Ormond continue winning start in beating Naas

RUGBY: Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B Round 2

Nenagh Ormond 31

Naas 21

Report: Shane Brophy at New Ormond Park

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Patrick Scully (Nenagh Ormond).

SCORERS – Nenagh Ormond: Tries – Scully (2), McMahon, Tynan, Brice. Convs – Stewart (3)

Naas: Tries – King, Conroy, Casey. Convs – Ticklepenny (3).

Any fears Nenagh Ormond might suffer a mental hangover from the winless experience in division 1A of the All-Ireland League last season have been well and truly dispelled as they continued their winning start to division 1B with victory over Naas on Saturday.

Off the back of an impressive opening day away win over Highfield, Ormond were pitted against a Naas side who themselves were winners in round 1 and came down the M7 with confidence as one of the touted contenders for promotion.

In the end it was a deserved victory for Nenagh, one that could have been more comfortable had they converted more of their opportunities in an utterly dominant first half but their coaching group will be more than pleased with how they reacted to a strong Naas fightback in the closing quarter until Matt Brice’s late try put the seal on the win.

Nenagh made two changes from the team that defeated Highfield with Munster academy prop Emmet Calvey starting at tighthead while new signing Oli Ayling made his first start in the back row, however, within thirteen minutes, the home side were forced into a change with wing Luke Graham forced off with a head injury. However, it inadvertently benefited them as it led to the introduction of Patrick Scully who went on to produce a man of the match performance in the centre, scoring two tries.

Honourable mention also to centre colleague Willie Coffey who sustained a stinger shoulder injury early on but ploughed on manfully until the 51st minute. However, following his removal, Naas scored two tries through his channel with the Toomevara man sent back in nine minutes later to help reassert control of proceedings.

Nenagh started brightly and busy flanker Robbie Tynan was unlucky to see a seventh minute try ruled out after the referee failed to play a sufficient advantage. Nenagh pinned Naas right back in the opening twenty minutes but had nothing to show for it.

However, it told in the 22nd minute when Naas full back Cillian Redmond was sin-binned for persistent infringing. However, it took all of six minutes for Nenagh to take advantage when Patrick Scully showed his power to break through the tackle to touch down for an unconverted try.

Just before the sin-bin ended, Nenagh crossed again with Conor McMahon touching down in the right corner after hooker Taylor Coles made the key break. Jonty Stewart nailed the conversion from the touchline.

Naas had just one entry into the Nenagh half by the time they managed their second which they turned into a try; centre Paddy Taylor making the break with scrum-half Cormac King in support to run in close to the posts for Daniel Ticklepenny to convert.

Crucially, Nenagh managed a third try before half time, turning down the three points with a successful lineout and maul with the industrious Robbie Tynan barging over for a 17-7 half time lead.

A second Scully try at the start of the second half, converted by Stewart, pushed Nenagh into a 24-7 lead as things looked extremely comfortable with Naas not offering much, and when they did the home sides defence was superb.

Nenagh started to roll in subs but it upset their rhythm, particularly in the lineout where replacement hooker Ignacio Failla struggled to find his jumpers from where Naas gained possession and territory, leading to 59th minute try from wing Donal Conroy under the posts.

Five minutes later, the visitors were in again, similar to the previous try with the key break coming through the centre, skipper Ryan Casey going over under the posts with Ticklepenny converting and suddenly the margin was down to three points.

All the momentum was with Naas but Nenagh refocused and a big breakdown penalty allowed them to regain territory and in the 74th minute when Matt Brice ran onto a Liam Walsh chip ahead to tunch down with Jonty Stewart converting for the third time.

Naas pressed hard in the closing minutes to score a fourth try which would see them leave with two bonus-points in losing by less than seven but Nenagh scrambled their defence well to ensure the Kildare men left with nothing and give the large home following plenty of cheer.

TEAMS – Nenagh Ormond: Matt Brice (8); Luke Graham (6), Conor McMahon (6), Willie Coffey (9), Fionn Higgins (7); Jonty Stewart (7), Aaron Maloney (8); Richie Whelan (7), Taylor Coles (7), Emmet Calvey (6); Kevin Seymour (6), Kevin O'Flaherty (6); Oli Ayling (7), Robbie Tynan (8), John O'Flaherty (Capt 7).

Reps: Patrick Scully (9) for Graham (12 inj); Ignacio Failla (6) for Coles (HT); Roman Salanoa (6) for Whelan (HT); Jack O’Keeffe (6) for Calvey (43); Liam Walsh (7) for Coffey (51); Willie Coffey for McMahon (60); Jake O’Kelly (6) for Ayling (61); Taylor Coles for K O’Flaherty (67); Richie Whelan for O’Keeffe (78 inj).

Highfield: Cillian Redmond (7); Donal Conroy (6), Charlie Sheridan (6), Paddy Taylor (7), David O’Sullivan (6); Daniel Ticklepenny (7), Cormac King (8); Jamie Bohan (6), Liam Gilheaney Black (6), Stephen Lackey (6); James O’Loughlin (6), Titas Cesonis (6); Oisin Halpin (7), Muiris Cleary (6), Ryan Casey (Capt 8).

Reps: Lorenzo Palacio (6) for Lackey (43); Andrew Sherlock (6) for King (57); Jason Cutler (NR) for Cleary (79); David Upton (NR) for Gilheaney Black (79).

Referee: Max Weston.