Cashel RFC continue their impressive winning run with an emphatic home defeat of Navan

All Ireland League - Division 2A - Round 7

Cashel RFC 32

Navan RFC 18

On Saturday last at Spafield Cashel, the hosts, went head to head with Navan, a team they have had many hard battles with over the years.

It was a game that simmered from the start, bubbled and then exploded for a few minutes and eventually ended with two brilliant tries from Ryan O'Sullivan which earned Cashel a very hard-won five points.

This Cashel team had a target on its back as it went about adding to its five-game winning run. It was clear from the very start that Navan were on a mission as the players cheered and roared at each win on the pitch, be it a turnover, a penalty or a score.

It's a new trend in rugby at every level which adds nothing to the game. Cashel on the other hand went about their business with quiet determination.

The game was played in perfect conditions and spectators did not have time to feel the cold as the game swung from end to end.

The first 15 minutes were played between the two twenty twos with Navan having a slight advantage. They had a huge pack and their inter-passing between backs and forwards was very impressive.

Brendan Crosse made a very important intervention at the breakdown on eleven minutes to win Cashel a penalty. Navan drew first blood when, from a scrum on their ten-metre line they ran the ball to the winger who raced in for an excellent try.

From the kick-off Crosse again gained possession at the breakdown, Cashel were awarded a penalty and Ben Twomey converted. Both teams were determined to run the ball.

The scrums were very evenly matched and both did well on their own lineout ball. Navan looked the better side in the first quarter and continued this into the second.

They extended their lead on 27 minutes with a replica try as they ran the ball from their half to score in the corner. The try was converted from the touchline with an excellent kick. Back came Cashel with Jack Evenden making a break which was halted with a high tackle on the 22.

Ben Twomey added the three points. As the game ebbed and flowed Brendan Ryan won a penalty at the breakdown for Cashel around halfway.

A pinpoint Twomey kick earned them a lineout five metres out. The maul was set up and Cathal Ryan was at the back to touch down had come on shortly before that for the injured Dylan Foley. This left the half-time score Cashel 11 Navan 12. It reflected the closeness of the contest.

Navan began the second half with a long spell of pressure and stretched their lead by three points with a penalty. Then after 50 minutes what had simmered and bubbled all day boiled over into an outbreak of indiscipline. Navan were reduced to 14 men with a red card and a Cashel player received a yellow.

Another Cashel player received a slight adjustment to his facial features but was able to continue. Cashel had a chance to narrow the gap with a penalty but it drifted narrowly wide.

This seemed to inject new life into Cashel and they began to get the upper hand. They were awarded three penalties in quick succession. The forwards began to turn the screw as they went through the phases.

The Navan defence was excellent but when the ball was passed to Jack Evenden he weaved his way to the line and as he lay on his back he reached behind his head and touched down. Not everybody would have the agility to do what he did but it was a game changer.

Ben Twomey added the two points and Cashel were three points ahead. The lead lasted three minutes as Navan levelled with a penalty in front of the posts. With 20 minutes left the score stood at 18 points each and the fat was in the fire with the next score going to have a huge impact.

As the fourth quarter commenced Ben Twomey was weaving his way ten metres inside the Navan half. He was taken out and Cashel were awarded a penalty which hit the post. The stalemate continued until the 70th minute.

Navan kicked a ball directly to touch thirty metres out. Once again the forwards did the hard work, the ball went through the backs and Ryan O'Sullivan raced in for a try in the corner. Ben Twomey converted.

It was a wonderful score. Cashel went after the try bonus point which looked very unlikely ten minutes before that. We had to wait until two minutes before the end for the score of the day.

Jack Evenden earned Cashel a lineout just inside the opposition's 22 with an excellent 50/22. The forwards won the lineout and made some ground before passing to Jack Evenden. He sent a beautifully weighted crosskick to Ryan O'Sullivan on the right wing.

Ryan had work to do to get to the ball but he caught it on the bounce and raced in for his second try. Both tries were brilliantly taken. Ben Twomey added the two points from the touchline. Final score Cashel 32 Navan 18.

The margin does not reflect the closeness of the game which was tough. There is no doubt that the red card transgression was a burden on Navan. On the overall run of play, Cashel deserved their victory and stretched their unbeaten run to six games.

There were many fine performances on the day but special mention must go to Ryan O'Sullivan who took his two tries in fine style. Next Saturday Cashel travel to Limerick to take on Old Crescent in round eight.

Cashel RFC (1-20): C O'Donnell, D Foley, B Ryan, B Crosse, E Kelly, A Butler, J Ryan, C Ryan, J Pickering, J Evenden, T Tobin, J Ryan, R Kingston, J O'Sullivan, B Twomey, C Ryan, A Shirley, H O'Donoghue, K O'Connor, R O'Sullivan.