(Our U14 side after an impressive win away to Portlaoise RFC on Monday afternoon)
Update: It was a quiet weekend on the adult rugby front with the Six Nations final weekend taking centre stage on the Irish Rugby front. With that not so insignificant event out of the way now though it is back to domestic matters and a massive few weeks beckon in the context of Nenagh’s 140 year history.
Sitting comfortably atop Division 2A of the Energia AIL, Nenagh’s senior team are 5 league points away from sealing their potential place as league champions and with it the opportunity to play Division 1 rugby for the first time. This is not to mention taking a place in the country’s top 20 rugby clubs. One wonders would those who established the club all those years ago ever have dreamt of such lofty heights, but now it is a real possibility.
Perhaps a word of caution though. With three games left from which to gather the elusive 5 points, there are none of them that have gimme written across them. First up this Saturday is a trip to North Leinster to face Navan RFC. While Nenagh enjoyed a comfortable win at home to the Meath side earlier this season, Balreask Old is a real fortress for the home side. Just last season Nenagh faced Navan in back to back games mid season and likewise had an easy outing at home, taking a 4 try bonus point in the process. Travelling to Meath 7 days later they would have anticipated more of the same, but ultimately had to battle to the last play for a score to take a hard earned draw and just two points. Any notions of wrapping up the league on Saturday will need to be put on the back burner as nothing will be taken easily on this trip. In fact with the bottom half of the league turning into a very tense battle for safety, the home side will be just as anxious to maximise their return and so there is danger everywhere in this one.
It may well be that Nenagh will still need something from their last home game a week later when MU Barnhall come to visit. They just so happen to be the remaining dog left in the fight for the league title currently and must win both this week and again in Nenagh to take the race to the final day. You start to see that the end game is not as straightforward as some might think!
Overall it makes for a really exciting few weeks ahead for rugby fans in Nenagh. Travelling support on this quest would be hugely appreciated as always. Kick-off in Navan is at 2.30pm on Saturday.
U14: Nenagh Ormond under 14s travelled up the M7 on Monday last to play Portloaise. We played them at Under 13 and it ended up being a titanic tussle with Nenagh winning 43-41. A lot can change in a year and Nenagh did not know what to expect going into the game.
Nenagh kicked off the game and really took the game to the opposition. Nenagh were moving the ball with intent and were very aggressive in defence. Nenagh were first on the score sheet. Kaden Fogarty made a great break in midfield and had the composure to draw the full back and pass to Freddie Mitchell who showed a clean pair of heels to burn the winger and score. The extras were added. Our second try was an excellent solo effort from James Dwyer who spotted a hole on the defense, burst through it and then beat their 15 with good footwork to score. Kaden Fogarty added the extras. The next try was scored by Portlaoise. The ball was turned over and their centre gathered and burst down the wing to score under the posts.
Nenagh responded well and scored the next few scores. There were some very good carries from Hugo Massy, Luke Slattery and Aidan Stead to give us go forward ball and from that we scored a further 3 tries in the first half. Anluan White got 2 with one try showing brilliant footwork to beat two defenders and score. Harry O Gorman kicked an excellent conversion into the wind for one of them. Aidan Stead finished off a good forwards try. Some good teamwork around the opposition 5m line eventually saw Aidan carry with intent to power over the line. Nenagh made wholesale changes as did the opposition at half time and the game tightened up somewhat. It was a ding dong battle with both teams defending quite well. Nenagh scored first in the second half. Anluan White finishing it off, after Scott Powell, Alex Monko, Sean Ryan made good yards earlier. Portlaoise scored 2 tries, one a good individual effort from their centre with Harry Walsh unlucky not to get him before the line.
Nenagh responded well once more and scored 2 more tries. Again Anluan scored and Scott Powell also got himself on the score sheet. Portlaoise scored one more try under the posts. The final score read 44-19. It was a good performance overall with some of the patterns in training showing in today’s game. Training continues Wednesday evening.
Table Quiz: The senior club will hold its annual fundraising table quiz in the Dapp Inn on this Friday night at 8.30pm. Tables are €40 for a team of 4 and a raffle for spot prizes will also take place on the night. Please spread the word to friends, family and other potential quizzards ahead of the night. All support would be greatly appreciated.
Split the Bucket: Congratulations to our most recent winner, John Flynn. Our Split the Bucket Draw continues to hand out a minimum of €500 in prize money every week. This is our main fundraiser and supports the work of the club at all age levels. Go to nenaghormondrfc.com/products to enter and be in with a chance to win our next weekly jackpot.
Coldplay Draw: The club currently have a draw for two tickets to Coldplay in Croke Park this Summer live on our Clubzap. Tickets for this show are almost impossible to source and for as little as €10 you could be in with a chance to win your way there and support our club in the process. Log on now to nenaghormondrfc.com/products to enter where a range of purchasing options are available.
Other Results:
U15: Nenagh 24 - Old Crescent 27
U18.5: Nenagh 24- Garryowen 26
Fixtures:
Senior: Nenagh vs Navan RFC. Saturday 23 March @ 2.30pm (Balreask Old, Navan)- Energia AIL
Underage: TBC, please follow social media updates for more info.
