Bective Rangers FC 32; Naas RFC 3

Sunday, October 18th 2009

The Bective U21's kicked off their league campaign with a good win over Naas. Having lost to the same Naas only two weeks previously, the Bective lads were keen to make amends The initial exchanges were nip and tuck - with play shifting up and down the field and neither team gaining the upper hand. Then Bective opened the scoring with penalty from outhalf Michael Connolly from the 10 yard line. The score remained at 3 - 0 right to the 31st minute, when centre Kevin Byrne broke through the Naas defences - to set up good field position in the Naas 22. The play was swung left quickly and put left wing Shane Williams through in the corner. Michael Connolly converted from the touch-line, leaving the half-time score at 10 - 0. Just before half time the referee judged Bective Scrum-half Paul McEvoy to have infringed at the ruck and awarded a penalty to Naas which was converted to leave the half time score at 10-3.

Bective opened the second half with increased intensity. Kevin Byrne was again to the fore - robbing the ball at midfield and turning the play around for left wing Shane Williams to gather. Williams showed great fortitude, carring the ball through various tackles to within 2 metres of the line. The supporting pact got behind him to drive him over for the touchdown. Within minutes, Byrne was at it again - intercepting the ball in the Naas midfield - to score under the posts. Connolly converted and also slotted a penalty with 20 mins to go leaving Bective with a 25 - 3 margin.

After that, Bective opened up the attacking lines to a greater degree, but spilled the ball at the crucial point having worked themselves into a good field position. Naas also found new drive - especially in the forwards, and worked the play right up to the Bective lines on a number of occasions. Bective managed to hold them out however and fashioned the bonus point try, though the direct running of full-back Mark Jones who put wing Conor Lawlor through for the try in the dying moments.