Match Report: Suttonians vs 1XV
A View from the ‘side-line’ by OMAHD
Leinster League Div 1A - Saturday 11th November @ 2.30pm – JJ McDowell Grounds
Suttonians RFC 23 – 17 Bective Rangers FC
Late late try sinks Bective
Round 6 of the Leinster League and Bective were back on the road where they travelled Northside to take on Suttonians in a crucial league match for both sides. Bective knew a win would put them in touch with League leaders Seapoint, and they came agonisingly close to pulling off what would have been an incredible result.
The weather could not have been better as it was a beautiful sunny autumnal November afternoon in Sutton, ideal for open-flowing rugby. Selection this week was disrupted as to availability and some slight injury knocks to several key players so it was decided to include extra travelling replacements. Both Bobby Holland and Titapu pulled up during warm-up and were replaced by Connor Murphy at 10, with Nicoló Tognon on the right wing and Mikey O’Hare moving to 12.
Suttonians started the brighter in a frenetic opening 10 minutes with referee Brían Bennett MARIRFU, a member of Richmond RFC in Limerick, in charge, Suttonians were awarded their third penalty, and fullback Jack Gallagher slotted the three points. Two minutes later, our first visit to their 22, following a fine lineout catch and drive, Dan Byrne to be held up over the line, resulting in a goal-line drop-out.
Bective settled and slowly started to get a foothold in home territory with some fine plays by both young Cormac Walsh and Connor Murphy, linking well as if they were a regular halfback partnership. On the half-hour mark, following a penalty, a lineout and some fine drives by the forwards, resulted in a scrum for a knock-on. The Bective pack displayed their dominance, with #8 Jamie Lawless touching down for a try. Mikey added the points for Bective to lead 7 – 3.
Suttonians upped the pressure again and following two more penalties against Bective, the count is now 6, the referee issued a ‘team’ yellow card and Shane O’Meara was in the bin. A quick tap and Suttonians were in for a try – with the conversion missed the score was now 8 – 7 to Suttonians with 35 minutes gone. The restart didn’t go the 10 meters and Suttonians opted to scrum – two further penalties against Bective, Suttonians had a lineout and a drive to the line for hooker Cian Buckley to score and bring the score to 13 – 7. From the restart, Suttonians ran the ball and following another two penalties against Bective, 11 in the first half, Suttonians opted to take the kick and the half-time score was now 16 – 7.
Half Time: Suttonians RFC 16 – 7 Bective Rangers FC
The second half saw Suttonians grow in confidence as they took the game to Bective and it wasn’t long before, following some robust ‘two-man’ tackling by Suttonians on Mattie Keane, Bective were penalised again as Mikey O’Hare attempted a ‘clear-out’. Again, Suttonians upped the pace of the game and following a great cover tackle by Mattie on the speedy Suttonians winger James Buckeridge, Mattie had to retire due to a cut above his eye. The referee had another penalty against Bective for a high tackle and yellow for Connor Murphy. Bective were down to 14 men.
With injuries and rolling subs, Bective had three props and two hookers on the pitch but with some great defensive work and smart box kicks by young Cormac Walsh, Bective withstood the Suttonians onslaught. It paid dividends when Tim Carroll sent a defence-splitting kick deep into the home 22, as the chasers were on hand to force a penalty. Mikey split the posts to leave a score between the sides, 16 – 10. Following the restart, Bective attacked the home defence and following two dominant scrums, won a line-out and drove to the line. The referee immediately awarded a penalty try and Cian Buckley, Suttonians hooker was sent to the bin. 10 minutes remaining and it was now 16 – 17 to Bective.
Suttonians now began to chase the game and following some outstanding defence by Bective, the home sides out half Ioan Williams split the defence with a kick through, to allow winger Buckeridge to chase and gather, only to pass to #7 Rory Lithfield, to score a try. Jack Gallagher took his time with the conversion kick and with time now up, he split the post for the score to be 23 – 17 to Suttonians.
Time was up and Tim Carroll restarted, however with the kick not going the full 10 metres, Suttonians opted to receive the kick again rather than take a scrum and chose to knock on resulting in the final whistle.
Disappointment for Bective, but this was a game we could have won – we must play to our strengths and keep our discipline.
With 6 Rounds of the Leinster League Division 1A completed, we are 6 points behind League leaders Seapoint with Ashbourne at home in Round 7, the halfway point in the League – so its wins and 5 pointers from now on – no pressure. Next up on 18th November we are at home to Gorey in the quarter-final of the Energia All Ireland Junior Cup – KO 2.30pm in Donnybrook.
Full Time: Suttonians RFC 23 – 17 Bective Rangers FC
Bective Rangers FC – 1XV 15 Tim Carroll, 14 Shane O'Meara, 13 Ben Garrett, 12 Mikey O'Hare, 11 Nicoló Tognon, 10 Connor Murphy, 9 Cormac ‘Monty’ Walsh, 1 Tom Dever, 2 Daniel Byrne, 3 Connie Campher, 4 Ger Ward, 5 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 6 Mark Bennett, 7 Mattie Keane ©, 8 Jamie Lawless.
Replacements: 16 Scott Barron, 17 Shane Ryan, 18 Tiarnan McCloskey, 19 David Murphy, 20 Kieron White.
Head-to-Head – Leinster League Division 1A - Bective Rangers FC vs Suttonians RFC
Played: 7 Won: 3 Draw: 0 Lost: 4 Pts For: 132 Try For: 17 Pts A: 123 Try A: 16
