Navan bring Cashel's winning streak to an end in Spafield

Cashel 14 Navan 17

On November 9 Cashel travelled to Greystones in Division 2A of the All-Ireland Rugby League and after a late onslought by the home team was repelled they came away with a three-point victory. It was an excellent performance, as Greystones had a penalty to level the game in injury time. They opted to go for the win but Cashel, with 14 men, held out, giving them five wins on the trot.

This set the scene for last Saturday when Navan came to town with no win to their credit. Navan have always been sticky opponents and seem to be able to turn over Cashel even when things are not going right for them. Saturday last was no different, as Navan put a halt to Cashel’s gallop with a very hard fought three-point victory in a thrilling game of high quality.

Cashel’s cause was not helped by the loss, through injury, since the Greystones game of key players James Ryan, Brendan Ryan and Mikey Wilson, all automatic choices if they were fit.

Conditions were wet underfoot, with a breeze favouring Navan in the first half. From the off it was clear that Navan were on a mission as they tore into Cashel, passing from side to side. They were almost in when a grubber kick to the corner was gathered by the Cashel defence. However they had a penalty advantage coming, which they kicked to the corner. The lineout maul drove to the line and they were in for a try, which was converted with an excellent kick. A seven-point lead was just what they needed after five minutes.

Cashel came back immediately, playing some excellent rugby with Alan Flannery and Jamie Ryan combining well in the centre. On fifteen minutes Cashel were almost in for a try but had a foot in touch. They kept the pressure on and bundled a Navan defender over the line, earning a five metre scrum. They threw everything at the Navan defence but at the last moment knocked on the ball and lost the chance.

Twenty minutes into the game Tim Townsend put in what looked like a good 50/22. The linesman awarded the lineout to Cashel but the referee reversed his decision. However, Cashel disrupted the throw, Ed Kelly secured the ball and raced to the line, offloading to Joseph Callery, who dived over for a try that Ben Twomey converted to level the game.

Navan were extremely adventurous with ball in hand and brought two try-saving tackles from Jamie Ryan and Callery.
As the half developed play swung from end to end. Navan had a number of lineouts close to the Cashel line but Cashel defended well and disrupted at least three. Navan were awarded a penalty and went ahead by three points with the kick.

Cashel were back attacking as half time approached, with multiple phases. They were awarded a penalty in front of the posts but opted for a scrum. They tried again to breach the Navan defence but handling errors gave possession back to Navan and they cleared their lines. Navan led by 10 points to 7 at half time.

Cashel had the breeze in the second half and kicked off to Navan, who kicked straight back to Ryan O’Sullivan. Ryan brought play inside the Navan half where a ruck formed. Marcel Strydom picked at the back of the ruck, saw a gap and raced to the Navan line to score under the posts. Ben Twomey converted to put Cashel 14 points to 10 ahead.

It was the perfect start to the second half that Cashel needed and one would have expected them to kick on from there. Navan had a different scenario in mind and kept the pressure on. Mid way through the half Cashel lost Richard Moran and Tom Tobin through injury. At this stage Cashel were under the pump on their own line. The penalty count went against them and eventually the referee lost patience with Cashel and awarded Navan a penalty try.

On sixty minutes Cashel missed a penalty kick, which would have levelled the game. Cashel had a number of good chances to put scores on the board as the game progressed but handling errors thwarted their efforts. Navan held their nerve to record their first win.

It was a disappointing result for Cashel but they can have no complaints. There is no doubt that the injuries to key players did not help matters. Navan celebrated as if they had won the league but to be fair to them they ground out a result when the chips were down.

Cashel travel to Galway Corinthians next Saturday. Corinthians are on top of the league with six wins and are backboned by the Connacht academy. It will be a difficult assignment but if progress is to be achieved then they must beat the top teams.

Cashel team (1-20): C O’Donnell, D Upton, A Shirley, B Crosse, E Kelly, A Harold Barry, R Moran, J Callery, M Strydom, T Townsend, T Tobin, J Ryan, A Flannery, B Twomey, Ryan O’Sullivan, S O’Connell, N Roche, J Callery, D Rowe, J Pickering.

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