Highfield 38 Navan 12

ENERGIA AIL Division 1B leaders Highfield racked up another well-deserved win over bottom club Navan at Woodleigh Park last Saturday afternoon, where the home side ran in six tries on a day where they added another five valuable points in their push for top-flight rugby next season.

Navan to be fair don’t look anything like a bottom of the league club and for the opening 18 minutes, they battled hard and had a lions share of the ball.

Then a silly foul by winger Evan Dixon saw him yellow carded and within two minutes Mark Dorgan was over the line for Highfield with the opening try of the match converted by Shane O’Riordan.

Navan held out against an all-out onslaught from Highfield for the next 15 minutes, eventually, something had to give as full-back Sam Burns got in at the corner for Highfield’s second try.

All credit to Navan who finished the half with a try of their own when Kyle Dixon powered under the posts for a Ray Moloney converted try to leave just five points between the sides at half time.

Highfield hit the power switch at the start of the second half securing the bonus point in just five minutes, starting with a try from Kevin Slater.

Then we saw something a second row isn’t supposed to do, as Highfield’s Eoin Keating picked up the ball on the Navan 10 metre-line side-stepped four tackles and timed his offload to winger Ben Murphy perfectly to score his first try and Highfields fourth.

Navan fought back with a try from Brian McKeever on the 58th minute, but the response from Highfield was awesome.

A powerful try from Miah Cronin on the 65th minute a fantastic finish in the corner for Ben Murphy’s second try of the afternoon rounded off a very professional display from the men from Woodleigh Park in front of very happy home support.

Scorers for Highfield: B Murphy 2 tries, M Cronin, M Dorgan, K Slater, S Burns a try each; S O’Riordan four conversions.

Navan: K Dixon and B McKeever tries, R Maloney conversion.

HIGHFIELD: M Dillane, M Shinkwin, T Ryan, E Keating, S O’Sullivan, D O’Connell, C Gallagher, M Cronin, C Banon, S O’Riordan, B Murphy, M Dorgan, K Slater, P Stack, S Burns.

Replacements: P O’Toole for K Slater (58) R Brodie for M Dillane (59) R Murphy for M Shinkwin (66).

NAVAN: N Farrelly, B McGovern, E King, C Hand, L Jackson, C Ryan, J O’Neill, B McKeever, R Swan, R Moloney, N McEntagart, K Dixon, C Ebeling, E Dixon, P Fox.

Replacement: G Faulkner for N Farrelly (48).

Referee: Andrew Cole (IRFU)