Match Report: Kilkenny vs 1st XV

Leinster League Div 1A - Saturday 01st October @ 3.00pm – Foulkstown, Kilkenny

Kilkenny RFC 23 – 13 Bective Rangers FC

Valiant Bective come unstuck at Foulkstown

– a View from the side-line by GPMK

The final score line from Foulkstown perhaps didn’t tell the full story as Bective put it up to last year’s Provincial Towns Cup champions before returning to Donnybrook with no tangible reward.

In front of a large boisterous home crowd, with blustery cloudy conditions on a dry pitch, Bective had the advantage of playing with a strong breeze, but it was Kilkenny who took the lead with a converted penalty on 2 minutes

From the restart both teams put in a series of attacking forays and after 9 minutes of play, with Bective in possession, Kilkenny # 13 committed a high tackle on Dagan Morris, who had to be replaced by Robb Barnes. However, with some strong carries by the pack, and centre Tim Maloney, resulted in the supper speedy Shane O’Meara to score in the corner. The difficult kick by Matthew Gilsenan was just left on the upright to leave the score at 3pts to 5 in favour of Bective with 10 minutes on the clock.

Following a set scrum to Kilkenny in midfield they were alerted to what was to come when they were pushed off their own put-in by the big physical Bective pack, With the resulting penalty, Bective opted to re-scrum only for Referee John Flynn ARLB IRFU, from Lansdowne FC, to penalise the dominant Bective pack for not pushing straight. This caused some confusion within the forwards, when the Referee penalised Bective again for crocket pushing.

After some open play by both teams, on 27 minutes, Kilkenny # 13 was yellow carded for yet another late tackle. The resulting penalty was converted by Matthew Gilsenan for the score to be 3pts to 8.

At the restart, Kilkenny took the initiative and at 33 minutes, on there second visit to the Bective 22, Kilkenny #12 was in for a try to leave the score 8pts each. Kilkenny continued to up the intensity and on the return of their sin-binned # 13, who made an immediate impact to break the Bective defence, only for their No.8 to score a try. With the kick missed the halftime score of 13pts to 8 in favour of Kilkenny.

Half Time – Kilkenny FC 13 – 8 Bective Rangers FC

After halftime, the home side were now beginning to play at a serious pace and were stretching Bective in all aspects of play only for their big # 4 to get in for a try. With the try converted by the Kilkenny lively out-half, on 58 minutes added another 3 points to his tally to leave the score at 23pts to 8.

Kilkenny were now in full flight and began to use the elements, and the pitch to their advantage. Foulkstown is a difficult venue for any visiting team, and this looked like Kilkenny were about to press the turbo button. But a strong response by the Bective pack, resulting in strong carries by Oisin Lennon and Connie Campher, with Mark Bennett and Eoin Vaughan covering every inch of the pitch, some slick passing by Shane O’Loughlin and Matthew Gilsenan saw James Corcoran go over for a try on 66 minutes. With the conversion missed the score was now 23 -13

Bective began to dominate again in the scrum and the team appeared to have belief that they may achieve something from this game, only on 72 minutes, to concede another scrum penalty for not pushing straight, and Colin Jackson was sent to the bin.

The home side, chasing a fourth try, possible bonus point, opted to kick to the corner. Bective showed magnificent character to win the Kilkenny lineout and for the following 5 minutes threw everything at the game but couldn’t force a breakthrough. This was a fine performance from Bernard Jackman’s charges having suffered quite a lot of disruption in selection prior to this game.

With a welcome break this weekend, next up on 15th October, is Ashbourne in Donnybrook, and after three rounds played, there is only 4 points separating first and last in the league table.

Full Time – Kilkenny FC 23 – 13 Bective Rangers FC

Bective Rangers FX – 1XV 15 Mikey O'Hare, 14 Dagan Morris, 13 Tim Maloney, 12 James Corcoran, 11 Shane O'Meara, 10 Matthew Gilsenan, 9 Shane O'Loughlin, 1 Colin Jackson, 2 Scott Barron, 3 Connie Campher, 4 Tom Dever, 5 Oisin Lennon, 6 Mark Bennett, 7 Nick Harvey, 8 Eoin Vaughan.

Replacements: 16 Dan Byrne, 17 Rodrigo Gens, 18 Duarte Costa Campos, 19 Bruce Hayes, 20 Robb Barnes.

Head-to-Head – Leinster League Division 1A - Bective Rangers FC vs Kilkenny RFC

Played 7, Won 4, Draw 0, Lost 3. Points vs Kilkenny – 167 pts (23 T) – 131 pts (15 T)