Instonians Persistence Pays Off Away To Navan

Navan……………………………………………12

Instonians……………………………………..19
Balreask Old, Navan (Half-Time: 7-5)

Men’s 1st XV
Energia All-Ireland League Men’s Division 2A – Round Fifteen
(Saturday 1st March)
The hosts started brightly, soaking up early pressure before capitalizing on their own attacking opportunities. A yellow card for the Instonians hooker on 17 minutes gave Navan an advantage, which they exploited immediately—moving the ball wide for Tom Ciot to finish in the right corner. Tom Gavigan added the conversion to give Navan a 7-0 lead. Instonians responded with relentless pressure, but Navan’s defense held firm. A potential try for the visitors on 27 minutes was ruled out for a double movement, and another attacking chance was thwarted when they knocked on just a metre from the line. However, their persistence paid off just before halftime, as their winger stepped inside to score in the corner. The conversion was missed, leaving Navan ahead 7-5 at the break.

Navan’s Tom Gavigan strikes the ball from the kicking tee (Photo: Arosha Dharmasena).

The visitors took the lead on 50 minutes, using a well-executed maul to drive over the line for their second try, with the conversion making it 12-7. Ten minutes later, they struck again in similar fashion, another maul setting up their third try, converted to push their lead to 19-7.
Navan refused to back down and, with five minutes remaining, hit back through their forwards. Off a lineout drive from ten metres out, Ben McEntagart powered over to cut the deficit to 19-12. However, the conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving Navan needing another score in the final moments.

Jordan Finney carries the ball for Navan
(Photo: Arosha Dharmasena).

Despite a late push into Instonians territory, Navan’s discipline faltered, conceding a penalty that allowed the visitors to see out the game. While they fell short, a losing bonus point was some reward for their efforts against the league leaders. Navan now break for a few weeks before they have a trip west to face Galway Corinthians in Round Sixteen on Saturday 21st March.

Player of the Match “Sponsored by The Central”: Jordan Finney & Evan Dixon Navan Men’s 1st XV Squad “Sponsored by Hannon Travel”: Liam Carroll, Gary Faulkner, Jordan Finney, Liam McAree, Conor Hand, Mick Brady, Ben McEntagart, Tom Ciot, Mark Farrell, Tom Gavigan, Shane Walshe, Kyle Dixon, Evan Dixon (Capt), Sean McEntagart, Harry Watters, Replacements: David Clarke, Leigh Jackson, Conor Ryan, Shane O’Connor, Jack Dixon, Noah Kavanagh.

Navan’s Tom Ciot takes the ball in the lineout
(Photo: Arosha Dharmasena).

Energia AIL Men’s Division 2A – Round Fifteen Results: (Sat 1st March)
● Ballymena 13 Cashel 31, Eaton Park, Banbridge.
● Buccaneers 19 Banbridge 35, Dubarry Park, Athlone.
● Greystones 33 MU Barnhall 34, Dr Hickey Park, Greystones.
● Navan 12 Instonians 19, Balreask Old, Navan.
● Old Crescent 17 Galway Corinthians 22, Takumi Park, Limerick.

Energia AIL Men’s Division 2A – Upcoming Fixtures (Sat 22nd March)
● Banbridge V Old Crescent, Rifle Park, Banbridge.
● Cashel V Buccaneers, Spafield, Cashel.
● Galway Corinthians V Navan, Corinthian Park, Galway.
● Instonians V Greystones, Shaws Bridge, Belfast.
● MU Barnhall V Ballymena, Parsonstown, Leixlip.

Greystones……………………………………..42

Navan…………………………………………….32

Dr. Hickey Park, Greystones (Half-time: 23-17).

Men’s Under 20’s
Leinster JP Fanagan (U20) – Premier 2 – Super Six – Group 2 (Sunday 2nd March)

Navan U20s put in a spirited performance but ultimately came up short in an entertaining encounter against Greystones at Dr. Hickey Park. Despite running in four tries, the visitors couldn’t contain the hosts’ attacking threat, falling to a 42-32 defeat. A closely contested first half saw both sides exchange scores, with Noah Kavanagh, Tom Powderly, and Scott Corrigan crossing the whitewash for Navan. Philip Smyth added three conversions and two penalties to keep his side within touching distance at the break, trailing 23-17.
Navan continued to fight in the second half, adding another try through Smyth, but Greystones proved too clinical, pulling away in the latter stages to secure the win.
Player of the Match “Sponsored by The Central”: Noah Kavanagh
Navan Men’s Under 20’s (Sponsored by JJ Duffy): Cormac Kenny, Max Shivmangal, Alessandro Maltese, Ben McCreary, Conor Browne, Cian Egan, Keelan McKenna, Shane O’Connor, Ben Cherry, Noah Kavanagh, Alex Reynolds, Declan O’Connor, Philip Smyth, Simon Dizon, Scott Corrigan
Replacements: Matthew Clinton, Thomas Kearns, James Callaghan, Sean O’Hare, Corbin Jenkinson, Tom Powderly, Luke Griffin.
NRFC Adult Team Results w/e 2nd March 2025

Saturday 1st March 2025
Men 1st XV 12 Instonians 19, Energia AIL Division 2A

Sunday 2nd March 2025
Men 2nd XV 28 Malahide 24, Metro Premier 2B

Men U20 XV 32 Greystones 42, JP Fanagan Premier 2 Super Six
NRFC Adult Team Fixtures w/e 9th March 2025 Sunday 9th March 2025
Women 1st XV vs. Arklow, Away, 1pm, Leinster Women’s Division 2

Women 2nd XV vs. Wanderers, Away, 1pm, Leinster Women’s Division 4

Men 2nd XV vs. Gorey, Away, 3pm, Provincial Town’s Cup – 2nd Round
Men U20 XV vs. Seapoint, Away, 3pm, JP Fanagan Premier 2 Super Six