BECTIVE RESPOND IN STYLE WITH A RUTHLESS KILBALLYOWEN STATEMENT

03 October 2026, Kilballyowen Park Bruff, Co Limerick -Round 2, AIL D2BS. A view from the sideline By OMAHD 🐕

Bruff RFC 7 – 57 Bective Rangers FC

There was no hanging around for Bective Rangers at Kilballyowen Park on Saturday.

Seven days after an agonising three-point defeat to Old Crescent had denied Bective an opening-day victory at Energia Park, the Rangers travelled to Bruff knowing that a response was required. They certainly delivered one.

If the 33–36 defeat to Old Crescent had demonstrated Bective's character and fighting qualities, this 57–7 demolition of Bruff demonstrated something altogether different — the considerable firepower within this Bective squad.

This was no game of fine margins and certainly no contest that went down to the final few minutes. Once Bective found their rhythm, they took control and never looked back.

Bruff began with plenty of physical intent, particularly around the breakdown, but Bective were in no mood to be dragged into an arm wrestle. The message from the visitors was clear — win the collisions, secure the ball and play at a tempo that would eventually prove too much for the home side.

And there was plenty of evidence of that intent in the Bective pack, with Tiarnan McCloskey and James Gallagher leading from the front.

The scrum provided a dependable platform throughout, while the forwards were relentless around the breakdown. As the half progressed, Bective's pressure increased and Bruff found themselves increasingly occupied with defending rather than attacking. Bective's composure was equally impressive.

There was no rush and no panic when Bruff attempted to impose themselves. Instead, Bective played the percentages, found the corners, chased aggressively and continually forced the home side to play from deep.

Once Bective established themselves inside the Bruff 22, the pressure became relentless. Bruff's discipline began to creak, with the referee issuing repeated warnings for high tackles, breakdown infringements, contact in the air and players entering from the side.

Bective, by contrast, kept their heads. And when the opportunities arrived, they took them.

The try-scoring began with Chris Rolland, who crossed in the ninth minute to give Bective the lead. Edward Kelly then got in on the act in the 18th minute before Chris Poole added another four minutes later.

Kelly was not finished. Deep into first-half injury time, he crossed for his second try of the afternoon, leaving Bruff with a mountain to climb before the teams had even reached the interval.

David Fitzgibbon supplied the conversions, including the difficult conversion following Kelly's second try.

At the interval, Bective had established a commanding 24–0 lead. And the contrast with the previous Saturday could hardly have been more striking.

Against Old Crescent, Bective had found themselves chasing the game before producing a magnificent late fightback. At Kilballyowen Park there was no need for a rescue mission.

This time, Bective were the team in control — and Bruff were the ones desperately trying to keep up.

(Half-time: Bruff RFC 0 – 24 Bective Rangers FC)

If Bruff hoped their ‘chat in the changing room’ at the interval might halt the Bective charge, they were to be disappointed. The second half simply continued where the first had finished.

Every time Bruff threatened to build momentum, Bective's defensive line stepped forward. Tackles were made, possession was turned over and another Bective attack was launched.

The Bective maul was becoming an increasingly effective weapon, while the scrum continued to provide the platform for the backs to attack with confidence.

There was also excellent control from the half-backs, who continually made the right territorial decisions. Kicks were chased, possession was retained and Bruff were repeatedly forced to begin their attacks from poor field position. The scoreboard kept moving.

Alex Walsh crossed in the 49th minute, with James McKeown following him over the line five minutes later. By now, Bective were playing with the confidence of a side that knew the job was being done.

The support lines were appearing, passes were finding their targets and Bruff's defensive structure was beginning to unravel.

Then came Tim Carroll.

Carroll crossed in the 59th minute and, having already made his mark, returned to the scoresheet again in the 75th minute. In between, Bective continued to turn the screw.

And there was still time for the evergreen Bobby Holland to get his name on the scoresheet in the 76th minute.

Fitzgibbon continued to punish Bruff from the tee, adding conversions in the second half as Bective's total climbed inexorably towards the 60-point mark.

The final score of 57–7 was emphatic. But more important than the margin was the manner of the victory.

Bective had responded to the disappointment of the opening round in precisely the fashion their coaches and supporters would have wanted.

There was no sulking after the narrow Old Crescent defeat. Instead, there was a week's work followed by an away performance that demonstrated the depth, confidence and determination within this squad.

A three-point defeat had been transformed into a 50-point winning margin. That is some response.

For captain Christopher Hennessy and his teammates, the afternoon also provided the satisfaction of an away performance built on control rather than desperation.

The opening-day defeat had shown that Bective could fight. Kilballyowen Park showed that they can dominate.

There will undoubtedly be tougher examinations ahead in Division 2B South, and nobody in the Bective camp will be getting carried away after just two rounds. But if the Old Crescent defeat was a reminder of the fine margins at this level, the Bruff victory was a very clear indication of what Bective can produce when they put the complete package together.

57–7 away from home. Five valuable league points. A 50-point winning margin.

And a powerful response to the disappointment of the opening weekend.

Next up, the Rangers return to Energia Park on Saturday, October 10, for a 2.30pm kick-off, when Midleton provide the opposition.

Midleton will arrive in Donnybrook with plenty of confidence of their own after producing the biggest winning margin of Round 2, defeating Buccaneers 58–0.

If Round 1 showed that Bective can fight until the final whistle, and Round 2 showed that they can blow a team away, Round 3 promises to provide another fascinating test.

The Rangers are up and running.

Scorers:  Bective Rangers: Tries - Chris Rolland (9'), Edward Kelly (18', 40+3'), Chris Poole (22'), Alex Walsh (49'), James McKeown (54'), Tim Carroll (59', 75'), Bobby Holland (76')
Bruff RFC: Tries - Wiktor Wilczuk (70'), Conversions: Paul Collins (71')

BECTIVE RANGERS 1st XV:15. Chris Rolland, 14. James McKeown, 13. Alex Walsh, 12. Matthew Gilsenan, 11. Edward Kelly, 10. David Fitzgibbon, 9. Charlie Reilly; 1. Christopher Hennessy (capt), 2. Chris Poole, 3. Conor Kelly, 4. Andrew Treacy, 5. Conor McMenamin, 6. Gavin Kelly, 7. Tiarnan McCloskey, 8. James Gallagher. Replacements: 20 Scott Barron, 21 James Hurley, 22 Evan Galvin, 23 Bobby Holand, 24 Tim Carroll. 
Referee: Fergal Brislane, Nenegh Ormond RFC, MAR IRFU.