Match Report: 1st XV vs Monkstown

A View from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD

Leinster League Div 1A - Saturday 3rd December 2022 @ 2.30pm – Donnybrook

Bective Rangers FC 30 – 31 Monkstown FC

Eight try thriller and Bective piped by a point.

This table topper clash produced yet another classic between Bective and Monkstown, where both, league points and bragging rights were ‘on-the-line’. Friendships put ‘on-hold’, and not a sign of the Mick Doyle trophy. This Leinster Branch fixture, only four to date, has reignited the joy of Club rugby in competitive games against ‘neighbours. In the four games, both have two ‘away’ wins and in the ‘try’ count, Bective shade it by one. It was another week where Bernard and the coaching team had selection issues, but Round 8 of the Leinster League saw the welcome return of Dylan Carpenter at scrum half and Jamie Lawless at #8.

Bective started with pace, and after two minutes, following a charge-down in the in-goal area, a try and a conversion by Matthew Gilsenan, and Bective were 7 points up. This charge-down was the only mistake by Charlie McMickan, the Monkstown out-half, who produced a flawless display for the remainder of the game. After 5 minutes he popped up to kick 3 points and Monkstown were back in the game. Both sides continued to run wide at every opportunity which led to a number of enforced errors contributing to the drama. However, following a scrum penalty, Mikey O’Hare kicked a long range penalty from the halfway line, to see the ball bounce on the crossbar and add three points for Bective. But Monkstown kept coming and on 27 minutes, against the run of play, Lorcan Walsh, Monkstown #6, intercepted a wayward pass to score a try. Charlie McMickan kicked the conversion, and the score was now 10 points all. Bective response was immediate and after another successful penalty kick be Matthew Gilsenan and with the midfield looking very crowded, a ‘peach’ of a kick by Dylan Carpenter up the line resulted in a scrum penalty to Bective. Tim Carroll opted to kick to the corner and following a fantastic throw by hooker Scott Barron to Ger Ward in the lineout, saw Scott touch down in acrobatic fashion for a try. The conversion was missed but the half time score was now 18 points to 10.

Half Time – Bective Rangers FC 18 – 10 Monkstown FC

From the restart both sides opted to play open attacking rugby, and this resulted in a most exciting / heart stopping 40 minutes of play which had both sets of supporters on the edge of their seats. Following a missed penalty kick by Monkstown they continued to attack the Bective line, and their half backs, Tristan Brady and Charlie McMickan, following some slick passing, carelessly allowed a Bobby Holland intercept, to send Seb Berti sprinting for the corner to score. The difficult conversion was missed, but the score was now 23 points to 10. Monkstown were immediately back on the offensive and following a penalty on 45 minutes, kicked for the corner. Following the resulting lineout Monkstown mauled their way up field, and with some great play between their forwards and backs brought them to the Bective line. After some sustained determined defensive work by Bective’s pack, Referee Cillian Hogan ARLB IRFU, from Old Belvedere RFC, decided to issue a yellow card to Colin Jackson. A quick tap and Charlie McMickan was in for a try and a conversion – score now was 23 – 17. Three minutes later as Monkstown attacked the Bective line again, following great slick fast passing by their half backs, another yellow card was issued, this time to Jamie Lawless and Bective were down to 13 men. Monkstown opted to scrum, so Rodi Gens was introduced and Agustin Ortas to make way for a front row, the Bective 6 held the Monkstown pack forcing them to play wide and Joe Fryers to score in the corner. Charlie McMickan kicked the conversion to give Monkstown the lead for the first time 23 – 24.

But there is the great character of this team – well tutored by Bernard and his coaching team - with 6 forwards, and only 13 men, they dug deep in support for each other, giving and taking big hits, and attacked with every opportunity forcing Monkstown onto the back foot. Every tackle was cheered by the Bective support and each hit bigger than the last one until Rodi Gens bust over the line for a try under the posts. Matthew Gilsenan kicked the conversion and Bective were back in front leading 30 – 24.

With 10 minutes of play remaining, Bective were back to 15 men, Monkstown backs swung into action. Again, Tristan Brady, Monkstown scrum half, with his fast hands and Charlie McMickan, equally fast passing, assisted by #15 Fraser Wright heaped more pressure on the creaking Bective back line and on 77 minutes, a kick ahead was fielded by Seb Berti but he was immediately swallow up by the Monkstown tackles. In his effort to play the ball, Seb was forced over the goal line and, in my view, grounded the ball in-goal which might have resulted in a 5m attacking scrum. However, as Seb Berti released the ball and with no TMO or touch judge involvement, referee Cillian Hogan awarded a try for Monkstown to bring the score to 30 – 29. That man Charlie McMickan, Monkstown out-half, stepped up, held his nerve, and kicked a most difficult conversion to bring the score to 30 – 31.

This Bective team had some outstanding performances in what a tremendous team effort  and with this talented group of players, we have an opportunity to achieve something special in Bective, a club, that has rediscovered its passion for club rugby. The front row, led by Colin Jackson, the live wire Scott Barron and gentle Big Tom Dever, worked hard at every scrum, lineout, maul and ruck, while Dylan Carpenter and Bobby Holland were the pick of the backs. With 8 rounds completed we are two points clear of the rest – I have no doubt that the professional approach by Bernard and his coaching team in their preparation and values will lead to results - next up is away to Boyne on 14th January and this group of players deserve a well-earned Christmas break.

Full Time - Bective Rangers FC 30 – 31 Monkstown FC

Bective Rangers FX – 1XV 15 Tim Carroll, 14 Mikey O'Hare, 13 Shane O'Meara, 12 Bobby Holland, 11 Tim Maloney, 10 Matthew Gilsenan, 9 Dylan Carpenter, 1 Colin Jackson, 2 Scott Barron, 3 Tom Dever, 4 Mark Bennett, 5 Ger Ward, 6 Titapu Pairama-Lewington, 7 Agustin Ortas, 8 Jamie Lawless.

Replacements: 16 Daniel Byrne, 17 David Kealy, 18 Oisin Lennon, 19 Shane O'Loughlin, 20 Seb Berti Jun.

Head-to-Head – Leinster League Division 1A Bective Rangers FC vs Monkstown FC

Played 4, Won 2, Draw 0, Lost 2. - Points vs Monkstown – 91pts (11T) – 81pts (10T)