Match Day Programme_07Feb by NRFCMatchProgramme

Friday 07 February 2025

Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 20:00

Match Referee: Sam Holt

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

On behalf of Naas Rugby Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Forenaughts for this evening’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture.

A warm welcome to our visitors from Dublin University Football Club, their President Stephen Tracey, players, coaches & supporters who have made the trip down the road to Naas.

Friday night fixtures here create a unique atmosphere, and I am sure that tonight will be no different Both teams come into the game on 24 points in the league and sitting in 7th (Naas) and 8th (Dublin University), separated by points difference only. When these sides met last November there was just the kick of a ball between them, with Dublin University emerging victorious on a 24 – 22 scoreline

Two evenly matched teams who play attractive rugby, eager to get a win in this crucial fixture, under the Friday night lights - all of which points to a cracking game of AIL rugby I wish both sets of players good luck and an injury free match tonight

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our 2nd XV on their recent victory over Edenderry in the first round of the 2025 Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup. We eagerly await the draw for the next round

One of the highlights of the season for me personally is the upcoming Annual President’s Dinner on Friday 21 February, here in the clubhouse Details of how to reserve your seat and book and pay are included later in the programme. I look forward to seeing you on the night

Many thanks to our club sponsors for their continued support A list of their names is at the back of the programme, and I would encourage you to support them where possible

Naas RFC and the game of rugby itself is founded on the values of integrity and respect. Please take a minute to read through the Naas RFC Code of Conduct towards the back of the programme Please adhere to these guiding principles and especially show respect for our match officials. Without them we would have no game.

We are on our travels for our next two fixtures. On 15 February we go to the Mardyke in Cork to face UCC, before doing battle with Old Wesley on 1 March in Energia Park. All support will be greatly appreciated as always.

Enjoy the match. Yours in rugby,

Gerry Prendergast

President Naas RFC 2024/25

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK

John King

NaasAILCaps:6

NaasAILCaps:17

JamesO’Loughlin

NaasAILCaps:26

Muiris Cleary

Naas AIL Caps: 30

Naas AIL Caps: 131 1 2 3 4 6 8 7

NaasAILCaps:11

Eoin Walsh

NaasAILCaps:79

Ryan Casey

Naas AIL Caps: 114

Will O’Brien(Capt)

Aidan O’Kane

Adam Deay

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK

CormacKing

NaasAILCaps:12

PaddyTaylor

NaasAILCaps:12

MichalHaznar

NaasAILCaps:13

Bryan Croke

NaasAILCaps:67

CharlieSheridan

NaasAILCaps:44

NaasAILCaps:33 13 12 10 9 11 15 14

Peter Osborne

NaasAILCaps:164

JackSheridan

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT

FranciscoBartorelli

NaasAILCaps:19

StephenLackey

NaasAILCaps:54

DarraghMurphy

NaasAILCaps:12

Donal Conroy

NaasAILCaps:65

CillianDempsey

NaasAILCaps:80

18 19 20 21

DerryLenehan

NaasAILCaps:30 16 17

Fixtures & Results

Blackrock College 36 – 29 Naas | Match Report

For excitement, drama and entertainment it would be hard to beat this Blackrock College versus Naas game in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B last Saturday afternoon. This match had all the ingredients to be a cracker

Naas travelled to Dublin having previously put up a great display in beating Nenagh, while Blackrock College sat in fourth place in the table, and it certainly did not disappoint. There were no less than 65 points scored, seven yellow cards shown and two penalty tries awarded, in a dramatic contest

Despite an earlier than usual kick-off time there was a large crowd in attendance in Stradbrook, and they witnessed Naas getting off to a dream start. After just two minutes Blackrock ran a ball just inside their own half, which Eoin Walsh managed to intercept.

After he was hauled down, a series of phases by the Naas pack followed, before the ball was moved wide left out to Jack Sheridan The Naas player rounded Liam McMahon with ease and sprinted away to score Within six minutes Blackrock made the same error. This time Cormac King intercepted and showing great speed the scrum-half raced clear to score. With Peter Osborne converting both tries, Naas had forged a 14-point lead.

This lead was reduced by 50% just five minutes later. From a line-out in the 22, Blackrock set up a powerful driving maul which was stopped just short of the line. Referee Paul O’Connor deemed that it was stopped illegally, and had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try and showing Cormac King a yellow card.

The home side made use of their man advantage and proceeded to dominate the subsequent minutes, and this pressure paid off after 21 minutes when a crossfield kick by Conor O’Shaughnessy found Brian Colclough out wide. He gathered the kick and scored in the corner, and although O’Shaughnessy missed the conversion Blackrock were right back in the game, trailing by just two points – 14-12.

Peter Osborne was unlucky to see a longrange penalty attempt drift narrowly wide for Naas after 25 minutes, and the home side hit the front for the first time after 33 minutes. After Charlie Sheridan received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, the subsequent penalty was kicked to touch

Again, Blackrock set up a driving maul, but this time it was met by stern resistance from Naas. However the Dublin men stayed patient and after a series of pick and goes, they eventually moved the ball out the backs to Liam McMahon, who got in at the corner. O’Shaughnessy was again off target with the conversion attempt.

Things got worse for Naas, as straight from the kick-off Blackrock stormed back on the attack and were awarded a penalty for a high tackle A shot at goal was turned down in favour of going to touch. From the line-out the driving maul was employed again, and somewhat harshly the referee deemed that this was also collapsed illegally. Another penalty try was awarded to the home side, with Aidan O’Kane the recipient of the yellow card on this occasion – the third Naas player to receive one in the first-half

Blackrock College 36 – 29 Naas | Match Report

Having conceded 24 unanswered points and now trailing by 24-14, Naas needed to get the next score, and they did. On the stroke of half-time Kaylam Tytherleigh became the first Blackrock player to receive a card after a high-tackle, and Peter Osborne made no mistake with his penalty attempt, to leave the score at the interval 24-17 to the home side.

Within two minutes of the resumption Blackrock had extended their lead with a fine try. After gaining possession just outside the 22, they moved the ball along the backline and a lovely wraparound in midfield created space out wide for Barry Galvin to score. O'Shaughnessy, who was not having a particularly good day with the boot, was again off target the conversion. But Naas were back within a score of Blackrock after 56 minutes

After the home side conceded a string of penalties in their own 22, the referee lost patience and showed Paddy Cowhey a yellow card. The visitors ran the latest penalty and after a couple of drives by the pack, Ryan Casey showed great strength to force his way over. Although the conversion was off target, Naas were back in contention trailing by 29 points to 22

The visitors will be disappointed with the concession of the next score after 64 minutes They lost a line-out in their own 22, and the home side needed no second invitation to punish them. Their forwards pounded away at the Naas line before Kaylam Tytherleigh spotted a gap in the defence and powered over. Conor O’Shaughnessy finally got off the mark for the afternoon with his conversion, making it 36-22 to the home side.

But Naas were not finished. Although they lost Jack Sheridan to another yellow card –for a high tackle – they rallied and finished very strongly

After 74 minutes Cillian Dempsey finished off some great work by the pack to score, and with Byran Croke adding the conversion the visitors were within seven points – 36-29 – as the game entered the final stages. Blackrock were now hanging on for dear life as Naas surged at them, and the Dublin side were relieved that after the visitors created a four on two overlap in injury-time, a pass went slightly forward, and the chance went begging. Soon afterwards the referee blew the full-time whistle, and Blackrock had held on to win a rip-roaring game.

Naas will be disappointed to have left Dublin defeated, but there are plenty of positives to take out of the game The major one is that two points were obtained, and these could be vital come the end of the season.

Blackrock College: Brian Colclough, Liam McMahon, Matt McCarthy, Paddy Cowhey, Barry Galvin, Conor O’Shaughnessy, Jack Ringrose, Paddy Moore, Liam McMahon, Joe Byrne, Roy Whelan (capt), Kaylam Tytherleigh, James Burke, Dave Fortune, Odhran Ring. Replacements: Jack Angulo, Andrew Savage, Jack Mullany, Naoise Golden, Tommy Butler, Oliver Coffey.

Naas: Peter Osborne, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Paddy Taylor, Jack Sheridan, Bryan Croke, Cormac King, Stephen Lackey, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Deay, James O’Loughlin, Eoin Walsh, Ryan Casey, Will O’Brien (capt), Darragh Murphy. Replacements: Francisco Bartorelli, John King, Muiris Cleary, Cillian Dempsey, Derry Lenehan, David O’Sullivan.

Referee: Paul O’Connor. Match report: Mark Herbert

Spirit of Rugby

NAAS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

Respect our Game Respect our Game

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS, PLAYERS, COACHES & SUPPORTERS

A person shall NOT ABUSE, THREATEN OR INTIMIDATE a player, referee, touch judge, match official or steward whether on or off the field of play and on club grounds.

A person (inclusive of players) shall NOT USE RACIAL, CRUDE OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE OR GESTURES TOWARDS a player, referee, touch judge, match official, steward or spectator.

CLUB OFFICIALS AND STEWARDS

Shall be entitled to request any person to leave the club grounds for behaviour that they deem to be inappropriate or in breach of the code of conduct.