After bagging three wins out of three in their pre-season, North Meath’s senior men squad arrived in Moate in a confident mood for the opening game of their Leinster League campaign.

And with good reason. A few hours later and the team were back on their way to North Meath with a bonus point win under their belt having beaten Midland Warriors 29-21.

The team started the match well and were soon 12 nil up after early tries from second row Sammy Bashford and number eight Kevin Dowds.

But the pre-season training had not quite exorcised the mistakes and some sloppy play let Midland Warriors in for their first try of the game.

North Meath soon hit back with a fine team try finished off by young scrum-half Louis Finnegan. However, the team then switched off at a penalty, allowing the home team to take a quick tap and dart in under the posts.

Cliff Richard:

As befits a season opener, the first half was full of physicality with more big hits than Cliff Richard in his prime. And inevitably some players were lost to injury on both sides.

North Meath then had to endure a tongue-lashing from coach Simon Deevy for the lapses in concentration and were given firm instructions to improve their defence.

The harsh words did the trick. An aerial bomb was spilled by the Midland Warriors allowing North Meath to seize on the ball and after some good handling from the backs, Andy Dowds claimed the try.

There was still time for Conor Grey to slot a penalty to leave the score 29-14 to North Meath at the break.

The start of the second half coincided with an opening of the heavens which led to a succession of errors and knock-ons from both teams while early season fatigue also played a factor.

North Meath found themselves camped in their own half for the rest of the game but their stubborn defence held firm for the most part. The only score of the half came from the home team whose full-back made up for the first-half spill with a 30 metre run to finish off a fine move.

The resistance:

North Meath managed to resist a final onslaught from the Midland Warriors and the game ended 29-21 thereby giving the visitors a precious bonus point win and depriving the home team any losing bonus points of their own.

Coach Deevy was delighted with the opening win against an opponent that is sure to be in the running for league honours come the end of the season.

And it was a victorious beginning for the new co-captains Eanna Finn and Padraic McGurl and the prelude to what we can all hope will be a fine season of quality rugby.

Next up for North Meath is the first home league game of the season on October 2nd at Park Ri The Grange where all are welcome.

Team: Ben Wiseman, Ivan Mostert, Cian Doogan, Eanna Finn, Jordan Herring, Conor Grey, Louis Finnegan, Sean Gilsenan, Killian Flanagan, Padraic McGurl, Graham Boland, Sam Bashford, Senan McDermott, Curtis Hunter, Kevin Dowds
Replacements: Andrew Dowds, Oisin McDermott, Henry Armstrong, Eoghan Cosgrave, Adam Deighan, Andy Monaghan

Tries: Bashford, Dowds K, Finnegan, Dowds A

Conv: Grey (3)

Pen: Grey