North Meath’s 100% record finally came to an end at home to Midland Warriors.

The team had gone past the halfway point of the season with bonus point wins in all of their games, leaving them with a double digit lead at the top of the league.

However, this victorious run was halted in a nail-biting match that went right to the wire on Sunday.

North Meath were slow to get going and it was the visitors who were first on the score sheet with a penalty. The home team did score the game’s first try though. A chip over the top of the Midland Warriors defence was collected by winger Ivan Mostert who touched down for the try which was then converted by Oisin McDermott.

The second half continued as the first half ended, with plenty of hard running but no quarter given by either defence.

However, the penalty count began to mount against the home team as Midland Warriors started to assert themselves in the pack and gain the territorial advantage.

Meanwhile North Meath struggled to make any incision in the backs.

It was no surprise then that Midland Warriors were the team to cross the whitewash next. After a good five minutes of sustained pressure, the visitors went over in the corner and the conversion was slotted to put them ahead 10-7.

The pressure continued and a penalty extended Midland Warriors lead to 13-7 and then 16-7 with just minutes to go.

However, North Meath are not top of the league by accident and they began to up the tempo in search of at least a losing bonus point.

Having worked their way into the Midland Warriors’ 22, a penalty was awarded but rather than take the points, player coach tapped and went from five metres out and could not be stopped.

A missed conversion meant the gap was still four points so a try would be needed to win the game. As the clock worked its way to the 80 minute mark, North Meath launched one final assault.

Some forceful runs from Andy Dowds and Padraic McGurl made some vital yards and brought North Meath into the 22 and then Ben Wiseman made a break on the blind side, passing to Conor Grey with the try-line begging.

However some heroic defence from Midland Warriors mean that Grey was unable to ground the ball and with that the ref blew for full time.

North Meath will be disappointed not have snatched the victory on that final play but in truth it was a well-deserved victory for Midland Warriors.

North Meath still sit at the top of the league with a healthy lead and will have time to regroup before their next game and regain the momentum that has served them so well so far.

Team: Oisin McDermott, Ivan Mostert, Cian Doogan, Conor Grey, Andrew Monaghan, Ben Wiseman, Nathan Kiernan, Sean Gilsenan, Killian Flanagan, Padraic McGurl, Graham Boland, Dennis Cannon, Senan McDermott, Curtis Hunter, Andrew Dowds
Replacements: Kevin Dowds, Simon Deevy, Sam Bashford, Jack Yore

Tries: Mostert, Deevy,

Conv: McDermott