15 Jan Boys Under 13s Serve Up Thriller in Tullow
Tullow 55 Navan 44, Tullow RFC
The Under-13s Boys travelled to Tullow RFC on Sunday afternoon for a hugely entertaining, high-scoring encounter played in extremely challenging conditions, with strong winds and a yellow weather warning in place. Despite the blustery conditions, both sides produced an excellent attacking display.
Navan trailed 24–17 at half-time but showed great resilience and attacking ambition throughout the second half, continuing to play positive rugby and take their chances well.
Pace was a major feature of the contest, with several tries coming from impressive long-range breaks by both teams. Navan will look to further build on this strength, drawing inspiration from the sprint coaching received over the Christmas period from Olympic gold-medal winning sprint coach John Coughlan, as they prepare for their remaining fixture against Newbridge.
There were standout performances across the pitch, most notably from Shay Smyth, who delivered a genuine Player-of-the-Match performance with a superb hat-trick of tries. Casey Reynolds added two tries, while Jack Macken also crossed the whitewash. The final Navan try was finished brilliantly in the corner by Tadhg Sheridan, following a perfectly weighted cross-field kick from Harry Russell, who made a strong return from injury.
Team captain Freddie Davis once again led by example, converting twice, with Harry Russell adding an excellent conversion from the sideline. Ethan McKenna, also back from injury, put in a tremendous all-round performance, showing great work rate and commitment throughout.
The introduction of fresh legs at half-time affectionately dubbed the “Bomb Squad” injected further intensity and helped lift Navan’s tempo for the remainder of the game.
Discipline and composure were excellent from the Navan players in difficult conditions and a lively atmosphere. They kept their focus, played with confidence, and represented the club with real pride. There is plenty to take from both the performance and the narrow margin of defeat.
The squad now looks ahead to their next fixture away to Newbridge on Friday night under lights.
Finally, the coaches and management would like to sincerely thank all parents and supporters for their commitment and encouragement on the long trip to Tullow. Your support continues to make a huge difference.
Navan RFC Under 13 Boys Squad:
Henry McGivern, Casey Reynolds, Cillian Murtagh, Tommy Leonard, Ben Battersby, Briain Kennedy, Ethan McKenna, James Burns, Shay Smyth, Freddie Kearns, Freddie Davis, Cian Murphy, Seamus Tobin, Jack Macken, Conor Lyons, Eoghan Clarke, Bobby Swan, Leon Irwin Byrne, David Feeney, Alex Patterson, Kealan Rogers, Harry Russell, Tadhg Sheridan