ENERGIA All-IRELAND LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Naas  20 – Old Wesley 36

In a classic game of two halves, Old Wesley rallied from 14 points down to take a bonus point victory in Naas on Saturday. In the process they denied Naas even a losing bonus point, which was the minimum they deserved for a brave effort against a side who are unbeaten to date in the league.

A large crowd turned up to witness a game that was played on a beautiful autumnal afternoon. After suffering a heavy defeat away to Highfield a fortnight ago Naas were eager to make amends here, and they played with the advantage of a slight breeze at their backs for the first half.

The first ten minutes was largely uneventful, before the home side spurned a great chance to open the scoring after 14 minutes when they contrived to waste a clear 2 on 1 overlap. However two minutes later they did take the lead, when Peter Osborne slotted a penalty after Old Wesley were penalised for holding on in a ruck. Although Osborne missed with a long range effort after 19 minutes, Naas only had to wait three minutes before they extended the lead. This followed some fine handling by the Naas backs which put Wesley on the back front, before a great line taken by Peter Osborne split the defence completely. He passed inside to Bryan Croke who sprinted clear to score beside the posts for a try which he successfully converted himself to put Naas ten points in front.

A disappointing feature of the Naas play this season is a pattern that after scoring they invariably concede a score straight away. This happened again here, as straight from the kick-off they were penalised for not releasing and Tim Clifford kicked the penalty for Old Wesley. Luckily for Naas, Clifford somehow contrived to hit a post with an easy penalty attempt after 31 minutes, and the home side took full advantage just three minutes later. From a scrum inside their own 22, scrum-hall Tim Murphy passed to Bryan Croke who in turn gave it to Gary Kavanagh. The latter took off on a mazy run that left the defenders in his wake, until he was left with just the opposing full-back Conor Gaston to beat. Showing tremendous speed Kavanagh left his opponent for dead and scored a remarkable try under the posts. Peter Osborne added the extras and Naas led 17-3. Just before half-time Tim Clifford reduced the margin with a penalty, but as referee Robert O’Sullivan blew for the interval it was the home supporters who were happiest as their side led by 17-6.

Osborne opened the scoring for the second-half with a fine long range penalty after 46 minutes, but again Naas conceded a penalty straight from the restart which Clifford kicked over to make it 20 points to nine in favour of Naas. 

Wesley were now playing with the advantage of an ever strengthening breeze and they certainly used it as they dominated the last half hour. Their task was made easier after 53 minutes. Their backs cut through the Naas defence and it took a last gasp tackle by Donal Conroy on Nathan Randles to save a certain try. However as Randles attempted to off load when was halted by Conroy who was still on the ground, the referee deemed this was illegal and brandished a yellow card to the Naas player. Wesley kicked the resulting penalty into the corner, from the line-out they set up a maul and they were then awarded another penalty as the maul was taken down by Naas. This penalty also went into touch, again a maul was set up after the line-out and when it was stopped just short of the line, scrum-half Ian Cassidy passed out wide to Randles who scored in the corner. The conversion attempt by Tim Clifford was unsuccessful.

On 60 minutes Wesley reduced the lead further, when a break in midfield by lock J.J. O’Dea  had the Naas defence scrambling. Wesley then moved the ball out to their right where Tommy O’Callaghan was lurking out wide and he finished in style in the corner. Although Clifford again missed the conversion, it was game on now with Naas holding a slender 20 points to 19 lead.

But it was the visitors who had all the momentum, and they took the lead for the first time on 64 minutes when after Naas were penalised for not releasing Clifford made no mistake with his penalty effort, and then after 69 minutes following good work by Ian Cassidy, a lovely reserve pass put replacement prop Paul Derham in the clear and he charged over to score a try, which Clifford converted to leave Wesley in front by 29 points to 20.

Naas to their credit threw everything at Wesley in a valiant attempt to rescue something from the game, and they almost scored with just three minutes remaining when Fionn Higgins was bundled into touch just short of the try-line. But it was the visitors who were to have the final say. In injury-time they turned down two kickable penalties in order to attempt to score a fourth try which would secure a bonus point, and they were successful in this quest on the stroke of the final whistle, when a crossfield kick by Clifford was caught out wide by Tommy O’Callaghan who scored in the corner. Although the conversion was missed it mattered little to Wesley who had secured victory on a 36-20 scoreline.

So defeat was to be the order of the day of the Naas. They do not have much time to lick their wounds as they are out again next Saturday when they travel to face Banbridge. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and as always all support will be greatly appreciated.

Naas: Peter Osborne (capt), Donal Conroy, Gary Kavanagh, Matt Stapleton, Fionn Higgins, Bryan Croke, Tim Murphy, AdamCoyle, Conor Johnston, Peter King, Paul Monahan, David Benn, Ryan Casey, Will O’Brien, Paulie Toloufa. Replacements: Paul Carroll, Conor Doyle, Cillian Dempsey, Patrick O’Flaherty, Conor Halpenny, Sam Cahill.

Old Wesley: Conor Gaston, Tommy O’Callaghan, James O’Donovan, Eoin Deegan, Nathan Randles, Tim Clifford, Ian Cassidy, Harry Noonan, Ben Burns, Cronan Glesson, J.J. O’Dea, Iain McGann (capt), Will Fay, Alastair Hoban, Reuben Pim. Replacements: Howard Noonan, Sam Kenny, Paul Derham, David Poff, Paddy McKenzie, Charlie O’Regan.

Referee: Robert O’Sullivan.