Leinster League Division 1A Champions!
A View from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD
Leinster League Division 1A
Saturday 4th March 2023 @ 3.00pm – Donnybrook
Bective Rangers FC 35(5) – 13(2) Seapoint RFC
Bective Rangers - Leinster League Division 1A, Champions!
Round 13 of the Division 1A Leinster League, was another great day in the club’s history as the 1XV recorded a five-try, 35-13 bonus point victory over a ‘dogged’ Seapoint, to retain the Leinster League Division 1A title with a game to spare.
This week, Bective from their last outing had three changes in the pack, with Dan Byrne in at hooker for Scott Barron, with Mark Bennett making way for Tadhg O’Dwyer in the second row moving to number 6, and Eoghan Vaughan moving to the bench. In the back line we had Mikey O’Hare moving to fullback in place of Seb Berti Jur. and Titapu Pairama-Lewington in the centre to partner the ‘ever reliable’ Bobby Holland.
From the kick-off, Bective started at their usual blistering pace, attacking the Donnybrook end and after a series of attacking rucks, Mattie Keane burst through the Seapoint defence only to have a forward pass and the first scrum of the afternoon. After a series of scrum resets on the Seapoint put-in, the dominant Bective pack immediately drove the visitors off the ball for a fabulous against the head, turnover. Bective were awarded a penalty, opted to kick for touch and from the resultant lineout, were awarded advantage, from which Colin Jackson tapped, and quick hands later, on 4 minutes, saw Jack O’Carroll nip in for a try. Mikey O’Hare added the points for a 7 – 0 score. The visitors immediately attacked only for to find themselves back on halfway being dominated by the Bective scrum. On 13 minutes, Jack O’Carroll with a delft box kick found touch on the visitors 5m line. From the lineout Ger Ward sailed high giving the Bective pack the go and drive, setting up scrum half Jack O’Carroll to find Connie Campher on the burst and go over for Bective’s second try. Mikey O’Hare with the boot and we were 14 – 0, with 14 minutes on the clock. For the next 10 minutes the visitors continued their dogged approach – huffing and puffing, but the Bective defence stood strong. On twenty minutes the visitors changed their front row, in an effort to have a steady scrum, but Bective continued to dominate the scrum. However, on 31 minutes after a sustained attack by the visitors on the Bective defence, Seapoint created an overlap for #14 Alex Lee to score wide out. Matt McMahon missed the difficult conversion. Score was now 14 – 5. Both sides continued to test each other’s defence with the remainder of the half played-out in the visitor’s half.
Half Time – Bective Rangers FC 14 – 5 Seapoint RFC
From the restart, the plan was to keep the ball in hand and not to have to soak-up tackles, but Seapoint had other ideas and continued to blitz the Bective defence. However, after a series of attacks the visitors were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, which they opted to kick. Matt McMahon sliced his kick, but a subsequent penalty awarded, they changed the kicker and James Newman made no mistake. Score now was 14 – 8 on 47 minutes. The Bective play brought the game to the visitors and following a great break by Tiarnan McCloskey and a subsequent charge by Colin Jackson, Bective were awarded a penalty on the visitors 5m line. Bective opted to scrum and with the pack dominating and Mattie Keane controlling the ball at back of the scrum touchdown, third try for Bective . Up steps Mikey O’Hare with the conversion and the score was now 21 - 8. The visitors continued to ‘huff an puff’ with some great defence by Bective kept play in the visitors 22m. Changes to the pack with Rodi Gens and Tom Dever replacing Connie Camper and Tadhg O’Dwyer. Play resumed with a high kick by the visitors only to be penalised for a challenge in the air on Shane O’Meara. The resultant kick and subsequent rolling maul by the dominant Bective pack, brought pay to the visitors 5m line and the referee Ross Shaughnessy ARCB IRFU from Galwegians RFC, awarded a scrum to Seapoint. Connie Camper was immediately returned to play. The visitors held their scum and cleared their line. On 74 minutes Bective attacked the short side switched infield with good hands by Matthew Gilsenan and Shane O’Meara and then back to the narrow site by Mikey O’Hare who broke the visitors defence and poped the ball to the onrushing Bobby Holland to score his fist try of the season. (It’s been 329 days since Bobby’s last try – glad to see he has found his mojo, so we won’t have Enda McAnulty on speed-dial - 😊). Mikey O’Hare hit the conversion and Bective, with the bonus try in the bag sailed past Seapoint into a 28 – 8-point lead. With four minutes to go, Scott Baron replaced Dan Byrne, who had an excellent game, and rolling subs in the pack Bective had a scrum on the visitors 22m line. A penalty was awarded, and Matthew Gilsenan kicked to corner. Scott Baron with the throw and a maul to the line and Scott scored his second try of the season. Matthew Gilsenan nailed the difficult kick to bring the score to 35 – 8. With the game now in over-time but Seapoint continued their dogged approach and finally their captain Zac Jungman who had a fine individual game, got in for a late try. The visitors missed the kick for the final score of 35 – 13.
Next up in the final League game on 11th March, we are ‘on the road again’ heading south to Gorey for a 3.00pm kick-off. Last Saturdays win has established an unassailable 9-point lead over our nearest rivals Gorey and assure the squad a place in the Energia All-Ireland League Round Robin series. Bective Rangers last graced the All-Ireland league in 2018 and a coveted place in Division 2C next season awaits, and we have full confidence in Bernard, his coaching staff and our 1XV squad will create their own history in the drive to regain our senior status and return Bective Rangers FC to the ‘national stage’.
Full Time – Bective Rangers FC 35 – 13 Seapoint RFC
Bective Rangers FC – 1XV 15 Mikey O'Hare, 14 Tim Maloney, 13 Bobby Holland, 12 Titapu Pairama-Lewington, 11 Shane O'Meara, 10 Matthew Gilsenan, 9 Jack O’Carroll, 1 Colin Jackson, 2 Scott Barron, 3 Connie Campher, 4 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 5 Ger Ward, 6 Mark Bennett, 7 Tiarnan McCloskey, 8 Mattie Keane.
Replacements: 16 Scott Barron, 17 Rodrigo Gens, 18 Tom Dever, 19 Eoghan Vaughan, 20 Seb Berti Jun.
Referee: Mr Ross Shaughnessy ARCB IRFU Galwegians RFC
Head-to-Head – Leinster League Division 1A - Bective Rangers FC vs Seapoint RFC
Played 8, Won 5, Draw 0, Lost 3. Points vs Seapoint RFC – 158 pts (21T) – 149 pts (22T)
