Navan Rugby Football Club

Navan returned to All Ireland League action after the Christmas break with a trip to Cork outfit Highfield.  The home side were expected to play a game very much based in the Munster tradition, relying on a very strong pack and playing an attritional type of game.

A feature of the Highfield ground, Woodleigh Park is a fairly significant slope on the pitch and Navan were playing
“uphill “in the first half. The home side wasted no time in gaining good field position and were camped on the Navan line for the first ten minutes of the match, using their pack to re-cycle the ball and try and maul their way over. Although they exerted enormous pressure the Navan fringe defence and maul defence kept them scoreless.

Navan were playing the testing conditions well and a series of picks and drives coupled with some strong mauling of their own gave Navan good field position when Highfield infringed giving Riaan van Der Vyver the opportunity to put Navan ahead which he duly accepted. Navan continued the good work with a set piece move that saw the Highfield defensive line broken but Van der Vyver was help up just short of the line.

At this stage it appeared that Navan were dealing well with the early loss of Eoin King from the front row and lineout
jumper Shane Dawson from the back row, but a moment of ill discipline allowed Highfield to level the scores 3-3 with a penalty on the half hour mark. Just before the break, Navan suffered another set-back with former Club Captain John Duffy being sin binned and again Highfield ending the first half as they had started camped on the Navan line. However the result was the same with the fringe defence including Tom Boyle and Jack Mullins, keeping Highfield out.

Half Time Highfield 3 Navan 3.

Having weathered the first half storm and playing with the more favourable conditions in the second half, Navan would have given themselves every chance to go on and win the game, but some poor tactical kicking and perhaps trying to force the play was to cost them dearly.

In the 52nd minute an error in midfield allowed Highfield to turnover the ball and kick for position to the five metre
line. When Highfield gathered the lineout, this time Navan were unable to keep out the driving maul and Highfield led 8-3.

In the detoriating conditions the first try was always going to be crucial as scores were going to be very hard earned andso it proved. The Navan forwards had the measure of the Highfield unit in the second half exchanges but some poor kicking out of hand meant Navan were unable to press home their advantage.

In the 70th minute Highfield converted another penalty to lead 11-3 and Navan now had to chase an eight point game without every looking like to do so and Highfield held the Navan efforts at bay. After the match Navan Head coach Leon Jordaan felt that the forward unit had held up very well to the tough examination Highfield had presented but felt that another potential victory had slipped away. He was disappointed that the team couldn’t control the game and play for territory when the composure was called for.



Navan continue their AIL campaign with another long distance trip this weekend to Connemara to face the Connemara All Blacks, who are enjoying a renaissance this season. Connemara secured an away bonus point to Rainey Old Boys last week, a team favoured by many to win promotion this season. With some exciting runners amongst their back line they will present a different type of challenge to the Navan lads.

1. E King,( M Liddle 25 ) 2. J McGahy, 3. D King, 4. P Feeney,( T Clarke 55 ) 5. J Duffy, 6. T Boyle,
7. S Dawson, ( C Brady 5 ) 8. L Jackson ( Capt ) 9. D Delahunt, 10. J Mullins, 11. S Hogan, 12. D Sheridan,
13. R V d Vyver, 14. M Harrington, 15. M McAuley, ( J Davis 45 ).


16. M Liddle, 17. C Brady, 18. T Clarke, 19. C Dunne, 20. J Davis

Navan 18  Arklow 11 Provincial Towns Cup Round 1 at Balreask Old.

Navan hosted Arklow in the first round of the Provincial Towns Cup at Balreask Old last Sunday in conditions best
described as very challenging. Following a night of heavy rain there was some doubt that the match would be played and many of the first round fixtures elsewhere were postponed.

Navan started very brightly despite the conditions and were 12-0 ahead inside 15 minutes with two well worked
one apiece for each of the centres Casey Dunne and Tommy Geraghty. Fergal Hennessy converted the second try.
Ross O’Brien at scrum half and John Davis at out half had the back line looking very dangerous with the ball in hand.
Navan continued to apply all the pressure and it appeared as if Arklow may be overwhelmed as further opportunities
presented themselves when quick ball was moved wide, however  handling errors cost Navan the chance score further tries, although Fergal Hennessy  added another penalty as Arklow infringed during another Navan attack.

A rare sortie into the Navan half resulted in a converted penalty for the visitors to keep them in touch 15-3.

Late in the first half Arklow started to show some invention and  their left winger almost got over in the Navan corner, David Brecknell just getting across to force the attacker to put a foot in touch. Navan held on to lead 15-3 at the break.
Early in the second half a late tackle from Tommy Geraghty resulted in a sin-binning and a converted penalty to narrow the score to 15-6. Although Navan held on well during the time their numbers was reduced they were no longer creating any chances. The playing surface started to cut up badly with the constant rain and running rugby became impossible, the game was developing into a real old fashioned arm wrestle in the testing conditions.

As the half wore on the visitors threw everything at Navan and were rewarded with a try. In the build up Arklow were awarded a penalty which they kicked to touch on the five metre line, they worked the ball across the pitch until they found the overlap with the hooker going over to narrow the gap to 15-11.

Following the kick off Fergal Hennessy guided an inch perfect kick into the corner. Navan played out the final few minutes in the Arklow twenty two, to ensure Arklow never got another chance and  Fergal Hennessy added a penalty at the death to leave the final score 18-11.

Navan have been given a tough test in the draw for the Second Round of the Towns Cup, where they have been paired at home to Enniscorthy on 19th February.

15. F. Hennessy, 14. D Brady( A Smyth 75), 13. C Dunne, 12.  T Geraghty,  11. O Clarke ( J Macken 65), 10. John Davis, 9. R O’Brien,  8. T Clarke,  7. E Corrigan,  6. L Taffe,  5. L O’Toole,  4. D Brecknell,  3 D McAteer,  2. C Brady,  1. E Hanratty ( E Dunne 70 ).

U15 vs. Naas                          Home              11.15am          Friendly
U17B vs. Ardee                       Away              11.30am          North-East U17 League
U13 vs. Gorey                         Home              12.30pm          Leinster U13 Premier League
U17A vs. Dundalk                    Home              12.30pm          North-East U17 League
J4 vs. Seapoint                        Home              2.30pm           Leinster J4 League
Senior XV vs. Highfield             Away               2.30pm           AIL Division 2B

U12 vs. Seapoint/Ashbourne             Home              10.00am          Metro Fixture
U7 in Ciaran Burke Festival               DLSP RFC          10.30am
U9 vs. Lansdowne                            Home              10.30am          Metro Fixture
U11 vs. Coolmine                             Away              10.30am          Metro Fixture
U10 vs. Old Wesley/Dundalk/Virginia Home              11.00am          Metro/North-East Fixtures
U9-U13 Girls vs. Suttonians              Away              11.30am
U14 vs. Lansdowne                          Home              12.30pm          Leinster U14 S/Youth League
Ladies XV vs. Galwegians                 Home              1.00pm           Paul Flood Cup
J1 vs. Arklow                                  Home              2.30pm           Provincial Towns Cup
J3 vs. Boyne                                   Away               2.30pm           McGee Cup

U12(1 team) vs. Ratoath      Home              7.30pm            North-East Fixture
Senior XV vs. Bective           Home              8.30pm            Friendly

U13 vs. Naas                     Home              10.30am           Leinster U13 Premier League
U17B vs. N.Meath              Away              11.30am           North-East U17 League
U17A vs. New Ross            Home              2.00pm            Leinster U17 Prem League Q/Final
J4 vs. Seapoint                  Home              2.30pm            Leinster J4 League

Sunday 22nd January 2012:

U9 vs. Greystones                 Away              10.30am           Metro Fixture
U12(3 teams) vs. Coolmine    Home              10.30am           Metro Fixture
U12(1 team) vs. N.Meath      Home              10.30am           North-East Fixture
U14 vs. Clontarf                   Away              11.30am           Leinster U14 School/Youth League
U15 vs. Boyne                     Home              11.30am           North-East U15 League
Ladies XV vs. OBRFC            Home              1.00pm            Paul Flood Cup
J3 vs. Dundalk                     Away              2.30pm            McGee Cup

U19 vs. Belgrano                Home              8.00pm            Argentinean Tour match
Ratoath U19 vs. Belgrano     Home              8.00pm           Argentinean Tour match