Match Report: AIL Semi Final
It was a wet Saturday morning as all of Bective headed over to Coolmine RFC overlooking the leafy Tolka Valley for the AIL Semi-Final, optimistic that it was going to be our turn again this year to challenge for a shot at going senior. The supporters bus was full leaving Bective and a massive crowd, including our flag waving mini’s were already at the ground to cheer on Bective in the first of the semi-finals. Incredibly the rain eased off before the kick off and the game was played in pleasant weather on a good pitch.
Unfortunately, Bective were dealt a blow before kick off with the withdrawal through injury of key player, winger/centre Shane O’Meara with Tim Molony starting instead.
Referee Kieran Barry IRFU blew his whistle and Matthew Gilsenan kicked off deep into the Clogher 22 and Bective gained a foothold immediately. The first scrum to Bective unfortunately resulted in a penalty to Clogher for an early push-on by Bective. Nonetheless, a marker was laid down. Clogher looked the more nervous of the 2 sides in the opening minutes as their first lineout was spilled. A kick was blocked down by Bobby Holland inside the opponents 22, the ball could have gone anywhere but luckily the bounce favoured Clogher and a lovey grubber kick through by Matthew Gilsenan was just about held near the opponent’s line by their excellent winger Taine Haire. Although tackled, he was well supported by his pack and the ball was cleared to touch. This was to be the pattern as the half wore on, Bective pressing but Clogher repelling the attacks and growing in confidence.
On 12 mins Bective suffered a massive blow with the loss through injury of centre Titapu Pairama-Lewington to be replaced by Gwenegan Kernivinen.
However, Bective still continued to bring the game to their opponents and with some brilliant carries by Connie Campher, Ger Ward and Tiarnan McCluskey on 15 mins and on 20 mins, resulted in a penalty near the Clogher line. Something had to give and Bective opted not to kick the points and went for the try. With Clogher hanging on and making big tackles the ball, unfortunately, was spilled at the ruck and the chance was lost for Clogher to take a scrum on their line and put the ball into touch near halfway.
Another injury for Bective, No. 8 Jamie Lawless retiring but returning later to be replaced by Tadhg O ’Dwyer.
As the first half was reaching the half hour mark and with no score to either side, Bective tried to put a score on our opponents with some great carries down the middle and with Jack O’Carroll feeding good ball to the backs. But Clogher were showing their mettle with some tremendous tackling and counter attacking. On 25 mins a great break by Matthew Gilsenan brought hope, bringing play into our opponents 22 only for a harsh penalty against Bective. Pressure relieved again for our opponents. A spilled lineout and Bective have a scrum which they counter again, with Colin Jackson and Scotty Barron to the fore. Unfortunately, Clogher again with brilliant tackles and counter rucking cleared their lines. Unbelievably, Clogher lose the line out but as Bective set-up the maul, the ball is ripped and the Clogher wing forward David Stinson makes a carry into the Bective half, to set up a move resulting in out half David Maxwell putting the ball into touch in the Bective 22. Bective cleared their lines from the lineout, but our opponents now had a foothold in our half. From the resulting lineout, Clogher moved the ball right and left with intensity and from the ruck on the Bective line, were over for the first try of the game with the conversion .
33 mins: 7-0 to Clogher Valley
Bective were to suffer a double whammy while again on the attack and in a good position from a scrum, a kick into the Clogher corner is blocked and again the bounce of the ball goes our opponents way, for their full back to break up the touchline and pop the ball to their aptly named winger Taine Haire to sprint 40 metres to score under the posts.,
35 mins: 14 – 0 to Clogher Valley
Unfortunately, the injuries kept mounting for Bective with Tim Molony retiring (returning later) to be preplaced by Seb Berti Jnr.
With 5 mins to go plus added time, Bective worked their socks off to get a score before the half-time whistle and with a brilliant turnover and penalty by Captain Colin Jackson, Tim Carroll with a great kick, gives Bective a lineout near the Clogher line. Then from the throw and maul, Colin Jackson touches down with Mikey O’Hare adding the difficult conversion, Bective were back on the stroke of half time.
Half-time: Clogher Valley 14 – Bective Rangers 7
Clogher get the second half going with a kick off deep into the Bective 22, a knock on by Clogher gives Bective a scrum. Unfortunately, Bective are penalised after a move off the back of the scrum and their out half David Maxwell slots the penalty, it’s a 2 score game now .
45 mins: 17 – 7 to Clogher Valley
This score seemed to give Clogher added confidence and they started to throw the ball about causing the Bective defence all kinds of problems. After great pressure by Bective on the half way line and great work by the pack resulting in another blocked down Clogher kick bouncing in their favour, Bective were not getting the rub of the green. Colin Jackson looked to have poached the ball from a Clogher ruck, however, the referee didn’t give the penalty to Bective and the ball was moved across the Clogher backline for the elusive left winger Taine Haire to run a great line down the middle to open up the play. With a pop pass at pace and some great support play and with Bective now backpedalling and trying to hold out Clogher, then another recycle for Corneel Michem to touch down under the posts. With Maxwell adding the points, it was now going to be a long way back for Bective.
53 mins: 24-7 to Clogher Valley
So now Bective had it all to do and more! Further injuries, (Jamie Lawless retiring again being replaced by Tadhg O’Dwyer and Gwenegan Kernivinen off injured replaced by Tim Molony) wasn’t helping our cause. Nonetheless, the players knuckled down to the task ahead with huge courage and to a man took the game to Clogher again. After Maxwell the Clogher out half kicked out on the full, this gave Bective a lineout near the opponents 22. The team went through phase after phase, carry after carry, but the Clogher defence stood firm and finally a penalty was awarded to Bective on the 22, but no yellow card for our opponents. Luck again was not with us as the chance was lost with the kick to the corner going out on the full. As play ebbed and flowed, a great line out leap from Ger Ward inside the Clogher half, set-up a great drive and maul into the Clogher 22. First, Connie Campher then Scotty Barron, then Mark Bennett just held up short, then phase after phase, Jack feeding Tim Carroll nearly putting Mikey O’Hare in, Bobby Holland just held, Matthew Gilsenan keeping the line moving, Tiarnan McCluskey nearly through, relentless Clogher defence and just when Bective are going to pick and maul and score, a Clogher player deliberately kills the ball and finally, finally a yellow card is produced.
Jack O’Carroll taps to touch for the lineout and a great catch at the front from Tadhg O’Dwyer sets up the maul for Mattie Keane to touch down and Mikey O’Hare slots the conversion.
68 mins: 24 – 14 to Clogher Valley
Could Bective come back? The team have shown courage and resolve to get another score so maybe there is another one coming. With 12 mins to go and our chins are up again, 10 points is not a huge deficit. Another score and maybe this might hit Clogher’s confidence. Connie Campher goes off to be replaced by Rodi Gens. It was not to be, as Clogher gained a foothold in the Bective half and with their counter attacking game constantly causing Bective problems throughout the game , a break down the right wing and further recycles yielded another try for Clogher, converted by Maxwell.
75 mins: 31- 14 to Clogher Valley
Still Bective refused to give up and kept playing great rugby but Clogher were holding firm. Another line out near the Clogher line and a great take and go by Mattie Keane, then recycled to Scotty Barron, try in the corner and the difficult conversion missed.
79 mins: 31-21 to Clogher Valley
It was almost time up and now a bridge to far for Bective. Clogher had a kick chase, with the referee harshly penalising Bective for a late tackle, it was left to Maxwell to slot the 3 points and add further heartbreak to Bective.
Final Score : Clogher Valley 34 – Bective Rangers 21
The Club should be very proud of the effort that Colin and the squad have put in this season winning back to back Leinster leagues and qualifying again for the play offs. They have given the Club great days to treasure. The Club also want to thank Bernard and all his coaching team, Hein, Louis Jnr, Danny, Keelan, Steve (Rats), Manuel and Ben, not to forget Rory and Chuck on Bective TV , also Emmett for all their hard work . To all the supporters and club members who supported the team throughout the season, a big thank you! To everyone doing all the heavy lifting in the background, the Club Executive, volunteers and our staff, a big thank you also.
