Match Report 1st XV vs Suttonians
After a hard-fought game, Bective finally shook off a stubborn Suttonians.
A View from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD
Leinster League Division 1A
Saturday 18th February 2023 @ 3.00pm – Donnybrook
Bective Rangers FC 39 – 32 Suttonians RFC
Round 12 of the Division 1A Leinster League had the faithful Bective supporters on the edge of their seats in a game that had everything - 10 tries and 71 points scored - 2 penalty tries, two yellow cards and one red card, in a very close and entertaining game of rugby. Bective had three changes from their last outing, with Mattie Keane moving to number 8, in place of the injured Jammie Lawless, Eoghan Vaughan at 6, Seb Berti Jur at fullback, and the return of both Dylan Carpenter and Titapu Pairama-Lewington to the bench.
Suttonians opting to play with the strong breeze blowing from the Donnybrook end and who struck first on the scoreboard. They were awarded a penalty for a high tackle just behind the 22, and Jack Ussher made no mistake in putting his team three points up.
The Bective response was immediate, and after a series of scrums, the powerfull home pack forced a penalty on halfway. Matthew Gilsenan kicked to the corner, and the resultant line-out saw Ger Ward sail high to collect, with a drive to the line, for Eoghan Vaughan to touch down. The difficult conversion was missed but the score was 5 -3 for Bective.
Both sides continued with a high tempo game but unforced errors in kicking long by Suttonians resulted on a scrum for Bective on halfway. A scrum penalty for Bective and Micky O'Hare with his accurate boot kicked the 3 points to bring the score to 8 points to 3.
For the next 5 minutes both sides upped the tempo and after a verbal warning by referee Paul Behan ARLB IRFU from Portarlington RFC, issued a yellow card to the Suttonians captain Brian Digan, and this was quickly followed by a red card to their hooker Peter Reilly for a high and dangerous tackle. With the visitors reduced to 13 men, they continued their fiery approach, and one would think they had the numerical advantage. The Bective defence went into 'scramble-mode' and began to show a few soft spots with barn bursting breaks by both Suttonians centres, Joe and Darragh Kelly. As the Bective defence continued to creak, the visitors were awarded a penalty which was converted to bring the score to 8 - 6. From the restart, Bective kicked deep and following a series of dominant scrums on the visitor’s line, Bective were awarded a 'penalty try' on the stoke of half time, to bring the score to 15 - 6. Time for the half-time oranges and get the ‘defence’ fixed.
Half Time – Bective Rangers FC 15 – 6 Suttonians RFC
Bective started the second half at lightning speed, with the breeze at their backs, but it was the visitors who had other ideas and immediately attacked the Bective defence – a missed tackle on the visitors 22 and suddenly they are on the Bective line. Two minutes later a penalty try was awarded to bring the score to 15 – 13 and Bobby Holland sent to the bin. Scott Barron retired injured, replace at hooker by Rodi Gens.
Rodi’s first action was to scrum and Bective were awarded a penalty – Matthew Gilsenan kicked to the corner – Rodi’s lineout throw was good, but somehow Suttonians came away with the ball and ran from inside their 22 line. 7 passes and three carries later and Matt Byrne, Suttonians number 14 scored under the posts. With the conversion added the score was now 15 – 20 to Suttonians. With Bobby still in the bin, Seb Berti retired injured, Ti was introduced in the centre. But the visitors continued to play possession rugby within their 22, probing the Bective defence. However on 52 minutes, a line-out from a penalty for Bective, changed the score again – from the line-out, the ball was taken on by Mattie Keane and four rucks later, after hard carries by Tiarnan McCluskey, Mark Bennett and Connie Camper, made it easy for Matthew Gilsenan to get in for a try. Mikey O’Hare kicked the conversion to bring the score to 22 – 20.
On 55 minutes saw the return of Bobby Holland from the bin, Tadhg Dwyer on for Mark Bennet and Tom Dever replacing the weary captain Colin Jackson. But the visitors upped it again to see their prop Jack Walters bounce off a few Bective tackles and score in the corner. With the conversion missed the score was 22 – 25. As that was try number 6 and we still had 4 more in store. Dylan Carpenter replaced Jack O’Carroll at scrumhalf and following some slick backline passing, on 65 minutes, saw Mikey O’Hare in for a try and give Bective a narrow lead of 2 points – 27 - 25. But back came Suttonians with another barn bursting run by number 12 Joe Kelly to get in for a try under the posts. With the conversion by Jack Ussher the score see-sawed again to 27 – 32 in favour of the visitors. With just 5 minutes on the stadium clock the Bective character began to show with some slick passing between Shane O’Meara and Ti, allowed Bobby Holland to break the Suttonians defence and send Tim Moloney in at the corner. Mikey O’Hare missed the conversion, but the score was now 32 – 32.
However, with time now up this Bective side had a job to finish and following a series of rucks and carries, a delph pass on halfway line, (similar to Finley Behan to Hugo Keenan) from Colin Jackson to the dynamic #8 Mattie Keane, who had an outstanding game, broke the visitors defence and charged for the line only to be held inches short. First up was Tiarnan McCloskey followed by Dylan Carpenter and Mark Bennet. Two rucks later by a ‘fired-up’ determined Bective pack and Tiarnan got the touch down. Mikey added the points and Bective lead was restored to 39 – 32. What a whirlwind second half we had, with some of the Bective faithful support already in the bar – unable for the ‘heart-stopping’ finish.
With 2 rounds of the Leinster League Division 1A remaining, Bective stand eight points clear of Gorey – next up we welcome Seapoint to Donnybrook on 4th March at 3.00pm, who look as they have rescued their season, but following Kilkenny’s dramatic win at home to Monkstown, this league has some surprises in store.
On another note, this was Dylan Carpenters final appearance for Bective this season, as Dylan departs for the southern hemisphere to pursue his work career, we will miss his ‘Faf de Klerk’ style of play and wish him well. As this is just adios, Dylan, you will always be welcome in the ‘Bective Family’.
Full Time – Bective Rangers FC 39 – 32 Suttonians RFC
Bective Rangers FC – 1XV 15 Seb Berti Jun, 14 Mikey O'Hare, 13 Shane O'Meara, 12 Bobby Holland, 11 Tim Maloney, 10 Matthew Gilsenan, 9 Jack O’Carroll, 1 Colin Jackson, 2 Scott Barron, 3 Connie Campher, 4 Mark Bennett, 5 Ger Ward, 6 Eoghan Vaughan, 7 Tiarnan McCloskey, 8 Mattie Keane.
Replacements: 16 Tom Dever, 17 Rodrigo Gens, 18 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 19 Dylan Carpenter, 20 Titapu Pairama-Lewington.
Head-to-Head – Leinster League Division 1A - Bective Rangers FC vs Suttonians RFC
Played 6, Won 3, Draw 0, Lost 3. Points vs Suttonians RFC – 154 pts (21T) – 132 pts (17T)
