Match Report: 3XV vs St.Mary’s
The 3XV put in a stellar performance against the unbeaten division leaders St Mary’s on Friday night. After 7 weeks without a match, there were no signs of cobwebs as the lads went at St Mary’s from the start.
Bective opened the scoring through number 8 Dave O’Mahony, crashing over from close range, out half Daniel Merker adding the extras. St Mary’s responded with a breakaway try before Bective stormed back down the field. A knock-on on their own try line gave Bective a scrum, where lovely interplay from O’Mahony off the base and an out-the-back-door flick from scrum half and captain Stephen Fox put Merker over in the corner. A superb touch line conversion made sure Merker got the full 7, and Bective led 14-7. St Mary’s responded with a penalty before sustained pressure on the Bective line finally told and they took the lead at the break by the minimum, 14-15 at halftime. Bective’s excellent first half display of controlled aggression wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard.
However, Bective stormed out of the gate in the second half with two tries, both started deep in their own half. First, blindside flanker Darren Brady shrugged off St Mary’s tacklers on his own ‘22, before storming down the pitch, offloading to speedy hooker Eoin McIntyre who was stopped just short of the line. Quick recycled ball saw centre Luis Santana through beside the sticks for a converted try. Almost immediately, replacement lock Adam Murphy broke again from the Bective half and again with quick ball and good lines of running, Bective winger Emmett Geraghty scored his first try on debut. The conversion was missed but Bective led 26-14 with 50 mins on the clock.
The next 20 minutes belonged to Mary’s as they showed why they top the table. Bective, unable to get out of their half, were twice pinged by referee Eoin Horkan, Mary’s cutting the deficit twice to make it 26-21. Then what could have been a killer blow: Mary’s kicked to the corner and after several phases, bounced back against the grain to score in the corner, the conversion was missed but the scores were now level 26-26.
But the Bective heads didn’t drop. Intelligent, patient play led to Mary’s infringing at the ruck. Captain Fox pointed to the posts and Merker duly obliged, making the score 29-26 with less than 10 minutes on the clock. Bective did superbly to keep the opposition in their half, Mary’s resorting to huge Garryowens to try and make territory. Then, with the clock in the red, Mary’s broke through the Bective centre, their backs tearing up the field. But the Bective rearguard stood firm: replacement fullback Jules Vanthournout and winger Sam Carey closed in on the Mary’s runner and made a thundering double tackle knocking ball loose, referee Horkan called knock-on and blew for full time. The players, bench, coaches Col Bathe & Shane Comer, and supporters who braved the cold weather were rewarded for the hard work put in the last 7 weeks.
The 3XV had a tough start to the season but Friday they showed just what they can do. The league playoffs are still within reach and last Friday is hopefully the start of something special. It continues Friday Dec 8th @ 8pm, away to our old rivals DLSP FC.
FT Bective 29-26 St Mary’s
