Bective into AIL Cup Quarterfinal
October 26th, 2024 – A view from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD - 🐕
Mallow RFC 30 (3) Bective Rangers FC 43 (6)
ROUND ONE of the Enegia All Ireland Junior Cup saw Bective continue their successful ways in a hard-earned win over Mallow at The Beeches on Saturday. Mallow RFC, founded in 1883, among one of the oldest rugby football clubs in Ireland and its location at The Beeches is a quaint setting. To the right of its entrance gate is the club house, an old cottage extended to incorporate a club function room, tea station and wc, with the dressing rooms to the rear. On the left is St Joseph’s Cemetery, famous for its commonwealth war graves, from The Great War, 1914 – 1918. Its playing pitch is surrounded on three sides by agriculture land, with the graveyard to the south goal line. There were three tractor tires beyond the gaol line, used for training by the hardy Munster men, and it brought back memories of secret summer training on Sandymount strand in the company of some famous former Rangers.
However, back to the match .. A score of 43 – 30 might help tell the story as both teams served up a fantastic game with some excellent running rugby. With the wind at their back, Mallow were not long in opening their account from their Australian out-half, Hunter Cowan, who kicked a 25m penalty after Bective were penalised at the breakdown. Six minutes later, following another penalty, Hunter Cowan missed his kick, but slotted his third attempt and made it 6 – 0 to Mallow. The hosts continued to press, and with no real structure to the game, their winger Ryan Clifford received a yellow card for a dangerous high tackle on Mattie Keane.
Not one but on a number of occasions, Bective were to withstand the Mallow attack and hold their line, as the scramble defence managed to keep their line intact. On 20 minutes, following a line out and a great break by Tiernan McCloskey up to the hosts goal-line, Mallow received a second yellow card for an intentional knock-on by their # 2 hooker Darragh Clifford. Referee Kieran Barry MAR IRFU, a Level 2 referee, from Midleton RFC, didn’t deem this offence a penalty try, in our view a try could have been scored, but returned to his original penalty advantage under the posts. Bective opted to tap-an-go with Gavin Kelly in for a try. Mikey kicked the conversion, and it was now 6 – 7 for Bective.
From the restart, the hosts with 13 men, opted to field the ball with high kicks, a good Munster tactic, resulted in a knock-on by Bective and a scrum penalty. Up steps Hunter Cowan and restores Mallow’s lead to 9 – 7. But this was short lived, three minutes later, with Mallow back to 14 men, on 35 minutes, Mikey kicked a penalty to restore the Bective lead 9 – 10.
The penalty count began to mount, and referee Kieran Barry had a chat with both captains – next offence would be a ‘card’ and Tadgh O’Dwyer took the ‘team’ yellow for holding on the ground. Before the break, Mallow continued to attack but a solid Bective defence stood firm.
Half Time – Mallow RFC 9 Bective Rangers FC 10 (1)
From the restart, Bective began to show their intent as they spread the ball fast and wide to stretch the Mallow defence and with one minuet gone in the second half Rory Mulvihill was in for a try. Micky taped over the conversion to make it 9 – 17 for Bective. But Mallow came right back, and on 46 minuets their tight-head, Steven Finn, who had an excellent game all afternoon, was in for a try. Cowan added to conversion, and we were back to a one point game – 16 – 17 to Bective.
Then came a golden period for Bective, Mikey was in for a brace of tries and not to be outdone Shane O’Meara had one for himself – all this was due to the hard work of the pack, led by Captain Tiarnan and assisted by super-fast ruck ball from Bobby Holland to the back line – the ruck speed was down to three seconds! – and Bective now had a 20 point lead, 16 – 36.
Were Mallow going to capitulate – they are a Munster side – back they came, with their ‘dogged’ defence and attack, and on 73 minutes, Hunter Cowan was in for a try – kicked the conversion, to make it 23 – 36. A bit of urgency now by Mallow, were Bective going to capitulate? Ben Garrett, who had a fine game and was involved in all the Bective tries, on 76 minutes popped up for a try and Micky’s conversion to restore the 20 points advantage, 23 – 43 to Bective. The game was now beyond Mallow and both sides emptied the bench, which always has an effect on play, but Mallow, never gave up and it was Cowan who threw a wide long pass to his winger Jimmy Glynn who was in for a try, Hunter Cowan drop-kicked the conversion on the stroke of full time. Final score 30 – 43 for Bective.
Mallow maybe a ‘back-water’ in Irish rugby but they had some fine players who could hold their place on any AIL team, chiefly their Australian flyhalf, Hunter Cowan who was instrumental in all the Mallow scores. But instrumental for Bective was the ever-reliable Bobby Holland – the speed of delivery of the ruck ball was key to Bective’s success and of course the hard yards delivered by the pack, with some tantalising breaks by Captain Tiarnan. With a AIL Junior Cup quarterfinal secured – the All Blacks are coming to Donnybrook – our next opponents are the Connemara All Blacks on Saturday 16th November, time TBC.
But next up – Bective 1st XV return to Donnybrook vs Suttonians RFC, on Saturday 2nd November for a 2.30 pm Kick-off. Sutton Rugby Football Club was founded in 1899, but following The Great War was disbanded, and in 1924 were re-formed as Suttonians Rugby Football Club. This season, they are celebrating their centenary. However, another though ask for Bective, after Round Four of the Leinster League, Suttonians are sitting top of the league table with 19 point from a maximum of 20. Bective, in third have 16 points, but with home advantage we have it all to play for.
Full Time – Mallow RFC 30 (3) Bective Rangers FC 43 (6)
Bective Rangers 1XV: 15 Tim Carroll, 14 Mikey O’Hare, 13 Craig Cantwell, 12 Ben Garrett, 11 Shane O’Meara, 10 Oliver Foote, 9 Bobby Holland, 1 Rory Mulvihill, 2 Luke Mion, 3 Conor Kelly, 4 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 5 Ger Warde, 6 Matthew Keane, 7 Tiarnan McCloskey ©, 8 Gavin Kelly.
Finishers: 16 Scott Barron, 17 David Kealy, 18 Paddy Sheeran, 19 Shane O’Loughlin, 20 Rory O’Brien.
Scorers: Bective: Tries: Mikey O’Hare – 2, Shane O’Meara, Gavin Kelly, Rory Mulvihill, Ben Garrett - 1; Cons: Mikey O’Hare -3 Rory O’Brien -1; Pen: Mikey O’Hare - 1
Referee: Kieran Barry MAR IRFU.
