Saturday, November 7th 2009

Old Belvedere 12  - Bective Rangers 34

It was obvious that Old Belvedere were well up for this match right from the kick-off, when they ripped into the Bective pack and kept them pinned into their own 22 for the opening ten minutes or so.  Their set pieces let them down however, and eventually Bective relieved the pressure and moved the play upfield.  As the half progressed, there was nothing between the sides as the play ebbed and flowed.  Then on 15 minutes, Oisin Lennon did well to turn over the ball fom the Belvedere right wing on the half-way line; quick thinking by scrum-half Brian McEvoy box kicked into the vacant space on the 10 yard line.  The ball bounced kindly for the on-rushing Bective left wing Terrence Keavey, who had the gas to out-run the cover and score the try, which was converted by Michael Connolly.  The try seemed to prod Belvedere into a higher gear and they again applied pressure at the kick-off.  Before long they forced a penalty at the Bective 10 yard line, which was cooly converted by their excellent kicker.  The same kicker went on to kick another three penalties in the first half (one from inside his own half), leaving the half time score at 12 - 7 to Old Belvedere.

A tough half-time talk from coach Jim Oliver asked for a higher level of intensity from his charges, which was duly delivered.  Early pressure in the Belvedere half delivered a penalty for Bective and Michael Connolly showed that he is no slouch at kicking either when he calmly slotted from the Belvedere 10 yard line.  Shortly afterwards, Aidan Mulligan showed grizly determination to cross for a try from 5 meter scrum.  The Bective pack were now well on top and began to move the play powerfully into the Old Belvedere 22.  One such drive featuring Mulligan and Kevin Kilcoyne delivered an irrestistable wave of momentuem which carried centre Stephen Brennan over for Bective's third try, converted by Connolly.

Bective's backs now came more into the play with replacement right wing Sebastian Blazy showing some lovely French flair - catching with ease out the night sky and seting up counter attacks.  He was well supported by Full Back Mark Jones, who ran straight and true at the Belvedere cover.  The bonus point try came in the end from strong running by Kevin Byrne through the Belvedere centre, who set up a series of rucks in the Belvedere 22 which gave the Michael Connolly the opportunity to get in for the try from close range, which he converted himself to leave the full time score at 12 - 34 to Bective.