No new year cheer on show at Balreask Old

As Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan pointed out in a national newspaper interview last week there is a saying in rugby that “forwards decide a game and the backs by how much.†When it came to battle of the forwards in this AIL Div 3 game the Navan forwards did every bit as well as their opponents – except in the scrum. Any-one looking for a perfect example of just how important the scrum can be in deciding a game of rugby would have found it at Balreask Old on Saturday. While the Banbridge pack didn't have an obvious advantage in terms of weight, when it came to technique and experience their scrum proved much more effective and it provided the platform for this comprehensive victory. The Ulster side, who are pushing for promotion, got two tries with both of them coming from scrum situations. From their own put-in, five metres from the Navan tryline Banbridge were able to get the push on and rumble over for touchdowns. Both were scored in the opening half with their number six Colin Bickerstaff getting across the line. Each was converted by out-half Robin Thompson who also got two penalties, one in each half. The two tries, conversions and one penalty ensured that it was the visitors who went in at the interval with a 17-6 lead and you knew it was going to take a big display from Navan in the second-half to rescue the situation. Navan did string some good phases of play together, yet all too often the wrong option was taken and Banbridge, who have former Irish international Simon Best as an assistant-manager, were only too happy to clear from the danger zone. Despite the problems they faced in the set-pieces it was the Navan forwards who produced the best individual displays of the afternoon. It was the forwards who shone in the collusions, the breakdown and in the close-in, thunderous exchanges at various points throughout the pitch. When it came to tackling and getting up close and personal with their opponents players such as Bernard Smyth, Paul Feeney, John Duffy, Leigh Jackson and Tom Boyle could not be faulted. Jackson showed a good turn of speed near the end to chase down and tackle an opponent who was just metres from the tryline. Johnny Baker, on his way back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, also put in a lot of good work in the loose and tight before he was substituted in the second-half. Smyth did particulary well at the breakdown exerting pressure and doing the type of work needed to deny Banbridge clean ball. In the line-outs, the visitors had their share of difficulties and Navan profited a few times with a number of steals executed. Navan never showed enough guile to break through the opposition defence for a try despite enjoying spells of territorial dominance, when they put together seven or eight phases of play. At one stage in the opening half Banbridge had two players sin-binned, yet they still held out. The home side looked like they might take something from this game early on when Ciaran Joyce lofted over two penalties from about 30 metres out, the second coming in the 14th minute. Joyce looked to have the composure of a place-kicker who can take the chances that come his way yet Navan opted to kick for the corners when they were awarded penalties later in the game as they went in search of tries. Each time Navan sought to get possession from a throw-in that came from a penalty kick, they were prevented from crossing the line by a combination of dogged Banbridge defending and unforced errors. Time and again, especially in the latter stages knock-ons or poor passes prevented Navan from exacting the full potential from promising moves. At one stage, late on, Navan moved the ball through six or seven phases only for Banbridge to get a turnover when the tryline was within touching distace. Martin Coll (pictured) and Mark Harrington were both thwarted in attempts to make significant breakthroughs when the ball squirted from their grasps. Part of the problem for the Balreask Old side is that because of a shortage of experienced manpower they have had to put players in unfamiliar situations. Darren McDonagh, who is a number eight, has had to play as a prop and David Delahunt who has performed as a scrum-half was utilised as a winger in this game. Rory Gleeson, a flanker had a spell at loosehead. Alan Hickey, who has played in the past as a full-back or centre, was pressed into action as a scrum-half. All the players did as much as they could, however, with an unbalanced team and a scrum that was under pressure at every put-in, Navan were inevitably going to struggle. Navan's best hope for the longer term is the bring players through from their successful under-age teams yet that will take time. One of the graduates of the under-age system is Andrew Keating who is still a teenager yet who is gaining valubale experience at this level and is certainly one for the future. “There's a lot of positives to take from today, the result obviously didn't go our way but we played some enterprising rugby,†said coach Leon Jordaan. “The big thing really was to get a bit of pride back and play with a bit of passion, get a bit of fight into us and when the whistle blew at the end we were happy to fight for another 10 or 20 minutes.†Navan – C Joyce, S Hogan, D Delahunt, M Harrington, J Davis, M Coll, A Hickey; D McDonagh, J Baker, A Keating, J Duffy, P Feeney, T Boyle, B Smyth, L Jackson. Subs – R Gleeson for McDonagh, T Clarke for Boyle. Banbridge – B Purvis, S Cowan, A Morrison, J Little, A Finlay, R Thompson, J Pollock; M Cromie, J Murphy, B Hanna, S McKinstry, C Allen, R Patterson, C Bickerstaff. Referee – Ger English (IRFU).