Bonus point the only return at Balreask Old

The old saying, so near, yet so far, can sometimes be over-used when it comes to sport. Sometimes it is a phrase that perfectly sums up an occasion. It was definitely a case of the latter for Navan at Balreask Old on Saturday as they came tantalisingly close to picking up their second AIL Div 3 victory of the season. With the game moving into the closing stages it was Navan who led 8-6 and looking like they might snatch the long-awaited win. Then Nenagh won a penalty on the left touchline about 30 metres out. It was a difficult kick especially in the swirling wind and rain. Up stepped their out-half James Delaney to slot the ball between the posts and deny the home side the win they had worked so hard to engineer. The stopwatch showed that 71 minutes had been played. And that was summed up the division between the sides – Navan didn't take full advantage of the opportunities that came their way. Nenagh did and prevailed. Yet the home players were soundly clapped off their pitch by their supporters at the end and that said a lot about the quality of their display. Navan's play contained plenty of zest and zip and was fuelled by an adventurous, determined approach They produced some controlled, impressive rugby and it was no surprise that they came up with the only try of the afternoon on 61 minutes. It was a score that came after the ball was swiftly moved through the phases. A combination of quick ball from the rucks and clever running from the backs created the opening for Simon Hogan to run in at the corner. The conversion attempt was missed by Alan Hickey. Despite that, the touchdown was one of the highlights of a dreary afternoon weather-wise when the incessant rain turned the pitch into a quagmire. John Duffy, Johnny Baker, Kieran Joyce, Hickey, Bernard Smyth, John Davis and Leigh Jackson were all involved in working the ball through the phases with Hogan applying the finishing touch. There were many other highlights from this display that will give the supporters some hope that the team is going in the right direction – and that the elusive second victory in not that far away. There was the way Navan secured possession from their own line-outs with Duffy and Smyth the main targets of Baker's throws. There was the excellent work at the breakdown and the finges. There was one memorable incident late in the first-half when Navan won the ball from their own throw and set up a rolling ball that rumbled on for about 20 metres before collapsing. The move that had started so promisingly ended with a knock-on and the chance of a breakthrough was gone. That summed up much of the afternoon for Leon Jordaan's side. Whenever a Navan move started to gain momentum they were thwarted by a knock-on or some other infringement and the initiative was handed back to their opponents who got all their scores from the boot of Delaney. Right now a consistent, regular place-kicker is what Navan need to take the opportunities that come their way. It was that ingredient that proved vital in determining the outcome of this game. Nenagh led 6-3 at the interval with Navan's score coming from Martin Coll who did well to shoot over a penalty midway through the opening half. However, the out-half had a chance to become something of a hero when Navan won a penalty on 55 minutes in front of the posts and about 30 metres out. Coll's effort fell short and didn't look to have the direction although in the conditions it was a big test for the out-half. It as a miss that proved costly. The home scrum did struggle to contain a powerful Nenagh pack, but they just about did enough to secure possession to provide a platform for attacks. Clearly more work is needed to strengthen the scrum if further progress is to be made. Encouragingly for Navan when they made a series of switches late in the game they played with a more potent threat. Hickey took over as out-half and provided direction from behind the scrum with Coll moving out to the wing. Meath hurler Kieran Joyce came on and took up the scrum-half position. Nenagh controlled the closing stages although that had a lot to do with the fact Navan were down to 14 men after Davis was sin-binned. Nenagh haven't exactly been setting the league alight with their performances this season. They are a side built around a strong pack and they stress-tested the Navan defence on many occasions. The home team's defence wasn't breached and that was doubtless one of the main reasons why the Navan supporters were so pleased at the end. Once or twice Nenagh looked like they would get through and it took a superb, last-ditch tackle from Maurice McAuley to prevent a Nenagh player from racing clear to the tryline at one stage in the opening half. But the line held firm. No victory this time for Navan, but something to work on – and at least a bonus point to sooth the aching bodies after another bruising, if winless encounter. Navan – S Hogan, M McAuley, M Harrington, J Davis, T Geraghty, M Coll, A Hickey; R Gleeson, J Baker, D McDonagh, J Duffy, P Feeney, T Boyle, B Smyth, L Jackson. Subs – T Clarke for Feeney, C Joyce for Geraghty, A Keating for McDonagh. Nenagh – S Carey, S Harvey, J Kingston, T Connolly, G Harmse, J Delaney, M Fogarty; M Kennedy, D Dunne, F Brislane, J Quigley, S O'Callaghan, D Horan, R Williams, S Ryan. Referee – John Coyle.