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Saturday 26 October 2024

Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30

Match Referee: Christopher Lough

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

On behalf of Naas Rugby Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and in particular our visitors from UCC and their President Charlie Haly to Forenaughts, for today’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture.

In the previous two seasons we have had four highly competitive and entertaining matches with today’s opponents With an average of 60 points scored in each game, there has been little between the sides Naas have managed to come out on top in each of the four matches.

UCC have had a strong start to this season and, sitting in second place coming into today’s encounter, they are one of the form sides in the league. After a narrow defeat in their opening game in Highfield, Naas had two impressive wins over Queens and Shannon but lost out to Old Wesley last week, leaving us in fifth place in the table

Naas will be eager to make amends for that reversal and continue their recent form against today’s opponents, who will be eager to buck the trend of the last two seasons and build on their fine start to 2024/25. It promises to be another top quality encounter and I wish all players a good and injury free game

Last weekend the IRFU called on all clubs to take part in the Respect Our Game campaign Pictured on the front cover, our squad showed their support for the initiative as they donned their spirit of rugby / respect our game bibs.

Naas RFC and the game of rugby itself is founded on the principles of integrity and respect. The campaign is a reminder to us all of the values of rugby that we should always adhere to Please take a minute to read through the Naas RFC Code of Conduct on the following page, follow these guiding principles and especially show respect for our match officials. Without them we wouldn’t have a game.

I would like to thank 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.

Enjoy the match and don’t forget that our next fixture is away to Trinity on Saturday, November 9th and all support will be greatly appreciated

Gerry Prendergast

President Naas RFC 2024/25

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

NAAS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

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.

THE CLUB RESERVES THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REFUSE ADMISSION TO THE GROUNDS.

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK

8. Darragh Murphy Naas AIL Caps: 4

6. Ryan Casey Naas AIL Caps: 106

7. Will O’Brien Captain NaasAIL Caps: 123

5. James O’Loughlin NaasAIL Caps: 18

4. KoloaAisake NaasAIL Caps: 4

2.Aidan O’Kane NaasAIL Caps: 9

1. Conor Doyle NaasAIL Caps: 88

3. Kaleem Niazi NaasAIL Caps: 3

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK

11.

9. Cormac King

12.

10.

13.

15.

Naas AIL Caps: 4

Paddy Taylor Naas AIL Caps: 4

Peter Osborne Naas AIL Caps: 157

Charlie Sheridan NaasAIL Caps: 39

Michal Haznar NaasAIL Caps: 6

Jack Sheridan NaasAIL Caps: 25

14. Donal Conroy NaasAIL Caps: 57

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT

16. Francisco Bartorelli Naas AIL Caps: 15

17. Stephen Lackey NaasAIL Caps: 46

18. Eoin Walsh Naas AIL Caps: 73

19. Muiris Cleary NaasAIL Caps: 24

20. David O’Sullivan Naas AIL Caps: 1

21. James O’Kane NaasAIL Caps: 4

Fixtures & Results

Naas 10 – 22 Old Wesley | 19/10/24 | Match Report

Week 4 of the 2024/2025 Energia AllIreland League Division 1B season saw Naas entertain Old Wesley at Forenaughts last Saturday afternoon. Games between these sides have a habit of being high scoring affairs, and although this was not the case here, an enthralling contest ensued between two fine teams.

On a glorious day for rugby, there was an extremely large crowd in attendance, with Naas suffering a blow before kickoff with the news that Jack Sheridan was unable to play due to injury.

After their victory over Shannon in their previous encounter, Naas came into this fixture in confident form, they immediately went on the attack, and almost hit the front after just six minutes. From a line-out in the Wesley 22, Naas set up a powerful driving maul that took play right up to the try line before been stopped.

A series of pick and goes followed, with Wesley defending desperately to hold Naas out However, referee Rob McGreer deemed that a Naas player crawled on the ground when in possession and awarded Wesley a relieving penalty

The visitors took full advantage of this reprieve by opening the scoring after 11 minutes A series of powerful carries by their forwards sucked in the Naas defence, before the ball was moved wide right out to Eoin Murphy who scored in the corner. Although Ian Cassidy missed with his conversion attempt Wesley led by five points to nil.

For the next 20 minutes the visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and territory, but credit must go to the Naas defence who limited their opponents to a few half chances and never really looked like being penetrated. Indeed, the next clear cut scoring chance went to Naas after 34 minutes.

A lovely, deft chip over the Wesley backs by Paddy Taylor was gathered by Charlie Sheridan, but the latter just lost control of the ball as he tried to offload. But within four minutes Naas did open their scoring account for the afternoon, when Peter Osborne slotted a penalty awarded for a high tackle on Michal Haznar.

But there were more injury woes for Naas when influential prop Adam Deay was forced to retire injured, and then on the stroke of half-time Ian Cassidy was successful with a penalty attempt to leave the half-time score 8-3 in favour of the visitors.

This lead was extended after 47 minutes, and Naas will be disappointed with the relative ease in which it was obtained. From a Wesley scrum just outside the 22, the ball was quickly moved wide left to Thomas O’Callaghan who ran in unopposed to score. Cassidy added the conversion to make it 15-3 in favour of the visitors.

To have any chance of getting something out of this game Naas had to score next, and they did just that after 59 minutes. From a line-out take by Will O’Brien inside the Wesley 22, the Naas pack elected to keep things tight and battered away at the Wesley defence.

Naas 10 – 22 Old Wesley | 19/10/24 | Match Report

The ball was then given to the backs and a crossfield kick by Paddy Taylor was gathered by Donal Conroy, who raced away to score. Peter Osborne made light of the difficult conversion attempt and Naas were right back in the game trailing by just five points – 15-10

The home side continued the offensive in a bid to snatch the leading score, but with just six minutes left they almost conceded another try Naas were attacking inside the Wesley 22, but coughed up possession and a sweeping move saw them go almost the entire length of the pitch, but to the relief of the home supporters, a knock on with the try line at their mercy saw the visitors spurn the scoring opportunity.

Then deep inside injury time just as Naas were consoling themselves that at least they were going to get a losing bonus point out of the game, Wesley snatched that from them. Some decent hands by the Wesley backs set up a chance for Paidi Farrell who finished in style, with Ian Cassidy adding the conversion Immediately afterwards the referee blew the full-time whistle, with Wesley victorious by 22 points to 10.

A disappointing defeat for Naas, who on the day can have no complaints as they were beaten by the better side, although they certainly could have done without the bad luck they received on the injury front. No doubt they will be eager to quickly make amends, and they will get the chance to do so next Saturday when they are again at home – this time to UCC Kick-off is at 2 30pm and as always, all support will be greatly appreciated.

The squad are pictured below before the game showing their support for the IRFU ‘Respect our Game’ campaign. Referee Rob McGreer of Ulster branch also showed his support for the campaign during the pre-match warm up

Naas: Peter Osborne, Donal Conroy, Charlie Sheridan, Michel Haznar, David O’Sullivan, Paddy Taylor, Cormac King, John King, Aidan O’Kane, Adam Deay, Koloa Aisake, James O’Loughlin, Eoin Walsh, Will O’Brien (capt), Ryan Casey. Replacements: Francisco Bartorelli, Conor Doyle, Darragh Murphy, Muiris Cleary, Lenny Valleyé, James O’Kane.

Old Wesley: Tom Larke, Thomas O’Callaghan, Alex Molloy, Eoin Deegan, Eoin Murphy, Ian Cassidy, Willem Johnstone, Harry Noonan, Kieran O’Shea, Cronan Glesson, David Motyer, Mahon Ronan, Reuben Pim, Josh Pim (capt), William Fay. Replacements: Rian Handley, Sam Kenny, Charlie Meagher, Shane Cawley, Andrew Doyle, Paidi Farrell.

Referee: Rob McGreer

Match report: Mark Herbert

Photos: Michael Linehan