Last gasp Osborne penalty rescues draw for Naas in tricky away tie with Old Wesley
Old Wesley 23
Naas 23
Ulster Bank AIL Division 1B
Naas travelled to Donnybrook last Saturday to face Old Wesley for the second consecutive weekend. Yet again these sides served up a thriller, and amazingly just like last week Naas avoided defeat at the very last moment.
A large travelling support made themselves heard as the sides entered the arena, but Naas are making a habit of starting poorly and this occassion was to be no different.
Wesley came out of the blocks firing, no doubt still reeling from their dramatic defeat a week earlier, and eager to make amends. By the fourth minute they were in front, some fine handling by their backs, albeit helped by some sloppy tackling, led to Kieran Murphy diving over for the opening score, which Jack Maybury converted. When the latter was again successful with a penalty attempt on 15 minutes, Naas found themselves ten points behind, and already having a mountain to climb.
However they slowly began to establish a foothold in the game, and were rewarded on 34 minutes when they scorded a wonderful try. Wesley had a line-out ten yards from their own line, which David Benn did brilliantly to steal. Naas quickly moved the ball out the backline, and Ben O'Connor showed blistering speed to score in the corner. The conversion was extremely difficult, right out on the touchline, but Peter Osborne struck it superbly to narrow the gap to 10-7, which was to be the half-time score. The opening stages of the second half saw a complete role reversal. Wesley got on top, which saw them open up a thirteen point lead, before Naas staged a late rally.
Naas actually started the half well. A sublime offload by Paulie Tolofua to Peter Osborne saw the latter race clear. When he was tackled near the 22, Wesley were penalised for hands in the ruck, but Osborne narrowly missed the subsequent penalty.
Wesley took over from there and some poor Naas tackling on 47 minutes saw Thomas O'Callaghan race through to score a try, which Maybury converted. When the latter was again successful with a penalty on 61 minutes to extend the lead to 20-7, a heavy Naas defeat looked on the cards. But the visitors were to show admirable battling qualities.
They responded almost immediately when Osborne landed a penalty, before some delightful play by the backs saw the same player dive over for a try on 74 minutes. Indeed it was turning into the Osborne show as he also landed the conversion and another penalty on 77 minutes to tie up the scores.
However, there was still time for another twist. Straight from the kick-off referee Joy Neville penalised Naas for not releasing in the ruck and Maybury restored the Wesley lead.
Neville recently won the World Referee Of The Year Award, but some of her decisions baffled the Naas support, however she redeemed herself right at the death, when she awarded a penalty to Naas which gave Osborne a chance to draw the match. It was by no means an easy chance but he held his nerve and calmly slotted the kick.
Neville blew the final whistle straight away, and for the second time in a week the Wesley players slumped to the ground having seen victory snatched from them.
Naas now have a short break before the league resumes on January 6th. On that afternoon they travel to Shannon to meet the league leaders, and all support will be greatly appreciated.
Naas
Fionn Higgins, Ben O'Connor, Shane Thompstone, Ross Bailey Kearney, Niall Delahunt, Michael Skelton, Peter Osborne, Conor Doyle, Graham Reynolds, Jordan Duggan, Stephen Kinneavy, David Benn (capt), Andrew Kearney, Will O'Brien, Paulie Tolofua.
Replacements: Shane Reilly, Charlie Kings, Philip Jordan, Max Whittingham, Johne Murphy.
Old Wesley
Jack Maybury, Eoghan O'Reilly, James O'Donovan, David Poff, Thomas O'Callaghan, Tim Clifford, Craig Miller, Cronan Glesson, Conor Maguire, James Burton, Kieran Murphy, JJ O'Dea, Darren Horan (capt), Stephen Boyle, Matthew Bursey.
Replacements: Craig Telford, David Henshaw, John Fitzgerald, Conor Barry, Cillian Monaghan