Ennis RFC U 14’s Travel to Aviva for Ireland v Samoa With 37 players on board for the day trip to Navan RFC and onto Dublin for the Ireland v Samoa Autumn International, the Ennis RFC U14’s were full of enthusiasm and gusto for the day ahead First port of call was Navan RFC where after a long journey on the bus there were high spirits in the group for the challenge of a very strong Leinster club. Ennis played two games against Navan in two very competitive games (see reports below). Our hosts hospitality was exceptional and fuelled our group for the day, and we are grateful indeed for this. From Navan the journey was made to Landsdowne for the main even where high up in the stands the large group enjoyed the atmosphere and the entertained on show, The Samoan Haka will live long in the memory of the group for long to come. A perfect finish to the day was the impressive second half performance from the Irish team and the significant victory against the side one place ahead of them in the world rankings. Arriving back in Ennis at 12.30am after a 16 hour expedition ensured all of a well deserved rest and to dream of playing in for Ireland in the future. Navan A 12 Ennis A 19 This was a real test for both sides who are topping respective leagues. Ennis were dealt a blow when there captain and out half, Oisin Mangan, received a knock in the warm up and was unable to start. This seemed to galvanise the group and Joseph Connaughton moved from centre to the out half berth seamlessly. Ennis took the lead through a well worked set of phases with Stephen Sheehan bursting through from 40 yards to score under the posts with David McNamara converting. The rest of the half was dominated by the hosts and the pummelled the Ennis defence and eventually were rewarded with a touch down to leave the sides level at half time. The second half was a real humdinger. Ennis were boosted by the recovery of Mangan allowing more structure in their line. 5 minutes into the half a classy pass from Zack Whelehan at scrum half to Mangan and with 2 dummy runners was able to pick the unstoppable line of Sheehan at outside centre to crash over under the posts for a converted score. In fact Ennis were really beginning to dominate now and Harry Talty was unlucky not to add a third try off a set piece move and blind side attack only to be put into touch at the goal line. The Ennis defence remained excellent and the tenacious tackling of Philip Talty and Ronan Lanigan ensured the Navan threat was constantly limited and this was allowing the Ennis forwards to assert themselves at the breakdown. Arron Hennessey and Stephen Dolan were beginning to make important carries supported by the powerful Eldon Nolan, Paul Tuohy, Elias Kunz and Edward Purcell. However Navan came back and scored in the corner to leave a tense finally. However the best was yet to come for Ennis with the outstanding David McNamara won another turnover and quick hands put Morgan Garry away for a brilliant try which was the final play of the game Navan B 36 Ennis B 24 In a closer game then the score suggested Ennis got off to a poor start and found themselves 17 points to nil down after 10 minutes. The long bus journey seemed to be having its toll on the players. However some words of encouragement from the coaches and outstanding carries from Shane Vaughan, Mark Barry and Conall Bolger got the guys going. Two scores from Ryan Twoomey and Jack Hanrahan put Ennis back in the game. Ross Flaherty in his first game back from an injury showed real class in slicing through the midfield to off load for Hanrahan to score his second and keep Ennis in touch. Ennis fought hard until the end and with Vaughan scoring his sides fourth score continued to push for another. Ennis will probably feel they could have won this one had they got off to a better start and with a really dominant scrum perhaps could have converted more opportunities.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 14:24:47 +0000
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