Navan R.F.C. 19

Tallaght 1st R.F.C. 34

Tries: Simon Collie 2, Aaron Shanahan 3, Ciaran Rudd
Con: Aaron Shanahan 2

Metro League Division 7
Balreask Old
04/11/2017

The Tallaght’s men’s 1st team consolidated their position of third in the table in Division 7 of the Metro League with a comprehensive win over Navan in Balreask Old. Navan started out well but once David Clarke, playing out of position at out-half, started pulling the strings the Tallaght backline started showing their class. Tallaght should have had a try after a great run by Padhraig Jones put full back Simon Collie away but he held onto the ball too long instead of passing and lot it in contact. In fairness to the Aussie, he made up for it by scoring the first try of the match shortly afterwards after fine work by Clarke and Kevin Quinn put him away. Aaron Shanahan converted and Tallaght led 7-0.

It was the last score for a while as Navan dominated possession and limited Tallaght’s opportunities. Navan were infringing regularly though and finally the referee’s patience wore out and he yellow-carded one of their players. Tallaght took advantage by scoring two quick-fire tries. First Aaron Shanahan was put clear on the right wing and he was tackled but not held so he got up again to score the try. Then centre Ciaran Rudd showed his pace to score his first try of the season after being put superbly away by Collie to make it 17-0.

Tallaght eased up a little in the final five minutes of the second half and they paid the price when Navan got over for a try to make the half-time score 17-5. Tallaght came out firing in the second half and should have scored a try after some lovely interplay in the backline put Karl Segrave free but his final pass to Shanahan went forward. However Navan’s powerful ball carriers in the pack were making good ground around the fringes and they busted their way over for a second try which they converted to make it 17-12.

Tallaght were suddenly in a game but they responded superbly. After another fine run by Jack Russell, hooker Stephen Kelly put Aaron Shanahan away and he cut back inside for a try under the posts which he converted himself to make it 24-12. Straight after the kick-off Shanahan intercepted a poor Navan pass to race away under the posts to complete his hat-trick. Simon Collie then broke away to score his second try of the game to cap a quality performance. Though Navan scored a converted try with the final play of the game, Tallaght were ultimately comfortable winners with a final scoreline of 34-19.

Tallaght coach Tom Leigh was delighted with his side’s performance. “That’s one of the best performances I’ve seen from this group of players since I’ve been here as coach, especially in the first half. We played smart, mature rugby and our discipline and decision-making was excellent. We slipped off that standard a little bit before and after half-time but we recovered well when they came back at us to close out that game. After four games, we can see in the table that Old Wesley and Seapoint are looking like serious contenders. Over the next two weeks, we play Wesley at home and Seapoint away. We need all hands on deck for the next two games and then we’ll see where we are in terms of competing to win this league.”

 

Man of the match: Aaron Shanahan

 

Tallaght 1sts

15. Simon Collie
14. Aaron Shanahan
13. Ciaran Rudd
12. Padhraig Jones
11. Karl Segrave
10. David Clarke
9. Aodhan Tinney

1. Alan Sower
2. Stephen Kelly
3. Tony McManus
4. Joe Ivers
5. Mark Keogh
6. Jack Russell (Captain)
7. Kevin Quinn
8. Adam Nolan

Replacements:

16. Andrew Grace
17. Andy Caswell
18. Paul Cunningham
19. Aaron Morgan
20. Gavin McKeon

 

Report: Jim O’Connor