Navan in pole position after fine performance

WHEN the time comes to reflect on their Leinster League Div 1 campaign at the end of the season, Navan may look on this result at Holmpatrick Park on Sunday as a defining moment. The Balreask Old outfit have yet to lose in the league and they continued on their winning ways with a rousing victory over a Skerries side who had also displayed some impressive form in their opening games. Navan went into this clash as table-toppers with their opponents just two points behind. Something had to give and eventually it was the home side who wilted in the face of a fully-committed, disciplined display from their opponents who dominated for long spells and thoroughly deserved their victory. Forwards thundered into each other, possession was ferociously fought for at the breakdowns and scores had to be dug out the hard way as both sides served up a rollicking encounter before a bumper crowd. Many of those who paid in were supporting Navan and they had plenty to shout about as their team set about playing controlled rugby that yielded well-executed tries from Sylvanus Iro and Simon Hogan. The impressive Ryan Roberts also played a very significant role in this win with three penalties all in the first-half that gave his side a 9-5 interval advantage. One of those penalties was scored from outside the Skerries 10-metre line. He also lofted over a textbook conversion from near the sideline. His current kicking form suggests that he could give a lesson or two to New Zealand out-half Dan Carter who missed a few sitters in the international on Saturday. Coach Brad Harris looked a happy man after his side did the business against Skerries, who had two players sin-binned, and he had every right to be as his team have now extended their lead at the top of the table to five points with Seapoint and Monkstown taking up the running close behind. Skerries" early season form suggested that this was always going to be a difficult assignment for Harris and his boys and so it proved. The Dublin side have a formidable pack. They also have a winger in Derek Keane who is well capable of switching on the after-burners as he showed when he danced past a few tackles to get the only try for his team on Sunday before the break and against the run of play. Helping Skerries out as an 'adviser' is former Irish international Jim Glennon. His coaching is undoubtedly helping their forwards who certainly punched their weight. Last season Navan lost at Holmpatrick against a Skerries outfit who had to win to avoid relegation. Since than they have added a few players from nearby AIL side Clontarf to their ranks and are considerably stronger. Navan also have also an ex-Clontarf player in their line-up this season. John Duffy from Navan spent a couple of seasons with Clontarf sampling the AIL fare. Duffy has combined well with Harris in the second row and both players helped to make up a very cohesive Navan forward unit in this tie. 'Navan have a very good set-up and I"m happy to be with them. Skerries really put it up to us today and they had a few players who I played with over the years. Skerries made it tough for us, as we expected,' said Duffy. This was a game when every Navan player had to put in his fair share of big hits and at number eight Iro, as ever, led the way in that department. The big Soloman Islander was superb around the scrums and rucks and he did well to finish off his try just five minutes into the second-half. One of the instigators of the move that led to the try was Iro as Roberts, Thomas Geraghty and Kieran Mattson were also involved. The score that killed the game off came minutes before the end when Navan stitched together another attacking move. Mattson took the ball from a scrum. Iro, Duffy and stand-in full-back Maurice McAuley moved the ball swiftly and skilfully out to Hogan who powered through in the left corner. The manner in which Navan held onto possession for long spells was impressive. They repeatedly took the ball into contact and set up rucks. They went through the whole process time and again with players such as David King, Iro and Bernard Smyth getting through a lot of work in tight situations. Smyth made valuable ground and also did well in the line-outs, winning the ball from the throw-ins before off-loading quickly to Mattson. Navan repeatedly made the hard yards then suddenly moved the ball out wide. When they came under sustained pressure in the closing stages of the second-half the Navan defensive formation held up to the pressure and Skerries were unable to add to Keane"s first-half try. Navan will take on Monkstown on Sunday, 30th November. With six games to go in the league they find themselves in a pole position and are looking good. Navan - M McAuley, T Geraghty, R Conaty, M Harrington, S Hogan, R Roberts, K Mattson; E King, C Brady, D King, B Harris, J Duffy, P Feeney, B Smyth, S Iro. Subs- S Dawson for Harris, T Clarke for P Feeney, J Baker for D King, E Dunne for Brady. Skerries - C Doyle, P Devitt, S Dempsey, R McAuley, D Keane, M Hewitt, P Beggs; P O"Connor, D Garry, D Dornan, B Murray, M Begeag, D Lee, R Connolly, J Sherlock. Referee - Kevin Beggs (Leinster Branch).