Navan welcomed county Antrim side Ballymena to Balreask Old on Saturday in round nine of Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A.
The Meath side fresh off the back of a comprehensive win away to Buccaneers the previous week which had seen them leapfrog Ballymena into eight place in the standings meant this game was consequential in mapping out how the rest of the campaign would pan out.
Prior to kick-off, both teams observed a minute's silence for MU Barnhall member Justin O'Connor who sadly lost his life during the week and who had also played for Navan for two seasons between 2003-2005.
Navan started the game playing a high tempo and this brought an immediate dividend after two minutes When off the top from a lineout on the 10m line, the ball was passed quick through the hands to the full-back Rory Gordon who found a gap in midfield to open the scoring
Navan Followed up ten minutes later to add another score with a series of pick and goes from a 5m lineout enabling hooker Jayden Henderson to get over the line with Outhalf Tom Gavigan adding the conversation.
Navan came back up the field six minutes later and another trip into the Ballymena 22m brought another score with winger Mathijs de Wit this time getting over for a try and again Gavigan converting.
Ballymena though got more into the game and asserted themselves and coming into the last ten minutes of the half with their captain & number eight Adam Lamont getting the visitors first score, Tackled and released the ball, getting up again to score their opening try with their outhalf Callum Patterson adding to conversion to leave the score at 19-7 at halftime.
After the resumption, it was the visitors who struck first with an early score three minutes into the second half with replacement forward Josh Dobbin crashing over from close range for a converted try.
Ballymena now who were now within one score of Navan had their tails up and used their possession to put the home side under pressure inside their own 22 meter area midway through the second half with over ten phases near the Navan line, however some excellent defending under pressure by Navan kept Ballymena out.
Eventually though, coming into the last fifteen minutes, after multiple phases Ballymena flanker James McClean put full-back Tristan Ferguson over in the corner. Patterson then made it three successful kicks from three to give the visitors the lead coming into the last ten minutes 19-21.
Navan though looked to regroup and push into Ballymena’s half with some strong pick and go carries that looked to stretch the visitors defence.
This was then rewarded with Ballymena conceding a penalty just outside their 22 metre line to the left of the posts.
With a kick displaying some nerves of steel, Tom Gavigan curled the ball between the posts to give Navan the lead again by a single point.
Ballymena though did not submitted and from the restart were back inside Navan's half of the field again forcing the home side to make some heroic defensive work to hold Ballymena at bay.
In the last play of the game though, Callum Patterson dropped back into the pocket and made a drop-goal attempt to try and steal the game at the last moment, however the ball with wide and to the right leaving Navan to take their third win of the season 22-21 and ending 2024 on a positive note going into the season break for the festive season.
The result also opens up a gap in the league table with Navan now five points clear in eight position.
Navan flanker Ben McEntagart was named player of the match in what was a very high paced physical game.
Both sides will meet again in the reverse fixture on Saturday 11th January when Navan travel to Eaton Park, Ballymena.
Player of the Match “Sponsored by The Central”: Ben McEntagart
Navan Men's 1st XV Squad "Sponsored by Hannon Travel":
Rory Gordon; Cormac Horan, Evan Dixon (Capt), Kyle Dixon, Mathijs De Wit, Tom Gavigan, Mark Farrell; Liam Carroll, Jayden Henderson, Leigh Jackson, Jordan Finney, Liam McAree, Conor Hand, Ben McEntagart, Tom Ciot.
Replacements:
Gary Faulkner, James Wyse, Conor Ryan, Jack Dixon, Harry Devlin.
The Meath side fresh off the back of a comprehensive win away to Buccaneers the previous week which had seen them leapfrog Ballymena into eight place in the standings meant this game was consequential in mapping out how the rest of the campaign would pan out.
Prior to kick-off, both teams observed a minute's silence for MU Barnhall member Justin O'Connor who sadly lost his life during the week and who had also played for Navan for two seasons between 2003-2005.
Navan started the game playing a high tempo and this brought an immediate dividend after two minutes When off the top from a lineout on the 10m line, the ball was passed quick through the hands to the full-back Rory Gordon who found a gap in midfield to open the scoring
Navan Followed up ten minutes later to add another score with a series of pick and goes from a 5m lineout enabling hooker Jayden Henderson to get over the line with Outhalf Tom Gavigan adding the conversation.
Navan came back up the field six minutes later and another trip into the Ballymena 22m brought another score with winger Mathijs de Wit this time getting over for a try and again Gavigan converting.
Ballymena though got more into the game and asserted themselves and coming into the last ten minutes of the half with their captain & number eight Adam Lamont getting the visitors first score, Tackled and released the ball, getting up again to score their opening try with their outhalf Callum Patterson adding to conversion to leave the score at 19-7 at halftime.
After the resumption, it was the visitors who struck first with an early score three minutes into the second half with replacement forward Josh Dobbin crashing over from close range for a converted try.
Ballymena now who were now within one score of Navan had their tails up and used their possession to put the home side under pressure inside their own 22 meter area midway through the second half with over ten phases near the Navan line, however some excellent defending under pressure by Navan kept Ballymena out.
Eventually though, coming into the last fifteen minutes, after multiple phases Ballymena flanker James McClean put full-back Tristan Ferguson over in the corner. Patterson then made it three successful kicks from three to give the visitors the lead coming into the last ten minutes 19-21.
Navan though looked to regroup and push into Ballymena’s half with some strong pick and go carries that looked to stretch the visitors defence.
This was then rewarded with Ballymena conceding a penalty just outside their 22 metre line to the left of the posts.
With a kick displaying some nerves of steel, Tom Gavigan curled the ball between the posts to give Navan the lead again by a single point.
Ballymena though did not submitted and from the restart were back inside Navan's half of the field again forcing the home side to make some heroic defensive work to hold Ballymena at bay.
In the last play of the game though, Callum Patterson dropped back into the pocket and made a drop-goal attempt to try and steal the game at the last moment, however the ball with wide and to the right leaving Navan to take their third win of the season 22-21 and ending 2024 on a positive note going into the season break for the festive season.
The result also opens up a gap in the league table with Navan now five points clear in eight position.
Navan flanker Ben McEntagart was named player of the match in what was a very high paced physical game.
Both sides will meet again in the reverse fixture on Saturday 11th January when Navan travel to Eaton Park, Ballymena.
Player of the Match “Sponsored by The Central”: Ben McEntagart
Navan Men's 1st XV Squad "Sponsored by Hannon Travel":
Rory Gordon; Cormac Horan, Evan Dixon (Capt), Kyle Dixon, Mathijs De Wit, Tom Gavigan, Mark Farrell; Liam Carroll, Jayden Henderson, Leigh Jackson, Jordan Finney, Liam McAree, Conor Hand, Ben McEntagart, Tom Ciot.
Replacements:
Gary Faulkner, James Wyse, Conor Ryan, Jack Dixon, Harry Devlin.
