Eight-try Naas give themselves a fighting chance in relegation battle
Scrum half Tadhg Brophy takes the ball to the line for Naas.
With Naas placed in ninth and Queen University one place below them in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B table, both sides knew that defeat on Saturday in Forenaughts was unthinkable. A loss would see the trapdoor down to Division 2A open wide, while a win would give the victors a little breathing space.
In the end, after a game that saw 12 tries scored, it was Naas who secured the spoils in an emphatic manner. The hosts tore into their opponents straight from the kick-off and had the try scoring bonus point secured after only 28 minutes.
They were in front within four minutes – from a line-out five yards from the Queens line, Naas moved the ball quickly across the back-line out to Derry Lenehan who ran in unopposed to score.
However, they were stunned soon after when the visitors got in for a try. Naas were penalised for being offside and the penalty was dispatched to touch. From the lineout Queens set up a driving maul and sent Henry Walker crashing over the try which Ethan Duncan converted.
The home side then took over and stamped their class on the proceedings. A big carry by Paulie Tolofua drove the Queens defence backwards, and when he was stopped he offloaded to Charlie Sheridan the latter showed great speed to round Reuben Allen for a fine try.
After 16 minutes it was the turn of his brother Jack to get in on the scoring act. Some dazzling footwork by Tadgh Brophy left a series of Queens defenders trailing in his wake, and when he was eventually hauled down the forwards took over. They went through a series of phases before Paddy Taylor threw a long pass out to Sheridan on the wing who finished in style.
Great hands by Naas created space out wide right for Donal Conroy after half an hour, who dived in at the corner. Taylor convert as Naas had established a 22-7 lead.
The home side conceded a second try five minutes late, when Tom Brigg received the ball in midfield 40 yards out from the Naas try line and evaded a series of tackles to score, with Duncan converting.
There was still time for a further two scores in the half. Queens coughed up possession in midfield, Tom Monaghan put in a long kick which was not dealt with by Jordan McAuley and Donal Conroy was on hand to pounce on the loose ball to score.
Then, deep in first-half injury time, Queens were awarded a penalty in the Naas 22 which they elected to tap. A series of phases by their forwards before Henry Walker dived over from close range. The conversion by Duncan was successful leaving the score at the interval 27-21 in favour of Naas.
The scoring slowed down at the start of the second half and we had to wait until the 54th minute for the next one. Queens had started the period brightly, but some great Naas defence had kept them out before extending their lead. A box kick by Brophy looked sure to go into touch, but Taylor did brilliantly to fly-kick it ahead and then won the race for the touchdown for a superb score.
The game was ended as a contest after 62 minutes when Naas set up a driving maul; Tadgh Dooley broke from the back and he was not to be stopped from close range. With Taylor converting both tries, Naas were now 41-21 in front.
Queens fourth try of the afternoon came after 79 minutes, which secured them a try bonus scoring point when James McKillop powered over from close range. Duncan slotted the conversion, but there was still time for Naas to score their eighth try of the afternoon in injury-time.
Queens elected to run a ball from their own 22 but Muiris Cleary did brilliantly to intercept, the ball was quickly recycled and passed out to Eoin Walsh who brushed away an attempted tackle before scoring. The conversion was off target, immediately afterwards referee George Clancy blew the full-time whistle with Naas victorious on a scoreline of 46-28.
It was a big win for the home side which was well deserved, and is a result which almost certainly condemns Queens to Division 2A rugby next season.
For Naas, the challenge for them is to avoid the relegation play-offs, and in order to do this four major games await them. The first of these is an away fixture on Saturday, March 7th, against Highfield.
Derry Lenehan (1 try); Donal Conroy (2 tries), Charlie Sheridan (1 try), Tom Monaghan, Jack Sheridan (1 try); Paddy Taylor (1 try, 4 cons), Tadhg Brophy; Stephen Lackey, Brad Clements, Adam Deay; James O’Loughlin, Oisin Halpin; Darragh Murphy, Will O’Brien, Paulie Tolofua.
Tadgh Dooley (1 try), John King, Eoin Walsh, Muiris Cleary (1 try), Cormac King, Tom Bohan.
Jordan McAuley; Ryan Street, Fraser Cunningham, Jonny Scott, Reuben Allen; Ethan Duncan (4 cons), Clark Logan; Chris Massey, Henry Walker (2 tries), Jacob Boyd; Paddy Woods, Joe Hopes; James McKillop (1 try), Will Cusack, Tom Brigg (1 try).
Henry Marcus, Jack Parkinson, Ben Moore, Patrick Donaghy, Adam Lowey, Eamonn Rogers.
George Clancy.
