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.
After the Naas First Teams last outing in the AIL they took a well earned rest for a week but that did seem to lessen the intensity. Last weekend they play Navan RFC in the Leinster Senior League Shield, Semi-Final played at home in Forenaghts. In a game played in perfect conditions Naas ran in 7 tries to 2 for a comprehensive win and a place in the final against Skerries to be played on 15 Dec at Donnybrook. This has been the Naas senior team’s sixth successive win in the Leinster Senior Shield and Ulster Bank Leagues and their desire to maintain early season momentum was obvious as their backline led by the very experienced Daragh O’Shea played a high tempo game which provided the home side with many try scoring opportunities.
With both teams due are to meet again in Naas in the Ulster Bank League on 2nd November, (under lights) it was evident at the end of the first quarter as Naas raced into a 19 point lead that the visitors faced a formidable challenge.
From the off Naas threw down the challenge to Navan and outran a sluggish defence. They kept the Meath side pinned between their 22 and midfield for most of the first half. Navan’s inability to breach the Naas defence meant that any momentum they got from very good scrummaging was lost as each of their attacks were stopped by excellent defensive work by an ever alert Naas backline. The 5th try of the afternoon came on 36 minutes with Naas leading 38-0 at half time and a 45-0 lead early in the second after a well worked team try. Navan did finish of with two trys of their own, but it was too little to late even against a Naas team that had empty the bench.
Naas play Skerries away in their next Ulster Bank League match at 2.30 on Saturday 27th October lets hope we are celebrating the continued run of victories
Our U21’s are following in the Seniors footsteps, coming away with a loosing bonus point from round 2 of JP Fanagan Pennant away to Seapoint and following that up with an impressive 75-0 win over Greaystones at home in round 3 last Sunday.
Else where in the club the positive atmosphere is filtering down through the ranks with all the youth teams 13’s 14’s 15’s 17’s 19’s, Minis 7’s 8’s 9’s 10’s 11’s 12’s and 2 girls teams, all playing last weekend, that’s about 650 boys and girls putting on the Naas shirt over the weekend.
The future of Naas Rugby Club in their 90th year looks bright.
On the social side we look forward to welcoming Mick Galway to our annual Business lunch this Friday. This is always a great day out, good food, wine a beer or two, good conversation and a good speaker! A friend of my once describe it “It’s like The best wedding your were ever at without the dancing” training Saturday morning should be fun!!
By the time we talk again Naas will have played two more Ulster Bank League matches, here’s hoping they can continue their good run – its all about momentum and keeping the injuries to a minimum at this stage. We could even be sitting in the number 1 spot in the league.
Personally I did complete the 16 hour Foundation Course so I’m now allowed to coach and Ref! youths rugby, didn’t learn a whole lot more about the game just how to coach it. Apparently I need to do level 1 to learn more about the game, so that’s next on my list but maybe next year
Till next time Happy Rugby MC
You can follow me on twitter @michaelcahill67 or Naas RFC @naasrfc
