Bective earned a win, Athy show their character
October 12th, 2024 – A view from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD - 🐕
Bective Rangers FC 29 Athy RFC 24
ROUND THREE of the Leinster League, and Athy RFC were the visitors to Donnybrook. Athy RFC, founded in 1880, in their first competitive 1XV against Bective, showed their character, in a tight physical game, to battle to the final whistle. Athy, last season's Division 1B runners-up, opened their season with two defeats to Dublin opposition, and were determined to take a ‘Dublin Scalp’. Bolstered by their Romanian international prop, Teodor Clobanu, and a strong back-line, with Culann Carbery, brother of Joey, who can score tries for fun, they were not to be taken lightly.
Athy took the kick-off, and immediately Bective responded with a strong carry by James Gallagher with a ‘show-an-go’ by Rory O’Brian, which resulted in the game's first scrum for Bective. Strong attacking play by Bective, following a line out on the visitors 22, brought pay to the Athy 5m line. The Visitors defended well but were penalised on the 22, for hands on the ground at the ruck, and Tim Carroll kicked to the corner. The visitors defended the Bective maul from the lineout and their big #5 Tadgh Foley turned the ball over, the referee penalised Bective for a high tackle. Tiernan McCloskey was sent to the bin. Bective continued to attack and another penalty by the visitors and again Tim kicked for the corner. A quick throw by Luke Mion to James Gallagher at the front, popped it back to Luke who had to fall over the line for a try. With 11 minutes gone, the conversion was missed it was 5 – 0 to Bective.
The visitors' response was immediate – from the restart Athy took the play to Bective and following a series of strong carries, on 13 minutes, Craig Miller was under the posts. The conversion was by James Harris and the score was 5 – 7 for Athy.
On 24 minutes, Bective back with 15 on the pitch and great defence and counter-rucking by James Gallagher, the referee awarded a penalty. Mikey O’Hare took the kick, and it was now 8 – 7 for Bective. For the next 10 minutes, Bective continued to press the Athy defence, which stood firm. Donagh Lawlor replaced the injured Jamie Lawless and Bective had an attacking scrum on the Athy 5m line, resulting in a penalty. With halftime approaching, a ‘tap-an-go’ by Gavin Kelly, popped the ball to his brother Conor who was over for a try. Mikey took the conversion; it was now 15 – 7 to Bective.
Half Time – Bective Rangers FC 15 (2) Athy RFC 07 (1)
From the restart, following a stern team talk from head coach Ben Manion, Bective began to show their intent as they spread the ball fast and wide to stretch the Athy defence and a great counterattack by Conor Murphy, passed to Tim Carroll, carried, recycled fast to Rory O’Brian, to Tiernan McCloskey on the burst to put the visitors on the back foot. With the ball recycled, Tim Carroll again broke the visitors' defence and was in for a try. Mikey scored the conversion with 2 minutes in the second half the score was now 22 – 7.
On 44 minutes, the ever-green Bobby Holland fielded a high ball and began to get the back line moving, only for number 11 Cathal Fennessy to receive a yellow card – Athy were now down to 14 men. As the game ebbed and flowed - the Bective scrum appeared to be under pressure or was it the referee's understanding of Law 19 – and I refer to Law 19 Scrum, subsection 37c Intentionally lifting an opponent off their feet or forcing them upwards out of the scrum – Sanction: Penalty – but Bective were on the receiving end of the referees Ian Thompson’s whistle! There is an adage – ‘Doctors differ, and patients die’.
On 65 minutes following a ruck in midfield – captain Tiernan McCloskey spotted Athy had no ‘pillar defence’, sprinted unopposed from the halfway line to pop the ball to Gavin Kelly who was under the posts for a try. Micky added the points. 29 - 07 for Bective with the bonus point secured.
Time to close the game down – the visitors had other ideas, and this is where Athy showed their character in fighting to the final whistle - one minute later they scored a try under the posts – the conversion was drop-kicked, and the score was 29 – 14 for Bective. On 65 minutes Athy were awarded a penalty and James Harris popped it over – 29 – 17. The visitors were now in the ascendancy – rolling subs by both teams with 7 minutes remaining. Bective were to withstand the Athy attack and following penalty advantage play by the referee, Athy were held up over the line.
From the goal-line dropout, Athy come back in attack and following a foul throw by Bective at the lineout, Athy opt for a scrum. As play resumed on 79 minutes there was another penalty advantage for the visitors – we now had a 29-penalty game, number 10 Craig Miller was in for a try. James Harriss with the conversation and it was now 29 – 24 to Bective.
Time was now up and the referee allowed a restart – Athy fielded the ball and started a counter-attack, only for captain Ternan to force a knock-on. Scrum to Bective and Mikey kicked the ball into touch. Phew, game over! - the final score was 29 – 24.
Following three rounds of the Leinster League, the gap between top and bottom is 15 points, with Bective on 11 points. This week we had some excellent performances, with Bobby Holland, Tim Carroll and Rory O’Brian who had a fine game, as the pick of the backs. The Kelly brothers and James Gallagher, led by captain Tiernan McCloskey were again the shining lights for the forwards.
Next up – Bective 1st XV are away to Ashbourne on Saturday 19th October, Kick-off 3.00 pm.
Full Time – Bective Rangers FC 29 (4) Athy RFC 24 (3)
Bective Rangers 1XV: 15 Connor Murphy, 14 Mikey O’Hare, 13 Ben Garrett, 12 Tim Carroll, 11 Craig Cantwell, 10 Rory O’Brien, 9 Bobby Holland, 1 Rory Mulvihill, 2 Luke Mion, 3 Conor Kelly, 4 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 5 Gavin Kelly, 6 James Gallagher, 7 Tiarnan McCloskey ©, 8 Jamie Lawless. Finishers: 16 David Kealy, 17 Eoin McIntyre, 18 Donagh Lawler, 19 Conor Halpenny, 20 Mattew Gillsenan.
Scorers: Bective: Tries: Luke Mion, Gavin Kelly, Conor Kelly, Tim Carroll - 1; Cons: Mikey O’Hare -3, Pen: Mikey O’Hare - 1
Referee: Ian Thompson ARLB IRFU
