Match Report: Bective edge Seapoint in Division 1A clash
January 20th, 2024 – A view from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD
Seapoint RFC 17 Bective Rangers FC 19
ROUND TEN of the Leinster League saw Bective continue their successful ways in Division 1A with a hard-earned win over Seapoint on Saturday.
A score of 17-19 might help tell the story as both teams played a fantastic game with some excellent running rugby. To say this league is anything but competitive is an understatement as every club has the potential to beat another on any given day.
Bective’s win keeps them in third place, just 3 points behind league leaders Monkstown, and 2 points behind Seapoint.
If you were to take that at face value, you would think this would be an easy victory for Bective. Well, it was anything but, and it shows just how tight this league is. Kilbogget Park is not the most attractive rugby grounds in Leinster, but to get a win, even by the narrowest of margins is a great result. Bective’s 1XV competitive record in Kilbogget, to date, is – Played 10, Lost 5, Drew 1, and Won 4.
With a strong wind at their backs, Seapoint were not long in imposing their game on Bective, but after 7 minutes of play, a clever box-kick by scrum half, Connor Halpenny, brought play into the Seapoint 22.
From the lineout, Bective moved the ball wide and Daithi Murphy got in for a try, only that referee Chris Elliott, from Grovener High School, who was playing an offside advantage, was unsighted and went back for the penalty. The dominant Bective pack opted to scrum, and after a series of scrums and penalty advantage, Jamie Lawless was in for a try. Mikey O’Hare added the conversion, 7 – 0 for Bective.
From the restart, Seapoint began to show their intent as they spread the ball fast and wide to stretch the Bective defence.
Not once, but on a number of occasions, Bective were to withstand the Seapoint attack and hold their line as their scramble defence manage to keep their line intact.
On 35 minutes Seapoint were awarded a penalty which they opted to run and again, spread the ball wide and attacked with some strong carries from Donal McMahon and Zach Jungman with scrumhalf George Sims to score under the posts. Sims added the points to bring the score to 7 all.
Another bout of Seapoint pressure proved fruitless with Bective’s defence holding strong, but with a mistimed high tackle by Jamie Lawless on the stroke of halftime, referee Chris Elliott produced a yellow card.
Half Time – Seapoint RFC 7 Bective Rangers FC 7
The second half saw Seapoint up the ante, and within minutes, a maul from just outside the Bective’ ’22, Seapoint had a lineout. Taken quickly, Seapoint mauled and went blind-side for their winger Dave O’Reilly to touch down. However, the strong wind prevented Sims attempted conversion to leave the score Seapoint 12 Bective 7
Another bout of Seapoint pressure proved fruitless, and Bective extended their lead with the try of the match – a ruck on their ’22, the Seapoint cover had moved out wide, so Tom Dever spotted ‘nobody-at-home’ and with ball in hand, took off on a sprint for the line, with a sweet left-handed pass to the supporting Conor Halpenny, who was in for his second try of the game. Mikey added the point and the score to Seapoint 12 Bective 14.
The game was nip and tuck for the next 20 minutes, with both sides spurning chances, with Seapoint opting for rethrows at the lineout to avoid the Bective scrum.
On 65 minutes, Seapoint were awarded a penalty just inside the Bective half, to which their captain Zach Jungman, opted to run, and with quick hands and strong running saw Jungman bring play up to the Bective line. The Bective defence held, but cracked, with a quick ball out to Matt McKenna for a touchdown for Seapoint. George Sims conversion attempt went wide of the post. Seapoint 17 Bective 14.
Bective were stunned by that Seapoint score and within minutes were back on the attack.
With 76 minutes on the clock, Bective continued to dominate Seapoint, forcing them to run from their own line to finally concede a penalty inside their ‘22. With the wind behind them, Bective opted to scrum, rather than take the points. A strong dominant scrum saw Bective move the ball blindside by Matthew Gilsenan and pass to Ben Garrett for the touchdown. Mikey’s conversion attempt went just wide of the posts, but the score was now Seapoint 17 Bective 19.
Bective tightened up their defence and slowly stifled the Seapoint attack, just about keeping them at bay to record a good win against an excellent side.
Bective had some excellent performances, with Adam Leavy, Daithi Murphy and Bobby Holland the pick of the backs. Scott Barron, Mark Bennet and Tadhg O’Dwyer showed well in the forwards.
Bective travel to Dundalk next Saturday to take on Ballyclare RFC in the All-Ireland Junior Cup Final. Kick-off @ 2.30pm.
Full Time – Seapoint RFC 17 Bective Rangers FC 19
Bective Rangers 1XV: 15 Tim Carroll, 14 Mikey O’Hare, 13 Adam Leavy 12 Daithi Murphy, 11 Shane O’Meara, 10 Matthew Gilsenan, Capt. 9 Conor Halpenny, 1 Tom Dever, 2 Scott Barron, 3 Connie Campher, 4 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 5 Ger Warde, 6 Mark Bennett, 7 Tiarnan McCloskey, 8 Jamie Lawless. Subs. 16 Dan Byrne, 17 David Kealy, 18 Ronan Cregan, 19 Bobby Holland, 20 Ben Garrett.
