Sundays Well RFC

A game that burst into life in the second half saw Naas grab a late try to secure a victory that should see them secure their AIL Status. Tries by John Verling and Michael Moynihan in the second half seemed to have given the ‘Well the initiative but the immaculate kicking of full-back David Aherne kept the Kildare side in the game before their winger Jeff Delaney popped up with the winning try.

The visitors got off to the better start and did take an early lead as Aherne slotted over the first of seven kicks. As the half wore on the ‘Well came more into the match and their running game was beginning to pay dividends. Gavin Blower, David Twohig and Mike Flood were all managing to find way past would be tacklers but unfortunately the team were unable to put the finishing touches onto these promising moves.

An all Moynihan front-row put in a very robust display with Francis trying to show he has feet like David Campese at times. Michael was also making plenty of runs in the loose while John was happier to do a forward’s job with plenty of big hits around the fringes and some superb throw-ins at the line-out. An Eamon Ronan penalty levelled matters before a series of penalties was traded with Aherne which left Naas with a 9-6 advantage at half-time.

The ‘Well began to press more in the second half but every time they seemed to take the initiative they left the visitors back into the game with some unnecessary penalties. Ronan started off the second half with a penalty and after a superb flowing movement he put a grubber kick through for John Verling who pounced on the ball inside the Naas Twenty-Two. The pacy winger then produced a lovely swivel to deceive the covering defence and raced over to touch down with Ronan adding the conversion.

Aherne was always on hand to punish any indiscretions keeping his side in the game at 16-15. The ‘Well pressure was certainly telling when two Naas players were sent to the bin and Michael Moynihan took full advantage as he raced through a gap straight in front of the break-down with Ronan again adding the two points.

Naas rallied in the final ten minutes and they battled for everything. Aherne again kept them in the game with a sweet penalty before they exposed a gap on the wing that saw Delaney level matters with a try that Aherne again sliced the posts with.

Scorers for Sunday’s Well: M Moynihan, J Verling tries, E Ronan dg, 2 pens, 2 cons

Scorers for Naas: J Delaney try, D Aherne 6 pens, con

Sunday’s Well: G Blower; J Verling, M Flood, D Twohig (c), T Parker; E Ronan, R Geary; M Moynihan, J Moynihan, F Moynihan; J Kidney, S Walsh; D O’Connell, C Long, K Casey. Replacements for Sunday’s Well: R Martin for D O’Connell 53, A O’Donovan for F Moynihan 59, D O’Shea for Ronan 66, D Blower for J Moynihan 74, B Hanrahan for Twohig 79,

Naas: D Aherne; J Delaney, L Gough, J Sheahan, B Fitzgerald; J Moran, M Barton; V Cuddihy, A Shirley, D Kerin; D Conneran, G Roan; R Phipps, A Kearney, J Holmes (c). Replacements for Naas: E Harney for Fitzgerald HT, D Miley for Kerin 59, P Monaghon for Phipps 71

Referee: F Butler (I.R.F.U.)