Belfast blues for Navan men as u-14 girls win Leinster crown

It was not the way they would have wanted to end but Navan brought the curtain down on their AIL Div 2B campaign when they lost 15-20 to Belfast Harlequins at Balreask Old today. 

There was better news at under-age level for Navan as the club's u-14 girls returned to Balreask Old with silverware after they claimed the Leinster League Premier title in Cill Dara RFC earlier in the day. 

Already through to the play-offs with a chance of securing promotion to Div 2A, Navan experimented with their line-up giving a number of young players a chance to gain experience at this level.

Struggling Belfast Harlequins were also destined for Div 2B/2C relegation/promotion play-off before this game but they put a big effort into returning home with a victory which they achieved with the help of a late try. 

The teams were level 10-10 at the interval with Paul Kerry and Jonathan Siri going over for tries for the visitors while James Ring and Leigh Jackson replied for Navan. All four conversion attempts were missed. 

Early in the second sustained pressure from the Quins earned them a penalty scored by Mark Gribben. Navan hit back with a brilliant, individual, unconverted try scored by Robbie Waters that edged them 15-13 in front. 

Dominant in the scrums it looked like that might be enough to see Navan complete their campaign on a high however the visitors snatched victory with a late Kerr try converted by Gribben.

Next up for Navan are the play-offs starting next weekend away to Greystones and a chance for Alan Kingley's side to proceed into a play-off final. 

It was also a big day for Navan u-14 girls as they won the Leinster League Premier clash in Cill Dara defeating Wicklow 17-7 with the help  of tries from Anna Hilliard, Abby Moyles and Ciara Rennicks. Moyles also added a conversion. The team is coached by John Molloy. 

See match analaysis, quotes from manager Alan Kingsley and photographs from the AIL Div 2B game in this week's Meath Chronicle