Navan suffer first league reversal

For the second week in a row Navan came up against Munster opposition when they hosted Midleton in the All-Ireland League Div 3 at Balreask Old on Saturday and just like they did against Garryowen seven days previously the home ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline. The only difference this time was that instead of the score-fest against Garryowen this turned out to be a close-fought affair with the outcome in the balance right to the end. It's not often that Navan fail to conjure up a try in a game, this was a real battle between two packs and while there wasn't much in the way of expansive, quick-moving rugby it was still an enthralling encounter, a real war of attrition with plenty of honest endeavour by both sides. Both teams went into the game unbeaten. Midleton have a mobile, tenacious pack and are particularly good at winning ball at the breakdown. When they moved the ball out wide they posed a lot of problems and they have pacy United States international centre Junior Sifa who broke through for the game's only try early in the first-half. Midleton achieved a high quota of turnovers, going into the breakdowns low and hard and while Navan bravely sought to match them, with Shane Dawson particularly impressive, it was never easy for the home side. The Navan players were bitterly disappointed by this defeat as they had put in a huge amount of tackles yet still ended up empty-handed. Midleton led 5-3 at the interval. They dominated for long spells of the second-half yet were unable to get a second-try, their ambitions thwarted by some heroic defensive tackling from the home contingent. David King, Thomas Clarke, Stephen Byrne and Brad Harris among those to put in big hits. Both scores came in the opening 20 minutes. The home side drew first blood when they were awarded a penalty for an infringement in the scrum about 25 metres out. Out-half Ryan Roberts strode up to slot the ball cleanly between the posts. Shortly afterwards Midleton put together an enterprising move that brought them inside the Navan '22'. The ball was popped up for their out-half Peter Broughton. His kick ahead, caught the Navan drift defence by surprise. Sifa raced into the space, won possession and bagged the touchdown. That looked to be the start of a high-scoring game. Instead we settled down to an intriguing, tense, battle between two sets of forwards. There were a series of crunching collision. At times the action was frantic as both packs fought for the upper hand. While Navan had their problems in the loose, they gradually exerted their superiority in the scrum, no mean feat against a side like Midleton who excelled at the breakdown. With the wind behind them in the opening half Navan had plenty of the ball and the opening half penalty count of 6-5 was a good indication of the amount of possession each side enjoyed. Midleton's Damien Smyth was sinbinned just before the interval although Navan were unable to take full advantage. Out-half Roberts pinned Midleton back time and again with some racking clearances and well-executed penalties while scrum-half Kieran Mattson caused plenty of unease in the opposition ranks with the dynamic little runs that are part and parcel of his game. At times Navan showed quick hands in getting the ball out wide however, they never looked like they might find a way through for a try. Despite this and the fact that Midleton dominated territory in the second-half, the home side could have snatched victory. Midway through the opening half Navan moved the ball skilfully through a number of phases forcing Midleton to infringe. A penalty was awarded about 30 metres out, a few metres to the left of the posts. Karl Manning stepped up to take the kick. With the capricious wind it was a difficult to nail and Manning's effort sailed just wide although there was some indecision among the touchjudges. In the context of the game it proved to be a crucial miss. At times the Navan did move with real menace. One such move in the opening half involved Mata Fifita, Roberts, Mattson, Harris and David Geraghty. They all showed quick hands to find precious space but like so many other attacking thrusts on the day it petered out with a knock on. At one stage in the second-half Simon Hogan was almost in the clear. It wasn't long before he was submerged in a sea of red as he ran out of limited space. Navan put phase after phase together in the closing stages without managing to find that elusive clink in the Midleton armoury. Navan - K Manning, D Geraghty, A Hickey, M Fifita, S Hogan, R Roberts, K Mattson; E King, J McCaghy, D King, B Harris, S Byrne, T Clarke, S Dawson, L Jackson. Sub - D Crinion for Dawson. Midleton - T Smith, J Hitchmough, J Sifa, D Smyth, J Gogarty, P Broughton, R Smyth; K Brierly, D Lee, R McArdle, M Murphy, A McCarthy, B Sweeney, M Cronin, M O'Connell. Referee - Stewart Douglas (Ulster Branch).