Match Report: 1st XV vs Gorey

A View from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD

Leinster League Div 1A - Saturday 26th November @ 2.30pm – Donnybrook

Bective Rangers FC 26 – 21 Gorey RFC

Bective hold their nerve, and finish with a bonus point victory.

This performance displayed the true character of this fine group of players that Bernard and the coaching team have in their charge. Having not only to reshuffle the pack, and also the back line due to the mounting number of injuries and absentees, but to reshuffle again during the game was a great achievement for both management and players. After 7 rounds of the Leinster League, it’s instructive to note, that 39 different players wore the Bective colours, (Rose, Green & White), delivering 29 tries and puts us sitting quietly as League leaders. We had three Leinster League debutantes in Ben Mulhi, David Kealy and Seb Berti Senior. In fact, both Seb Senior and Junior created Bective history to have a father and son represent Bective 1st XV in a competitive game.

In damp wet conditions, with a breeze from the Wesley end, the game, officiated by Mr. David Williams ARLB, from St Marys RFC, where both teams played their part in what was a brilliant game of rugby. Bective started the brighter and set-out their stall in moving the ball with pace and width. For the next 10 minutes both teams tested each other’s defence, until Tiernan McCluskey skipped a few tackles, to go on a 30m zig zag run to the Gorey line. Matthew Gilsenan added the conversion to put Bective 7 points up.

As the game ebbed and flowed, we had a lot of stoppages for injuries, and on 21 minutes, Ger Ward contested the Gory line-out and 15 phases later, with some hard driving at the Gorey line by both forwards and backs, Matthew Gilsenan crashed over for a try and dually added the points with his reliable boot to put Bective 14 points clear.

On the half hour both sides made some changes with Shane O’Loughlin replacing Seb Berti Senior and our captain from last season, Oisin Lennon replacing Ben Mulhi. From the restart Gorey were immediately back on the offensive and after a series of scrums were awarded a penalty to which their #12 Mark Kehoe slotted over to bring the score to 14 – 3. Gorey continued their offensive and as the Bective scrum began to creek, the referee issued a verbal warning to Bective on their discipline. Mark Kehoe, Gorey #12 kicked the resulting penalty to bring the score to 14 – 6. The Bective response was immediate, and for the remainder of the half, following awarded penalties, opted to kick to the corner on both occasions. The Bective attack was met equally by a resolute Gorey defence and the half ended with the score 14 points to 6.

Half Time – Bective Rangers FC 14 – 6 Gorey RFC

From the restart Gorey were immediately back on the offensive and on 43 minutes, after some slick passing by their 9 and 10, George Slattery and Fionn O’Loughlin, saw #12 pop up again, Mark Kehoe to score in the corner. However, he missed the conversion to leave the score at 14 points to 11.

Tim Carroll was introduced for Seb Berti Junior and after some fine kicks with his left boot, saw Bective deep in the Gorey half. A superb throw by hooker Scott Barron, and lineout take by Tiarnan McCluskey combining with both forwards and backs, resulted in a Tim Molony touch down to bring the score to 19 points to 11.

Another brilliant run by Gorey 10, Fionn O’Loughlin  on 55 minutes, brought play up to the Bective line and after some good defensive work by Bective, Gorey were awarded a penalty to bring the score to 19 – 14. However, as Gorey continued to press, Bobby Holland pulled up injured and was replaced by Seb Berti Jnr. Gorey were awarded a scrum on the Bective 22 and with their forwards now dominate in the tight, continued to maul to the line for #7 Robert Murphy to touch down. With the conversion added the score was now 19 points to 21. At this point there seamed to be some misunderstanding between the Referee and Bective’s #10, and Matthew Gilsenan was sent to the bin.

This immediately led to an ‘on-field’ reshuffle by Bective’s team management, with Ti, who started the game at 6 moving from the back-row to the back-line, and then into #10 slot, with Seb Berti Snr returning and suddenly the Bective response was immediate. Both forward and backs continued to pressurise the Gory defence with some slick passing and off-loads only for Mark Bennett to cross the line and Mickey O’Hare to kick the conversion – the score now was 26 points to 21. With 5 minutes remaining, Bective were back to 15 after Matthew Gilsenan returned and both sides continued to chase scores, but for the sound composure by Bective, they held out to take full match points including a try bonus point.

Next up is the BIG one – 2.30pm, home to Monkstown in Donnybrook

Full Time - Bective Rangers FC 26 – 21 Gorey RFC

Bective Rangers FX – 1XV 15 Seb Berti Jun, 14 Mikey O'Hare, 13 Shane O'Meara, 12 Bobby Holland, 11 Tim Maloney, 10 Matthew Gilsenan, 9 Seb Berti Snr, 1 Colin Jackson, 2 Scott Barron, 3 Tom Dever, 4 Mark Bennett, 5 Ger Ward, 6 Titapu Pairama-Lewington, 7 Ben Mulhi, 8 Tiarnan McCloskey.

Replacements: 16 Daniel Byrne, 17 David Kealy, 18 Oisin Lennon, 19 Shane O'Loughlin, 20 Tim Carroll.

Head-to-Head – Leinster League Division 1A Bective Rangers FC vs Gorey FC Played 7, Won 4, Draw 0, Lost 3. - Points vs Gorey – 122pts (18T) – 89pts (11T)