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 RFC back in second after two great away wins!!!
Confident Win for Naas against Ards at Hamilton Park 7- 47
Saturday, 9th February 2012, Hamilton Park, KO 14.30 hrs
Naas travelled to Hamilton Park Newtownards on Saturday (9th Feb) for round 9 of the Ulster Bank League which was a rescheduled fixture. Naas kicked off the first half and dominated both possession and territory during the opening stages with a number of forays into the Ards 22 but did not pose any real early threat. However once Naas opened their account with an superb try from Rob O'Connor in the 26th minute they proved unstoppable and had a built up a significant 21 point lead at the interval thanks to two further tries by their talented centre Henry Bryce and conversions by David Aherne. By fulltime Naas had an impressive tally of seven tries, four of which had been scored by Henry Bryce, a try each Rob O'Connor, Daragh O'Shea and Paul Monaghan. With conversions coming from David Aherne 4 and Peter Osborne 2. This bonus point win for Naas at Hamilton Park has propelled them to second place overall behind Rainey Old Boys with whom they drew last weekend at Forenaughts. The question was could they hold that position or improve on it over the following three weeks with 2 away fixtures to Sligo and Armagh and then at home to Nenagh.
Next up was Sligo where Naas maintained their Winning Form in Strandhill 22-30
Saturday, 16th February 2013, Hamilton Park, Strandhill
Naas travelled to the scenic Hamilton Park, Strandhill on Saturday (16th Feb) last to take on Sligo in round 10 of the Ulster Bank League. A lapse of concentration from Naas in the opening minutes allowed Sligo fullback, Mark Butler to touch down unopposed just right of goal and he subsequently converted for an early 7 point home advantage. By the interval Naas found themselves trailing by 15-6 following a further penalty and try to Sligo compared to two penalties for Naas. In the third quarter however, Naas asserted themselves and scored two outstanding converted tries, the first of these by Henry Bryce and second by Brian Fitzgerald. A further converted try each in the final quarter together with a Naas penalty resulted in a narrow 8 point defeat for Sligo with neither team securing a bonus point.
Naas seniors are next in action on Saturday, 23rd February when they travel to Palace Grounds to take on Armagh who are currently in 6th place overall in the league. Their win over Sligo at Strandhill, has seen Naas retain their second place overall ranking behind Rainey Old Boys who are currently 6 points clear. The next Naas home game is against Nenagh Ormond on Saturday 2nd March
Naas stay 1 point ahead of NUIM Barnhall who had a narrow win away in Armagh last week and 5 ahead of Nenagh so the next two matches are very important in the promotion race. First 2 go up and 3rd goes into a playoff.
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Rainey OB | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 304 | 99 | 205 | 6 | 0 | 44 |
| 2 | Naas RFC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 307 | 148 | 159 | 3 | 1 | 38 |
| 3 | NUIM Barnhall | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 347 | 145 | 202 | 6 | 3 | 37 |
| 4 | Nenagh Ormond | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 218 | 124 | 94 | 3 | 2 | 33 |
| 5 | Boyne | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 188 | 155 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 32 |
| 6 | Armagh | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 215 | 118 | 97 | 3 | 2 | 31 |
| 7 | Navan RFC | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 196 | 172 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 31 |
| 8 | Skerries | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 201 | 173 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 28 |
| 9 | Instonians | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 185 | 269 | -84 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 10 | Sligo | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 140 | 212 | -72 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 11 | Sundays Well | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 173 | 256 | -83 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| 12 | Suttonians | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 167 | 248 | -81 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 13 | Clonakilty | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 164 | 257 | -93 | 1 | 4 | 13 |
| 14 | Thomond | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 148 | 204 | -56 | 0 | 5 | 11 |
| 15 | Ards | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 113 | 239 | -126 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 16 | Connemara | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 98 | 345 | -247 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Naas 21’s take a decisive step to an historic 3-in-a-row at Forenaghts
Naas U21’s beat UCD 31 to 19 in a power packed display of flowing rugby to remain on-line to win the U 21 JP Fanagan Pennant for a remarkable third year in a row. Naas scores came from a penalty off the trusty boot of John Jennings and four tries; two in the first half by Sean McNamee and Rob O’Connor and two in the second by Ryan Casey and the very impressive John Jennings with the fourth try helping Naas secure a valuable bonus point. UCD’s exciting Out-Half Phil Dwyer scored most of his team’s points with a drop goal and two penalties in the first half followed by another three pointer and a conversion in the second, however this impressive performance was equalled by John Jennings’s personal haul of 14 points.
The score at half time was 17-9 to Naas after playing up hill and against the wind. Two second half tries for Naas against a penalty and a converted try left the final score at 31-19. The game was played at a frantic and frenetic pace, whilst it was tough and uncompromising the referee did not have to impose any yellow cards which were a reflection on the sporting spirit in which the game was played.
Naas prevented the students from most scoring opportunities through dogged and determined defence. Ferocious tackling from forwards typified the performance of the entire team.
***
Then on Sunday last it was Provincial Town Cup time again. Naas J1’s were drawn at home to Edenderry RFC. Town Cup is different and as a player or coach if you don’t realize that you are in trouble. After the previous few weeks good results confidence was high but Edenderry arrived with a big determined pack and a useful set of backs. Naas were playing into the strong wind and up the hill in the first half and when they turned around only 4 points down (15-19) after scoring 2 great tries the feeling around was use the wind, move their big pack around and strike with our backline. Edenderry didn’t read the script their defence was superb and Naas kept the ball too close to their pack and only managed a penalty in the 2nd half while Edenderry got a breakaway converted try leaving the final score 18 -26. Although Edenderry deserved to win this felt like it was won that got away that we should have won. As I said The Towns Cup is different and very hard to win.
The Minis and youth are getting back to playing again after the cancelation s due to the weather the kids just love playing rugby.
Our North Midland Area and Metro matches are in full swing now and we have a full calendar from now until the end of the season with a few Blitzes thrown in also.
The U12’s and U11’s along with their normal commitments also sent 2 squads each up to play Sligo in a pre AIL friendly setting the tone for the day by winning all their games.
Last Friday Night Naas hosted the Leinster Presidents Dinner, all 22 Leinster Senior Clubs were represented, in the club house and a great night rugby chat was had by all, tough job been a president with 22 of those dinners to attend!!!
Till the next time keep following us on twitter @naasrfc for all the match and league updates hopefully we will be still in contention and best of luck to the Irish Boys and Girls in Scotland.
