Match Report: 1XV vs Wicklow
So on a wet and windy afternoon last Saturday in Donnybrook, playing with a greasy ball, in what was a close and tense encounter, Bective got the season off to a great start with the 4 try bonus point win over newly promoted Wicklow RFC. The win continues the positive momentum built up over the last couple of seasons.
Referred by Ian Thompson Bective led 7 – 3 with an early try from Shane O’Mara converted by Matthew Gilsenan. On 10 min. Wicklow were down a player to 14 after a red card to no. 6 Fergus Ward. Nonetheless Wicklow dug in and gave as good as they got and midway through the half their reliable No. 10 Ben Watson popped over a penalty to reduce the arrears 7 – 6 to Bective. With a combination of the weather and first game nerves, mistakes were plentiful on both sides. Nonetheless Wicklow were playing with great spirt despite being a man down and having to cope with Bective’s dominant scrum. Finally on 35 mins after Bective won a lineout in the Wicklow ’22. Great leap by Ger Ward , then a driving maul and carry from Mark Bennett for Scottie Barron to touch down in the corner . The difficult conversion was missed 12 – 6 to Bective . As Wicklow pressed unfortunately, Bective went down to 14 players after a harsh yellow card to Angus McCallum. Further disruption to Bective followed with the loss through injury to prop Connie Campher replaced by Rodi Gens.
Half time 12 – 6 to Bective.
Bective started the half well and may have been in for a 3rd try but for a dropped pass out wide. Wicklow were now playing with renewed confidence and were playing some good rugby without half Ben Watson prominent. On 12 min. centre Shane Farrar followed up a grubber kick into the Bective 22 to touch down close to the posts for a converted try . 12 – 13 to Wicklow. Game on. The response from Bective was total with Mattie Keane , Tiarnan McCloskey carrying deep into the Wicklow half with great carries from Jamie Lawless and Mark Bennett, then great passing across the backs stretching the Wicklow defence for Shane O’Mara running a great line inside to sprint 30 meters to score a brilliant try in the corner with again a difficult conversion missed, 17 – 13 to Bective. Hoping to build on this lead Bective opted to move the ball wide but Wicklow were not for turning and immediately won a turnover in the Bective half which the Wicklow No. 10 , Watson struck over, 1 point game, 17 – 16 to Bective. With Wicklow’s tails up, Bective had to lift their game, which the players did, but a combination of some bad luck and dogged Wicklow defence the match stayed scoreless for the next 15 mins. After sustained further Bective pressure and penalty after penalty near the Wicklow line Bective finally broke through after a long pass from Matthew Gilsenan for Tim Carroll to go over out wide, for the bonus point try . With the difficult conversion missed again, the score now 22 – 16 to Bective with 13 min remaining. Bective now playing with renewed confidence hoped to close the match out with another score but unfortunately a Wicklow high tackle on Ben Garrett which stopped a potential breakaway try resulted in a yellow card for the Wicklow winger, now down to 13 men. Wicklow to their credit for the remaining 10 min refused to lie down and a penalty from halfway into the Bective 22 led to a great lineout take by their lock Dylan Byrne. Bective stood firm to the resulting pick and mauls with tackle after tackle to a man but after couple of penalties near the Bective line the ball was moved left for the winger to score in the corner right on full time. Difficult conversion missed . We will take the win and move on.
Final Score 22 – 21 to Bective.
