Bonus point gained could yet prove invaluable for battling Navan side

Navan...12

Instonians...19

Before this AIL Div 2A game got underway at Balreask Old on Saturday one Navan supporter spoke about his hopes for the afternoon. "If we get something from this game I might take some time out until Wednesday."

He was referring in his quip to the odds that were stacked against Navan - and how if they took anything from the game it would warrant a few days celebrations. He was speaking in jest but you felt too he was only half-joking.

Instonians are runaway leaders in the division. Navan are in the midst of a relegation battle that looks like it will rumble on until they last day of the season. Maybe the last kick.

The distance between the teams before the start of play was 39 points. A gulf. A chasm. And yet for much of this encounter, especially the opening half, if a visitor from Mars descended on Balreask Old they would have found it difficult to accept that Instonians were the runaway league leaders - and Navan the team scrapping near the basement.

The home team deserved their losing points, possibly more, and who knows it could yet prove to be the difference between avoiding the play-offs or not. Buccaneers are destined to finish bottom with either Ballymena and Navan looking to step away from the play-offs.

Navan's hard-grafting PRO Craig Williamson kept supporters constantly informed throghout the afternoon with up-to-the-minute results from elsewhere including the cheerful news for the Balreask Old faithful that Ballymena had indeed lost to Cashel. That meant Navan finished the day third from bottom, ahead of Ballymena - but only on scoring difference.

The challenge for Navan coach Jason Harris-Wright and his players is to reproduce the level of performance for 80 minutes going forward what they served up in the opening 40 minutes of Saturday's encounter.

Composed and structured in their play they were - partly thanks to a formidable pack, and especially a front-row combination of Liam Carroll, Gary Faulkner and Jordan Finney - also strong in the scrum forcing a series of early penalties from the visitors - and they deservedly took the lead on 17 minutes.

Navan won a penalty close to the Instonians posts. Enterprising out-half Tom Gavigan found touch. The ball was secured from the throw and moved swiftly out wide. Harry Watters, Shane Walshe worked the ball at speed to Tom Ciot who powered over in the corner.

Gavigan, calmly, skilfully arrowed the ball between the post from an awkward angle. Once again the Navan out-half was an influential presence for the the home side, intelligently finding touch and keeping his side on the front-foot for sustained spells.

The home team led 7-5 at the interval with Instonians only managing to get their try just before the break. The score came as a consequence of Navan proving unable to secure ball from their own line-out. The Ulster side broke, put a series of phases together and were in, Glen Faloon dotting down in the corner. The conversion was missed.

In the second-half Instonians showed why they are league leaders and champions elect. They didn't play any spectacular, ball-in-hand rugby. They just did the basics right and ran in for a second try scored by Neil Saulters soon after the break. The ball was secured from a line-out throw and Saulters powered over with Josh Eagleston converting.

Soon after a smiliar try was engineered by the Ulster side. Once again possession was secured from a line out before Ali Burke rampaged through with Eagleston converting. It was simple, power-packed rugby that carried a powerful message - get the basics right and work from there.

Throughout the afternoon there were some ferocious hits made by Navan players. The team's display was distinguished by heroic tackling and they deservedly took something from the game with a try just before the end. Gavigan found a fine touch from a penalty close to the Instonians' posts. Liam McAree secured the ball from the line out. Navan rumbled forward with a well contained rolling maul and Ben McEntagart scored a try under a pile of bodes.

Again, simple but effective rugby - and the bonus point could yet prove to be as precious as a nugget of gold in Navan's quest to avoid the drop. The supporter, who promised to celebrate in style, was very pleased- and he had reason to be.

Navan - Harr Watters, Sean McEntagart, Evan Dixon, Kyle Dixon, Shane Walshe, Tom Gavigan, Mark Farrell; Liam Carroll, Gary Faulkner, Jordan Finney, Liam McAree, Conor Hand, Michael Brady, Ben McEntagart, Com Ciot. Replacements - David Clarke, Leigh Jackson, Conor Ryan, Shane O'Connor, Jack Dixon, Noah Kavanagh.

Instonians - Bradley McNamar, Hugo Ellerby, Mark Keane, Ian Whitten, Glen Faloon, Josh Eagleson, Matthew Keane; Liam Kaprigiannis, Neil Saulters, Schalk Van Der Merwe, Robert Whitten, Ali Burke, Marty Voster, Mark Mairs, Andrew McGrath. Replacements - Jack Parkinson, Matty Nelson, Max Preston, Matthew Kilpatrick, Conor McGrath.

Referee - Shane Gaughan (IRFU).

* SEE MORE PICS AND ANALYSIS FROM GAME IN NEXT ISSUE OF THE MEATH CHRONICLE