Victory eludes Navan in war of attrition

This was a game Navan could, should have won. They had the chances, the opportunities to put the visitors away. They just couldn't take them.

It was a little wonder the Navan players looked downcast after this AIL Div 2A encounter ended at Balreask Old on Saturday.

They got a draw but it should have been a victory and that will preoccupy coach Ray Moloney and his troops this week when they look back on the video of the match.

Paddy Fox and Hardus Van Eeden both powered over for tries for the home side. They were well worked scores too but Navan couldn't break through for a third despite exerting tremendous pressure, especially in the closing minutes when only some tenacious Nenagh Ormond tackling held them at bay.

The game was played in horrendous conditions. The texture of the play dominated by an icy, swirling wind that was in Navan's favour in the opening half but which conspired against them after the break.

That, you might think, would have resulted in them dominating the opening half and having to defend like demons in the second-half. It didn't quite work out like that. Navan launched some enterprising attacks all right in the opening stanza but ironically they played their best rugby after the break - yet still couldn't close out the deal.

This was a strange game in some ways. Both teams had spells dominating the scrums. One scrum could be controlled by Navan, the next could be dominated by their opponents, consequently nether side were able to use that aspect of the game as a platform for ultimate victory.

At times Navan moved the ball through the phases in a controlled measured way. That ability was able demonstrated in the way they engineered the opening try of the game on 28 minutes. Winger Fox made a clever, blistering burst.

A ruck was set up close to the Nenagh tryline. The ball was moved out to Jack Nelson who smartly off-loaded to Fox - and he skipped over in the corner. Mark Farrell was unable to add the extras, hardly surprising considering the conditions.

The previous week Nenagh Ormond had defeated Navan 31-15 and they enjoyed spells of supremacy in this contest, particularly in the lead up to half-time with the power of their pack helping them carve out a try scored by Kevin O'Flaherty with Conor McMahon converting and it stayed 5-7 at the break. O'Flaherty scored again from penatly soon after the resumption.

Throughout the second-half Navan put together some incisive, attacking moves. Full-back Simone Ragusi showed a fine range of kicking skills. Players such as Eoghan Noonan, Jordan Finney, Leigh Jackson, Shane Faulkner, Conor Farrell made the hard yards.

They tackled like tigers too and while it led to some stymied, fruitless attacks they had their rewards also.

Relentless work at the breakdown led to Navan's second unconverted try scored by Van Eeden on 67 minutes after a spell of measured, controlled play, the ball moved through the phases.

Navan undermined their own efforts by knock-ons, wrong options, and unforced errors (although both sides committed many of those). At one stage Navan won a penalty close to the Nenagh 10-metre line and bravely Mark Farrell kicked for the posts against the wind. Again, not surprisingly the shot didn't make the posts.

Navan continued to attack as the seconds ticked down. They just couldn't find a channel, a routeway through. They had to be content with the draw.

After the final whistle both sets of players engaged in some pushing and shoving. Words were exchanged but peace and calm soon broke out again. A draw was the fairest outcome.

Navan - Simone Ragusi, Ramirez Leondro, Evan Dixon, Ben McEntagart, Paddy Fox, Ben Stephens, Mark Farrell; Liam Carroll, Jack Nelson, Jordan Finney, Eoghan Noonan, Conor Hand, Shane Faulkner, Conor Farrell, Hardus Van Eeden. Subs - David Clarke, Leigh Jackson, Andrew Beggy, Rory Gordon, Gabriel Akinwande.

Nenagh Ormond - James Finn, Patrick Scully, Willie Coffey, John Healy, David Gleeson, Conor McMahon, Nicky Irwin; Mikey Doran, Dylan Murphy, Jack O'Keeffe, Jake O'Kelly, Kevin O'Flaherty, Robert Buckley, John O'Flaherty, John Hayes. Subs - Peter O'Connor, Sean Frawley, Joseph Coffey, Evan Murphy, Derek Corcoran.

SEE MATCH REPORT AND INTERVIEW WITH LOCK FORWARD CONOR HAND WHO WON A 100 NAVAN CAPS IN THE AIL AGAINST NENAGH IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE.