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J1 vs Old Wesley Match Report |
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J1 League Bective vs. Old Wesley 13th December 2010 Match report thanks to Conor Donnelly Bective lost 28-20 to Neighbours Old Wesley in an entertaining festive J1 league showdown in Donnybrook on Monday. In what was effectively a home match for both teams Bective started the brighter of the two and on six minutes scored the first try of the match off a well-worked move from a ruck inside the Wesley twenty two that saw Mike South race in to put Rangers 7-0 up. Bective nearly crossed the line again four minutes later after some kamikaze decision- making by the Wesley defence saw them try and run the ball from just 5 meters away from their own line. A loose pass out near the touchline was intercepted but some last gasp defending by Wesley saved the day as they isolated the Bective player and forced a penalty in their favour. Bective were enjoying the majority of the possession and were looking the more threatening of the two sides. It wasn’t until the 12th minute of the match that Wesley created their first scoring chance.
After Bective had turned the ball over Wesley had a great breakaway opportunity with Bective caught short of numbers out wide. Wesley had a two on one advantage near the right touchline in midfield and a try looked a dead cert for Wesley, but a poor pass that went behind the winger in space ended the scoring threat much to the visible frustrations of the players and coaching staff. Although this is the season to be jolly there was no festive cheer shown when Wesley were reduced to fourteen men on the quarter-hour mark. With Wesley in possession of the ball at, the Wesley scrum-half found a little gap in the Bective defensive line and made a break. He was tackled at chest height by a Bective defender which caused the scrum- half to react with a dramatic gesture more suited to the Gaiety stage than the field of Donnybrook. Clearly aggrieved that the referee did not take action the player decided to take matters into his own hands literally and punched his Bective opponent in the head. For seeing red he was quickly shown red and pointed in the way of the locker room for an early shower. From the resulting penalty kick Rangers took a 10-0 lead and with their man advantage things were looking ominous for Wesley. But like in football when a team goes down a man and often seem to play better Wesley started to come into the match more than when they had the full complement of players. Indeed it was Wesley who would record the next score of the match, a drop goal from straight in front of the post to make it a 10 - 3 game. On 37 minutes Bective struck again when from inside the Wesley twenty two scrum-half, Dave Mescal, placed a grubber kick through the defence. The ball took a cruel bounce away from the Wesley full back who was caught flat footed, and went into the arms of Brian O' Friel to give Rangers a commanding 17-3 lead. But Wesley showing great heart did not fold and added three more points from a drop goal to bring the scores to 17-6. Wesley playing very well since the sending off crossed the line for the 1st time soon after, David Whatley sliding over in the corner to reduce the deficit to a mere 4 points. While Bective made the score 20-13 with a penalty just before half time, undeniably it was Wesley who had the momentum and that really showed in the second half. Wesley added three points of their own just after the restart from a penalty inside the Bective twenty- two to bring the scores to 20-16. In a see-saw second half Bective, though somewhat on the back foot, had a number of chances to finish off their neighbours in the second half. On 58 minutes a great angled run by the Bective fly half saw them deep in Wesley territory but at the crucial moment the attack broke down and Wesley hacked the ball away. On 65 Minutes Bective had a scrum 5 meters out from the Wesley line but after an immense battle in the trenches Wesley turned the ball over. It would be Wesley’s more clinical finish that would prove the differences in the end. On 74 minutes Wesley had numbers outside once again and this time took full advantage when Aaron Campbell scored in the corner. The match was sealed on 78 minutes when Bective needlessly decided to pass the ball along their own line only to see the ball carelessly spilled into the grateful arms of Alan Large who touchdown to give Wesley a 28-20 victory. |
