Roots & All is a project where we pick a few teams that don’t normally make the spotlight week in week out and feature them regularly throughout an entire campaign.
Naas 1st Played in the Leinster Senior League Shield last Friday Night against Skerries RFC in bitterly cold windy conditions in Coolmine RFC
Both teams seems to be suffering from nerves in the early stages of this final and the kickers found it difficult to get a handle on the swirling wind with a number of misses by both sides and the only score in the first half going to Skerries with a well worked try under the Naas Posts which was converted leaving the score 7-0 at half time.
Turning around with the wind at the Naas backs (kind of) we thought Naas could do this but Skerries fought hard and defend well and held Naas to just the 2 penalties and in the end came out deserved winners 7-6
The U21s Continue to Lead in JP Fanagan Pennant
Naas Under 21 squad travelled to Belfield on Sunday 9th December for their final competitive game of the year in Phase 2 of the JP Fanagan Pennant where the took on UCD for the second time this season. Having previously beated UCD by a decisive margin of 36-0 this proved a much more competitive encounter with both teams level at the interval on 3 points. UCD extended their lead early in the second period with a short range penalty, however Naas dominated the final quarter and scored two outstanding tries by their impressive wing, Ian Tyrell to eventually win out by 13-6.
Naas u21s will be back in action in the JP Fanagan Pennant early in the New Year
The great cup competition that is the Leinster Provincial Towns Cup starts up it January and here’s a little history taken from the Leinster website
The Provincial Towns Cup trophy is one of the oldest trophies in existence in Irish Rugby. It was purchased in 1892 for £25 from Wests in Grafton Street, Dublin. The Cup bears the title of Leinster Junior Challenge Trophy but it is not as old as the competition itself, which was established in 1889 - CO. KILDARE (NAAS) - 1 win – 1924
The conditions of the competition were changed for the 1926 running of the competition and only Junior Clubs who were located at least 18 miles from the General Post Office in O'Connell Street were eligible to compete. Enniscorthy won the final Leinster Junior Challenge Cup when they defeated Co. Kildare (Naas) by 10 points to 3 points at Lansdowne Road and also won the first Provincial Towns Cup in 1926 when they again defeated Co. Kildare (Naas) by 6 points to nil at Donnybrook. Enniscorthy "three in a row" wins (1925, 1926 and 1927) saw them graded as a Senior Club and they competed in the Senior Cup until 1930-31 season when they were regarded as a Provincial club at their own request.
Naas have appeared in 10 finals loosing 7 untill the firat win in 1995 then 1998 and the last win in 2005
This years Provincial Towns Cup Draw is as follows and the first round will be played on the 27th January.
Co. Carlow v Navan, Kilkenny v Portlaoise, Skerries v Wicklow, Athy v Wexford Wanderers, Mullingar v New Ross, Clane v Ashbourne, Cill Dara v Clondalkin, North Kildare v Longford, Gorey v Dundalk, Portarlington v Naas, Arklow v Edenderry, Rathdrum v Tullow, Roscrea v Boyne
*Tullamore, Newbridge and Enniscorthy (holders) received byes into the 2nd round
Finally The Naas U12’s will have the honor of entertaining the crowds at halftime on the 29th December at the Leinster v Connaught match. Unfortunately we can only play 15 (10 on the field and 5 subs) of our 73 U12’s, but the rest will be there supporting, watch out for the boys in Green and White Hoops!!!
Merry Christmas and hopefully we’ll be back for more Rugby Talk in the New Year!
