Navan back on winning track at Balreask Old

One of the posters pasted up at Balreask Old to advertise this AIL Div 2B encounter had suggested that it could be "a Christmas cracker". The prophesy wasn't to be too far off the mark as both sides went about winning the game by utilising the dry, if bitterly cold, conditions and throwing the ball around in an adventurous, all-out fashion. It made for an entertaining afternoon for the punters and while Navan picked up four points their supporters had to survive their share of nervous situations particularly in the second-half when Armagh came storming back and looked like they might return home with something in the bag. The contrast between Navan's first-half display and what they served up for most of the second-half could hardly be sharper. Arguably, Leon Jordaan's side produced their best 40 minutes of rugby all season in that opening half when, scrummaging apart, they were dominant in every aspect of play. They deservedly led 12-0 at the break and six minutes into the second-half they made it 19-0. The bonus point looked on the cards, an easy victory assured. Then they lost their way, allowed Armagh to rule the roost for a lengthy spell before surging back in the closing stages with a late penalty - the only successfully executed one of the game - from Dave Sheridan. That score put enough daylight between the sides to allow the home supporters to relax for the closing stages knowing that it was going to take something really special from the visitors to plunder a win. And Armagh rarely looked like a side who could manage that. All afternoon the Navan forwards created problems for their opponents in the line-out and this was flagged as early as the second minute. Armagh won a line-out a few metres from their own line. Navan's Leigh Jackson managed to steal the ball, his side got a push on and David King rumbled over for a try. Once King gets a run at opponents it usually takes two, maybe even three players to take him down. By the time they managed to do that in this instance he was over the line and Navan had their perfect start. Sheridan missed the conversion, but it got better for him and his side soon after. After 21 minutes the home side, now playing with cohesion and confidence, put together a sustained series of phases. John Duffy, James McGahy, Sheridan, David Delahunt, Jack Mullins and Riaan van der Vyver were all involved in getting the ball out to Simon Hogan (pictured) who won possession about 15 metres out. He switched on the after-burners and scooted over in the corner. Sheridan nailed the conversion with a super effort from the right touchline. Throughout the afternoon Sheridan showed a range of impressive kicking skills and his lengthy punts from behind the scrums or rucks was an important defensive ploy. His relaxed, languid style makes it look like an in-rushing opponent might close him down, but invariably he got his clearances away with distance. His place-kicking also suggests that Navan, at last, have found someone who can fill this vital role. Someone who is comfortable stepping up to the mark - and who strikes the ball with conviction. If Sheridan's first successful conversion was superb his second was equally as good. It came early in the second-half when Navan scored their third, and arguably, their best try of the afternoon. Navan stitched together a sweeping move that originated in a line-out steal by Duffy on the half-way line. The ball was swiftly moved wide. Scrum-half Delahunt, who was a busy presence all afternoon, Mullins, Hogan and van der Vyver showed quick hands to get the ball out to Maurice McAuley. The raiding full-back found space on the right wing and raced in at the corner. Sheridan nonchalantly slotted the ball between the posts for his second conversion. It looked game, set and match. It also looked odds-on that Navan would get a bonus point. Like the flick of a switch, the balance of the game changed. That change could be sourced back to when Paul Feeney was sent to the sin-bin with 68 minutes played. The loss of the big Ballivor man, who is a real powerhouse in the tight and the loose, resulted in Navan making switches in their forward division and, understandably, it took some time for the new-look combination to settle. By the time it did Armagh were back in the game big time with their two towering forwards Tinu van Wyk and James McCall rumbling over for tries while their centre Colm Atkinson tagged on a conversion that left them 12-19 adrift. Navan's tackling and defensive play was exemplary for most of the afternoon, vastly improved on the Cashel game, and it certainly needed to be in the closing stages as Armagh came looking for redemption. The Ulster side just didn't have the sparkle or the craft to carve out another opening although it took a fine tackle from van der Vyver to prevent the visiting winger Matthew Irwin, who is a real speed merchant, from tearing away with only open space between him and the Navan tryline. The ball, instead, was moved downfield by Navan who won a penalty about 40 metres out which Sheridan missed. They were awarded another two minutes later. This time Sheridan nailed it and the relatively safe 10-point gap was opened up. The closing stages were comfortable for Navan with Shane Dawson winning some vital ball at the breakdown and held on to end the year on a high. Navan - M McAuley, T Geraghty, R van der Vyver, D Sheridan, S Hogan, J Mullins, D Delahunt; M Liddle, J McGahy, D King, J Duffy, T Boyle, P Feeney, S Dawson, L Jackson. Subs - D McEntee for McGahy, C Brady for Dawson, D Geraghty for T Geraghty, J Sheridan for Boyle, R O'Brien for Delahunt. Armagh - R Rainey, A Willis, J Allen, C Atkinson, M Irwin, J McBriar, H Doyle; J van Rooyen, J Johnston, P Fletcher, P Hill, B Bassett, T van Wyk, P Elliott, J McCall. Subs - B McConnell for Fletcher, J Morton for Bassett, Bassett for Hill, M Stenson for Allen, T McNiece for Rainey. Referee - Dermot Blake (Leinster Branch).