Match Report: 1st XV vs Enniskillen

A View from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD

IRFU All Ireland Junior Cup - Saturday 29th October @ 4.00pm – Donnybrook

Bective Rangers FC 5 – 52 Enniskillen RFC

A large number of ‘Firsts’ in Donnybrook but Bective finished ‘Second’

A much-changed Bective side, fresh from their big win in Suttonians in their previous outing, made their All-Ireland Junior Cup debut against Enniskillen RFC, on their first ever visit to Donnybrook.  With only three retained in the starting XV, Connie Camper, Mark Bennett and Seb Berti Junior, Bective also had a ‘first’ with Seb Berti Senior named on the bench. This was a ‘first’, to have a father and son selected for the Bective 1st XV but unfortunately Seb Junior suffered an injury early on and was replaced by Seb Senior. Match referee John Lillis, ARMB, from Thurles RFC, was on his second visit to Donnybrook, he previously represented Nenagh RFC in an AIL Division 2B game against Bective.

Enniskillen kicked off and within 15 minutes of play had 12 points on the board, with a brace of tries by their dynamic hooker Niall Keenan, and a conversion by their full-back Edward Keys. Bective continued to go through the phases with Seb Senior operating at out-half, produced some fine individual carries by both Connie Champer and Mark Bennett to keep their team with some forward momentum. However, injuries started to pile up for Bective, with Eoin Vaughan and Connie Champer being replaced and suddenly the Bective bench was stretched. As the half wore-on there might have been a chance for Bective to score after some excellent line-out steals by Agustin Ortas to put some doubt in the Enniskillen defence, but for their full-back Edward Keys, went on sprint from his own 22 and finish with a try by winger Sam Balfour under the posts. Edward Keys added the points and the score at half time was 24 to nil.

Half Time – Bective Rangers 0 – 24 Enniskillen RFC

Enniskillen started the second half with confidence and immediately their big back-row Jack Rutledge was in for a try, with the successful kick by Edward Keys the score was now 31 – 0. As play progressed, Bective suffered more injuries and with bench now empty, a loose pass by Seb Berti Senior was intercepted by Enniskillen’s nippy winger Sam Balfour for an indivudal 60m sprint to the line and score under the posts. The tap-over by Keys left the score at 38 – 0. As play progress Bective suffered more woes, with a yellow card and an injury to second-row Ben Reynolds, they were now down to 13 men! Enniskillen didn’t let-up and the scores kept coming with further tries by No 8 Mick Rooney and winger Sam Balfour. Both converted by Keys to extend the score to 52 -0. With time now at 75 minutes, in true Bective style, they never gave up, and continued to press the Enniskillen line. Referee John Lillis issued a yellow to Enniskillen’s No 4, Neil Rutledge, and from the resulting penalty, Titapu Pairama-Lewington looped pass saw Seb Berti Senior to touch down for his and Bective’s first and only try. Final score 52 – 5.

This Enniskillen Team travelled to Donnybrook with a ‘little fear’ in anticipation of a difficult knock-out Cup competition against the reigning Leinster League Champions, but the humility and courtesy showed to all in Bective Rangers by them, their Management and their large number of boisterous supporters was remarkable in how humble they were in their victory. We wish them well in the next round of the All-Ireland Cup and who knows, if results go well for them in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 1, and for Bective in Leinster League, we may meet again in the 2022/23 ‘round robin’ for a place in the All Ireland League.

Next up on 12th November, Leinster League Division 1A – Seapoint in Kilbogget Park @ 2.30pm.

Full Time – Bective Rangers FC 5 – 52 Enniskillen RFC

Bective Rangers FC – 1XV 15 Seb Berti Jun, 14 Marcus Gill, 13 Joe Quilter, 12 Titapu Pairama-Lewington, 11 Angus McCallum, 10 Sean McCarthy, 9 Ciaran Buggy, 1 Rodrigo Gens, 2 Fox Fallon, 3 Connie Campher, 4 Mark Bennett, 5 Ben Reynolds, 6 Ben Mulhi, 7 Eoin Vaughan, 8 Agustin Ortas.

Replacements: 16 Dan Byrne, 17 David Kealy, 18 Jack Collins, 19 Shane O'Loughlin, 20 Seb Berti Sen.

Head-to-Head – All-Ireland Junior Cup - Bective Rangers FC vs Enniskillen RFC

Played 1, Won 0, Draw 0, Lost 1. Points vs Enniskillen RFC – 5 pts (1 T) – 52 pts (8 T)