Weekly Bective News
Hello Rangers,
All the Bective family headed north to Dundalk RFC to support the team last Saturday for the AIL Round Robin Final against Instonians RFC. There was hardly a spare seat on the supporters bus leaving Bective organised by Emmet Sheridan.
Dundalk RFC had prepared for the match and there was a warm welcome from their club officials and President John McKevitt to both Presidents Michael Flood (Bective Rangers) and Robin McKelvey (Instonians), who incidentally had travelled down and back to the Bective Annual Dinner from Belfast the night before.
With the big crowd of supporters from both clubs in attendance and the pitch bathed in perfect sunny weather, the teams were serenaded on to the pitch by The Carlingford Pipe Bandlending a splendid atmosphere to the occasion.
Bective started the better of both teams and were rewarded early in the game by a try from Bobby Holland (above) and a great conversion by Matthew Gilsenan. However, we were pegged back by a strong Instonians outfit who then led 10-7, nonetheless after looking like Bective were about to score coming up to half time, having been harshly penalised near our opponents line, it was Instonians who ended up scoring just before the whistle and so led by 15-7 at half time.
Bective were not getting the rub of the green.
However, Bective started the second half like the first after a great tap from a penalty the Bective pack did the rest, Mattie Keane (above) scoring under the posts (15-14) , now game on. From then on, the game became more challenging for Bective. Nonetheless the score was 20-14 entering the final quarter. Unfortunately after a period of Instonians pressure we conceded a further try. However the Bective team lifted themselves again, never say die attitude, showing tremendous character, playing great rugby, coming from behind again, Denis Coulson driving over and Matthew Gilsenan converting from way out to put Bective within 4pts. With the momentum now shifting back to Bective and 5 minutes of injury time left, and the Bective pack again getting the upper hand, the pressure was now on our opponents, who finally conceded a penalty on their 22 , unlucky the penalty didn’t work out for Bective, it was not to be our day.
Bective 21 – Instonians 25
To read Instonians RFC's Match Report please Click here
Bective’s time will come again next season, the club is in a good hand, with plans in place and we are going in the right direction.
The Players, Coaches Bernard & David & Heine, Manager Shane, Physio Keelan, Steve (Rats) and all the support staff Ben, Manuel, Hughie, Rory and Emmet…..all deserve massive credit from everyone at Bective for not only their heroic effort last Saturday but also throughout the season and winning the Leinster League.
It has been said many times the standard in the Leinster League is on a par with AIL 2B/2C and the team can hold their heads high on their performance not only last Saturday but also throughout the campaign, and while it is hard to take, sometimes sport is like that, we have to lose one to win one and it will be our turn next time.
Youths and Mini's Update
After Saturday the club needed a lift, and well done to our U13s.
Last Sunday, Bective U13s did the club proud in the semi-final of the Cup at the neutral venue of Gonzaga College by beating Lansdowne 22-22. As the game ended in a draw and Bective scored first in the game, they were deemed the winners. This preserves their 100% unbeaten record so far this season.
Congratulations to all the U13 players and especially the coaches Marcus Kennedy, Richie Maybury, Anthony White, Pat Stephenson, John Healy, Keith McLaughlin and special mention to Jack Boyle for his help through the season. Bective are very proud of your achievements to date and hope you finish off your season with a win in the League and Cup Finals.
U13s vs Terenure RFC, Sun 24th April, in DLSP @12.30pm, League Final
U13s vs Blackrock RFC, Sun 1st May, in Donnybrook @12pm Cup Final
