Match Report: 1XV vs Gorey
A temporary break from the League had Gorey as visitors to Donnybrook last Saturday for the Quarter Final of the All-Ireland Junior Cup. With the 2XV also taking a break from the league and injuries still effecting key 1XV players, it gave an opportunity for fringe players to step up.
Led by Mark Bennett from number 8, Bective Rangers claimed a prized semi-final place following a 10-point triumph over Gorey, who were much improved from last month’s 40-5 league defeat.
Alex Darcy’s 50:22 kick immediately put Gorey under pressure, and Bective’s maul powered right up to the line before captain Bennett rumbled over inside the opening two minutes. Conor Murphy converted and then added a long-range penalty in the 13th minute.
Referee Michael Reidy Garryowen RFC opted to let the game flow and tended to play the advantage rather than stop the play, leading to a lively opening quarter.
Bective were now playing with confidence with half backs Monty Walsh and Conor Murphy at 10 directing the play in the right direction and a brilliant break by centre Daithí Murphy nearly led to a further score but for a knock on from the next phase.
However, after further pressure from Bective and a neat exchange of passes with Daniel Byrne sent influential lock Ger Warde in under the posts for Bective’s second converted try, establishing a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Gorey fired back with a purple patch inside the hosts’ 22, a maul effort did not work out but solid carrying from Ewan Stephens and Cian Byrne preceded their opening try. Stephen Duffy’s pass put centre Joe Naughton sidestepping over from close range after 26 minutes.
After a great line out take from Ger Warde and a well-executed forwards drive saw Bective prop David Kealy touch down in the corner, brilliantly converted from the touchline by Conor Murphy. However, Gorey were still in the hunt at half-time. They were 24-14 behind after a terrific charge from number 8 Stanley Hadden, who shrugged off four defenders to score their second converted score.
Half Time: Bective 24 – Gorey 14
Gorey were quickest out of the traps on the resumption, with more good footwork from Naughton drawing them close. George Slattery cleverly drew in the defence off a ruck and passed back inside for flanker Stephens to reduce the arrears to 24-21.
The back-to-back Leinster Junior League Champions hit back through hooker Daniel Byrne, who crashed in under the posts following an initial weaving break by Bennett from halfway, and another reliable lineout platform from Ger Warde.
Driven on by a well-won scrum penalty, Gorey brought it back to a three-point game by the hour mark. Scrum half Slattery looked to have sniped over, but play continued and that man Hadden again picked and drove his way over to complete his brace. Neil Byrne converted again.
Bective gave themselves a match-winning cushion through their maul. A bulldozing drive from 20 metres out delivered a try for replacement Tom Dever, which Murphy converted to top off his own tally at 13 points after 61 minutes.
Gorey threw the kitchen sink at the home side late on, but a combination of handling errors and resilient Bective defence meant the scoreboard remained unchanged and it is Bernard Jackman’s charges whose cup run goes on.
Final Score: Bective 38 – Gorey 28
