Bective move up to second in the league after defeating Malahide
21 February 2026, Energia Park Donnybrook – Refixed Round 12, AIL D2C . Designated home match Malahide RFC
MALAHIDE RFC 17 - 52 BECTIVE RANGERS FC
Bective Rangers set out their stall early with an emphatic refixed Round 12 AIL Division 2C performance at Energia Park, dominating from start to finish to claim the points and move up to second in the league table.
Bective laying down a marker from the get go, were off on the front foot and were awarded a penalty at halfway. A nice punt into touch bringing play inside the Malahide 22 from Captain Matthew Gilsenan to set up the lineout. From the throw in and maul, Tiarnan McCloskey got the touch down to register the first try after 5 minutes, followed soon after by another try under the posts from Conor Kelly for Bective to lead 0- 12. Malahide showing their tenacity, opened their account after 17 minutes with a converted try by out half Michael Hanly . However, on the resumption Donagh Lawler barged over near the posts to leave Bective in front by 7 – 19. There was no let up from dominant Bective with Gavin Kelly storming over the whitewash for the last score of the half converted by Matthew Gilsenan.
(Half-time: Malahide 7 - 26 Bective Rangers )
Bective were out of the traps for the second half edging the early exchanges but it was Malahide with the first score of the half , off a scrum on the Bective 22, with quick hands, saw winger Danial Hayes touch down in the corner to give the Northsiders a glimmer of hope . 12 -26. However, it was not to be, with our opponents penalty count mounting and after another infringement on the Bective maul , Referee Henderby had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try and reducing Malahide to 14 with the yellow card. 12 – 33. Further tries by James Gallagher off the dominant Bective pack and a trademark Chris Rolland try put Bective out of sight. Malahide stayed fighting hoping for a bonus point, and hit back with a late try but it was Bective with the last say for Chris Poole to touch down in the corner converted by Matthew Gilsenan and putting the icing on the cake on a superb performance from the whole squad.
Final Score Malahide 17 - 52 Bective
As noted last week this result on top of the previous 2 home results keeps momentum building for Bective as they look ahead to Round 14, when they go on the road to County Antrim for a first-ever visit to The Cloughan to face Ballyclare RFC on Saturday, 28 February (2.30pm). When the sides last met in Donnybrook on 1 November, Bective ran out 36–17 winners in a six-try display—and they’ll be hoping for a similarly positive outcome away from home.
Scorers: Bective Rangers: Tries: Tiarnan McCloskey , Conor Kelly, Donagh Lawler, Gavin Kelly, James Gallagher , Chris Rolland. Pen Try. Cons: Matthew Gilsenan 5
BECTIVE RANGERS: 15 Tim Carroll; 14 Chris Rolland, 13 Tom McCarthy, 12 Bobby Holland, 11 Dave McPolin; 10 Matthew Gilsenan (capt), 9 Connor Halpenny; 1 Rory Mulvihill, 2 Chris Poole, 3 Conor Kelly, 4 Gavin Kelly, 5 Donagh Lawler, 6 Oisin McCloskey, 7 Tiarnan McCloskey, 8 James Gallagher.
Replacements: 16 Oscar Egan, 17 Shane Ryan, 18 Ben Muhli, 19 Ben Garrett , 20 Mikey O’Hare.
Referee: Mitchel Enderby. IRFU.
