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J1 League Bective vs. Clontarf 1st November 2010 Match report thanks to Conor Donnelly Bective Rangers 2nd suffered a 25-18 defeat at the hands of Clontarf in a post Halloween Thriller at a Chilly Donnybrook Stadium Monday Night. Carrying the momentum from the 1st teams hard fought 11-10 victory away at Thomond Park at the weekend; Bective looked to turn Donnybrook into a house of Horrors for the visitors. The home team took an early lead from a penalty. Rangers continued to apply pressure and Clontarf conceded another penalty after failing to deal with a chip through by scrum half Will Hanley that pinned Tarf deep in their own 22. From the resulting lineout Bective drove their way over the line to score an unconverted try and race out to 8-0 lead after 10 minutes.
Clontarf, winners of three from three so far in the competition, managed to rebound and recorded their first points of the half straight from the restart when Rangers failed to deal with a bouncing ball and gave away a penalty right in front of the post for three easy points. To paraphrase Al Pacino’s any given Sunday speech Rugby is a game of inches and both teams engaged in some kick tennis with the ball being served back and forth in hopes of gaining territory advantage. It wasn’t until the 25th minute that the game sparkled back life when Clontarf fly half Phil Howard passed to his fullback, who turned on the after burners and ran straight through the flatfooted Bective defence untouched for a try to give his team a 10-8 lead. Stung by the try Bective stepped up a gear and had a great chance to take the lead themselves soon after as a cross field kick nearly found the onrushing winger who was in an ocean of space only for the ball to take a cruel bounce in to touch. On 33 minutes Rangers took the lead back after Clontarf were penalised for being offside. Bective once again opted to go for the lineout and were rewarded when they powered there way over the line to gain a 15-10 into halftime. Clontarf struck first after the break. They set up camp in the Bective 22 and broke through when Phil Purdue ran through to give the visitors a 17-15 lead. Bective responded soon after when on 45 minutes Clontarf failed to deal once again with the Bective kicking game which resulted in a penalty and a further 3 points for Rangers. Leading by a solitary point Bective pressed to add to their advantage, they had two good opportunities to do so when they were awarded two penalties but failed to convert either. The game took a dramatic turn on 65 minutes when Bective fullback Rory McInerney, who had a good game, just overcooked his clearing kick and the ball went out on the full. Clontarf now had possession in the Bective twenty two and were awarded a penalty and a chance to take the lead when Rangers were caught offside. Phil Howard did not buckle under the pressure and slotted the ball over the bar to give his side a two point lead much to the delight of the visitors. With time running out it looked like Tarf were just going to stick it up the jumper and let the clock run out. Bective desperate to get the ball back and launch one more attack committed too many men to the ruck this afforded the visitors space outside on the left wing and they raced away for the game sealing try and a final score line of 25-18. |
