Inability to translate possession into scores proves costly for Navan

Balreask Old side face battle to avoid play-off spot

Navan...14

Cashel...26

It's a fundamental principal for any team if they want to be successful in a game, or achieve their goals over the course of a season, no matter the shape of the ball that is used.

They have to take the chances they create. They must be able to translate possession into something tangible on the scoreboard.

That reality was demonstrated forcefully during this AIL Div 2B at a wintry Balreask Old today.

Navan had plenty of the ball in hand but they were unable to make it show where it mattered most and they paid the ultimate price. They stumbled to a deserved defeat against a more clinical, more experienced team from the Premier County

Jason Harris-Wright's side stay third last but with second from bottom Ballymena defeating the anchor team Buccaneers (22-12) today also - as it was expected they would do - Navan's hopes of avoiding second last place, the play-off spot, remains very much aspirational.

They lead their closest rivals Ballymena by four points in the table, a slender, precarious advantage indeed as the closing stages of the season loom up ahead.

Time and again this youthful Navan side, shorn of a number of regulars because of injuries, threatened to break through but they were unable to do so - and paid the price.

Out-half Tom Gavigan and centre Evan Dixon did manage to go over for tries for Navan - both converted by Gavigan - but considering the amount of possession they had, and the enterprise and imagination they showed in their approach play, that final tally of 14 points could, should have been considerably more.

Despite edging, if not dominating matters in terms of possession in the opening half Navan trailed 14-7 at the interval, this despite the fact the visitors had a player sent to the sinbin.

Alan Flannery and Joseph Callery powered over for touchdowns for Cashel with Timothy Townsend converting both in that opening half. After the break Paudi Leamy and David Upton surged over while Ben Twomey converted one of those tries.

Cashel, who were penalised on several occasions for high tackles, were also reduced to 14 men at one stage in the second-half, but, again, the home team couldn't make hay. Navan in particular struggled in the line-outs with several of their own throws eagerly snapped up by opponents in red.

The closing minutes encapsulated how the game went for Harris-Wright's team. Playing high-temp rugby, Navan, relying on quick ball from a series of rucks, exerted sustained pressure on the beleagured, but rock-like, Cashel defence

Surging runs by Evan Dixon, Kyle Dixon, Shane Walshe and others made serious, significant inroads into enemy territory in those tense closing minutes. A neat, clever kick ahead and catch by Gavigan also looked like it might breach the Cashel defence but the team in red held firm.

They were considerably helped by some own goals by the home team who time and again coughed up possession - through knock-ons, turnovers, wrong options - when clinical, composed play was what was required.

Full-back Walshe was one of those who had a fine display for Navan, his afternoon embellished by some ultra-brave tackling, while conductor-in-chief Gavigan, who scored a brilliant, jinking individual try, was also a major influence.

Jordan Finney, Liam Carroll, Ben Wyse, Kyle Dixon and Harry Devlin were others who typified the home team's battling qualities. On this occasion such qualities just weren't enough.

With former Navan head coach Ray Moloney now guiding the fortunes of Cashel this was an example of sweet revenge for the Tipperary side as they had lost to the Balreask Old boys earlier this season.

The defeat leaves Navan with a real battle on their hands as the season's final stretch approaches. Somehow they must turn possession and effort into scores if they are to avoid a potentially treacherous route through the play-offs.

This game, and the morale-sapping result, forcefully demonstrated that stark reality.

Navan - Shane Walshe, Harry Devlin, Mathijis De Wit, Evan Dixon, Mark Coen, Tom Gavigan, Mark Farrell, Kyle Dixon; Liam Carroll, Gary Faulkner, Leigh Jackson, Jordan Finney, Tom Ciot, James Wyse, Ben McEntagart. Subs - Anthony Martinez, Shane O'Connor, Conor Ryan, Michael Brady, Jack Dixon, Noah Kavanagh.

Cashel - Ryan O'Sullivan, Padraig Leamy, Alan Flannery, Jamie Ryan, Tom Tobin, Timothy Townsend, Josh Pickering; Cormac O'Donnell, David Upton, Adam Shirley, Diarmuid Rowe, Ed Kelly, Alex Harold-Barry, Richard Moran, Joseph Callery. Subs - Sean O'Connell, Noel Roche, Mickey Wilson, Marcel Strydom, Ben Twomey.