Navan Women's J1/2nd's had their first game of their League campaign on Sunday the 24th of September after last weeks walkover over Louth County. It was a wet welcome to Navan for Birr. Birr were first to strike with a try. This spurred the Navan team into action. Winger ๐
๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐ฎ opened her scoring account with a try in the left corner. This was only possible by the work of the forward pack giving some very good front foot ball. The backs managed to move the ball across the pitch for Moriarty to sneak in in the left corner.
๐ผ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ was next to strike for a score for Navan. Her solo effort is a contender for try of the season. Kelly collected a restart in her own 22m. She took it to the line and backed her footballing skills with a chip over the top. The bounce of the ball was in her favour and she ran in under the posts unopposed. ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ง๐๐จ opened her account, adding to the Navan scoreline, leaving it 12-5.
In advance of half time ๐พ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฎ managed the pack, working them around the field, with strong carries from ๐พ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ค๐๐ง๐ฉ๐ฎ, ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐'๐ฝ๐ง๐๐๐ฃ and ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ช๐๐ฃ๐ฃ. ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฃ gave the home side a half time scoring advantage of 17-5 getting her first try of the season. The back three for Navan making use of the space provided to them by their strong pack led by ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฎ.
Rolling into the second half Navan continued in their groove, with a strong gust behind them, remained camped in the Birr 22 for a long period of time. Unfortunately, Navan had two tries held up over the line, ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฉ and Khairy. Birr worked their way down the pitch however ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ค๐ง๐ on her debut for Navan hit a beautiful 50:22 to give Navan a foot hold back in the Birr 22. Morris managed the game from 10, directing the play and getting Navan into the right areas.
At the final whistle Navan were delighted to collect maximum points against a strong Birr side who had in particular excellent attacking centres.
Navan now sit in first place in Division five after two rounds.
Next Fixture is away to De La Salle Palmerston next Sunday, 1st October.
All with thanks to Team Sponsor Berminghams Bar
Navan Senior Women's J1 (2nd's) Team Squad:
1) Sarah O'Brien, 2) Chelsea McGroarty, 3) Louise Elliott, 4) Thanuja Dharmasena, 5) Anna Mennis, 6) Tara Quinn, 7) Niamh McManus, 8) Nour Khairy, 9) Ciara Kennedy, 10) Leah Morris, 11) Jessica Moriarty, 12) Michelle Stafford, 13) Anita Lennon, 14) Aisling Kelly, 15) Abbie Thornton, 16) Susan Trehy, 17) Mary-Louise Bridgeman, 18) Eloise Newman, 19) Orlaith Daly, 20) Victoria Quinn