Match Report: 1XV vs Tullow
Bective lose out on fulltime in Tullow.
CLICK HERE FOR 1XV & 2XV MATCH PHOTOS
Bective travelled to Tullow for our second match in Leinster League Div 1 A last Saturday refereed by Mark Hynes Arklow RFC. Playing on Tullow’s recently laid 4G pitch Bective put in a huge performance against last season’s Div 1B & Town’s Cup champions including ex Leinster, Ireland and B&I Lions player coach Sean O’Brien starting at no 8.
Bective faced into a strong wind with 2 new players on the pitch ex Bective U20 Benji Kealy at centre and Italian winger Nicolo Tognon. Bective started well and although falling behind to an early Tullow penalty, Bective were in front after 15 mins. After a tremendous line out and great passing between the backs Mikey O’Heir, Dagen Morris and Matthew Gilsenan resulting in a maul on the Tullow line for Connie Campher to touch down, difficult conversion missed.
15 min | Tullow 3 – Bective 7
Tullow started to show their quality with some good rugby and after sustained pressure the Bective line was breached by the Tullow backs for Adam Johnston to go over under the posts for a converted try .
22 min | Tullow 10 – Bective 7
Tullow now playing with more confidence but up against a totally spirted Bective XV fighting for every ball and contesting every ruck and lineout . Nonetheless pressure told and a simple penalty from Johnston pushed Tullow further ahead.
28 min | Tullow 13 – Bective 7
Bective responded with some great rugby , with the pack showing the way with some great carries by Tiernan McCloskey, Mark Bennet and Mattie Keane. This was a period of the game where Bective had to withstand some very physical tackles from Tullow and were duly awarded a penalty at halfway. After finding touch in the Tullow 22 and with the Bective lineout ticking over nicely with Ger Ward and Tadhg O’Dwyer in great form the play was taken to the Tullow line after some close calls Scotty Barron finally went over with the conversion missed, back to a 1 point game.
35 mins | Tullow 13 – Bective 12
As stated, this was a difficult period for Bective with further big hits which went unpunished on Connie Compher and Mattie Keane. Nonetheless Bective carried the game to Tullow and both sides had try chances before half time. Unfortunately, Bective lost talisman centre Bobby Holland to an ankle injury to be replaced by Titapu Lewington.
Half Time | Tullow 13 – Bective 12
Bective kicked off with the wind at their backs, but Tullow roared on by the home crowd started the better and were in Bective’s half moving the ball wide and then inside for Tiernan McCloskey to gain a great turnover and relieve the pressure. The great pressure Bective were applying were unsettling the Tullow backs especially their Fijian player Akariva Niubalavu who spilled the ball in the tackle giving Bective a scrum in the Tullow half. From the scrum Shane O’Loughlin, having a fine game fed Matthew Gilsenon who found a great touch on the Tullow 5 meter line. From a Tullow knock on and a couple of Bective scrums the Tullow pack was driven back for Mattie Keane to touch down.
51 min | Tullow 13 – Bective 17
With Tullow on home soil and big support there was to be a response, as they continued to press into the Bective half, but with a combination of great Bective defence and their own mistakes the match continued on a nip and tuck basis with Bective unable to take full advantage of the wind. The clock was moving towards fulltime and both sides were becoming anxious. However with Sean O’Brien becoming more and more prominent using all his power and experience Tullow moved the ball left and after good play they were on the Bective line, but with the player held up Bective survived. Goal line drop out. Unfortunately, after running the ball back, an offside against Bective, penalty to Tullow, then after a quick tap penalty Tullow were over for their 3rd try with the difficult conversion missed.
73 min | Tullow 18 – Bective 17
It was now backs to the wall, and Bective responded and won the ball from the kick off and after a few mauls Tullow were finally, finally penalised at the ruck .
Mickey O’Hare stroked over the penalty, Bective were in the lead nearly full time.
76 min | Tullow 18 – Bective 20
Unfortunately, Tullow won possession from the kick off. However, from the maul Tullow again were off their feet penalty Bective.
Bective decided on a tap to secure possession and after a couple of mauls Bective were harshly penalised leaving the easy penalty for that man Johnson and Tullow to break Bective hearts.
Final Score | Tullow 21 – Bective 20.
