NENAGH ORMOND 21 NAVAN 20

Nenagh Ormond 1st XV finished off their AIL Division 2A league campaign with a narrow victory over Navan at Lisatunny yesterday. Both teams served up an entertaining match in cold blustery conditions with only the minimum between the sides at the end of 80 minutes. Nenagh played into the wind in the first half and and Navan had their first points on the board after 8 minutes when Navan kicked a penalty from in front of the posts after Nenagh were deemed offside at a ruck. On 13 minutes Nenagh gained some territory inside the Navan 22 and were awarded a penalty 10 metres out in front of the posts. Spotting that the Navan defence expected Nenagh to take the 3 points on offer , second-row Kevin O'Gorman seized the opportunity, took a quick tap and dotted down for a try which Gary Kavanagh converted. The lead changed hands again when Navan got a converted try on 24 mins.

Nenagh went ahead on the 30 minute mark with a fine individual try by Gary Kavanagh following some neat interplay down the right hand touchline. The out-half kicked a superb conversion from the touchline into a strong headwind to leave Nenagh leading by 14 - 10 . However Navan scored a second try on 35 mins which was not converted to leave them ahead by just one point at the break.

Two more tries were to follow in the second half - one for each side. On 47 minutes Nenagh captain John Healy went over for a try under the posts which Gary Kavanagh converted. Navan scored their try on 53 minutes but the conversion was missed. This proved to be the final score of the game. Navan emptied their bench and after a period of sustained pressure on the Nenagh line looked like they would score again. However, thanks to some heroic defending by Nenagh, and an inexplicable on-field decision by Navan to spurn the 3 points on offer when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, and instead opting for a scrum, meant that Nenagh held on for a narrow win.