Naas give all-timer performance to batter Blackrock College
Naas's Oisin Halpin gives the hand-off to Blackrock's Shane Jennings in Division 1B of the AIL.
There have been many great performances in the history of Naas Rugby Club, but for a complete all-round display, the one they produced last Saturday in dismantling Blackrock College in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B campaign must rank right up there.
The Dublin side arrived in Forenaughts having won their opening two games and were confident that they would extend their unbeaten run. Instead, they left chastened, battered and bruised having suffered a remarkable 40 point beating.
However, after 15 minutes that eventual scenario looked extremely unlikely. Naas took a while to settle and in that period the visitors were the dominant force, and they deservedly took the lead after 11 minutes. A big carry in midfield by Jack Deegan had the Naas defence scrambling, and when the ball was recycled Blackrock had a huge overlap out on the right wing, with Colm Quilligan finishing off the move to score under the posts. Tim Corkery tapped over the conversion to give Blackrock a seven points lead.
That was to be as good as it got for the visitors. Naas quickly moved up the gears and with some scintillating rugby they completely took charge.
The speed of the Naas attack began to cause Blackrock all sorts of problems, and some quick hands across the backline put Paddy Taylor away for their first score after 19 minutes.
Within three minutes the home side were in front. A lovely crossfield kick by Taylor was gathered by Donal Conroy just outside the 22. Conroy passed to the supporting Taylor who in turn fed Tadhg Brophy, and he sold a dummy to the opposition defence before racing away to score under the posts.
With Daniel Ticklepenny converting both scores Naas led 14-7.
The lead was extended after 35 minutes. Muiris Cleary made a powerful surge before passing to Oisin Halpin on half-way, and the latter showed great strength to hold off some would-be tacklers before passing to Cormac King, who scored beside the posts. Daniel Ticklepenny converted and Naas led 21-7 at the interval.
Blackrock would have targeted a quick start to the second half and quickly after the resumption went on the attack deep in the Naas 22. When Conor O’Shaughnessy took the ball at pace a try for them seemed likely, but he was met by a shuddering tackle by Oisin Halpin which dislodged the ball and was gleefully picked up by Cillian Redmond.
He quickly transferred the ball to Charlie Sheridan who ran practically the length of the pitch to score under the posts for a score which Daniel Ticklepenny converted. This was a sickening blow for the visitors, and to compound matters for them referee Stuart Douglas had noticed a late hit on Cillian Redmond by Odhran Ring as he passed the ball, and had no hesitation in showing the Blackrock man a yellow card.
That score gained Naas a try scoring bonus point, and their fifth try of the afternoon followed after 52 minutes. From a scrum just outside the Blackrock 22 a lovely wrap around move by Naas was followed by a big carry by Jamie Bohan which took play right up to the try line. The ball was quickly recycled and moved into midfield, where Cillian Redmond caught the ball at the second attempt to score.
Then after 60 minutes Blackrock coughed up possession on half-way and quick hands by Ryan Casey, Sheridan and Brophy put David O’Sullivan away, and he galloped down the left wing to score in the corner. Although Daniel Ticklepenny missed this conversion attempt, he had been successful in converting the previous score, meaning that Naas led 40-7.
The wave after wave of Naas attacks continued, but it was some good defensive work that led to their seventh try after 65 minutes. Jack Deegan made a break for Blackrock College out of defence, but Sheridan sprinted back to tackle him and in doing so knocked the ball free.
Naas quickly turned this into an attack and chipped ahead and Lorenzo Palacio won the race for the loose ball to score. Then on 69 minutes another crossfield kick by Taylor was gathered by O’Sullivan, and when he was hauled down inches short of the try line, Naas were there in numbers to recycle the ball and Taylor finished the move off himself when crashing over from close range.
Both these tries were converted by Ticklepenny to bring the hosts over the 50-point mark.
After 72 minutes Jack Deegan scored a try for the visitors which was converted by Tim Corkery, but this was very much a consolation score and indeed brought the scoring for the afternoon to a conclusion, with Naas emphatic 40-point winners.
A brilliant performance by the home side and one that will be rightly remembered for many a day. This game brings to a conclusion the first batch of AIL games and it has been a very satisfactory start to the campaign for Naas, as they sit in top spot in the league.
They get a little break now before they travel North to face Instonians on Saturday, October 24th.
Cillian Redmond (1 try); Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan (1 try), Paddy Taylor (2 tries), David O’Sullivan (1 try); Daniel Ticklepenny (7 cons), Tadhg Brophy (1 try); Jamie Bohan, Liam Gilheany-Black, Stephen Lackey; Oisin Halpin, James O’Loughlin; Lorenzo Palacio (1 try), Muiris Cleary, Ryan Casey.
David Upton, Finian Murray, Titas Cesonis, Jason Cutler, Cormac King (1 try), James Buckeridge.
Tim Corkery (2 cons); Harry Waters, Colm Qulligan (1 try), Jack Deegan (1 try), Derry Moloney; Conor O’Shaughnessy, Thomas Quinn; Patrick Moore, Luke McAuliffe, Shane Connolly; Jonty Ravenhill, Tommy Butler; James Burke, Inigo Cruise-O’Brien, Kevin Jackson.
Jack Treanor, Emmet Burns, Odhran Ring, Conor Hanly, Jack Ringrose, Daniel Squires.
Stuart Douglas.
