DRAMA IN DONNYBROOK AS BECTIVE FIND A WAY TO DOWN THE LEAGUE LEADERS
13 December 2025, Donnybrook -Round 9, AIL D2C.
BECTIVE RANGERS FC 34-33 Clonmel RFC
There was high drama in Donnybrook last Saturday as Bective, staring defeat in the face, came from behind for the third time in the match, to take down the Division 2C leaders Clonmel in dramatic fashion with a forwards try on full-time.
The match started brightly with Clonmel kicking off towards the Wesley end, with a north westerly breeze blowing across the pitch slightly favouring Bective. The early exchanges were for the most part even with both packs cancelling each other out. As the game developed, Bective began to play the rugby and threatened the Clonmel line with Conor Kelly, McCloskey and Gallagher all prominent. After sustained Bective pressure, referee Shaughnessy penalised Clonmel. Matthew Gilsenan opted to go for the corner. From the line out, there was a great take by Gavin Kelly aided by Chris Hennessy, to leave James Gallagher with the touchdown. With the difficult conversion missed, Bective were in front 5–0 after 20 minutes.
Bective were to suffer a blow with the loss of prop Conor Kelly, replaced by the ever dependable Connacht man Shane Ryan. As the clock ticked away into the last quarter, it was Clonmel who were starting to assert themselves with some sustained play inside the Bective 22. After a couple of infringements by Bective, Oisin McCloskey was harshly shown yellow. Again foregoing the points, Clonmel decided on the corner flag and from the lineout maul, No. 7 Masuka touched down, with Joe O‘Connor adding the points. 5-7 to Clonmel.
Clonmel didn’t tidy up the Bective restart, with the referee awarding a penalty on the Clonmel 22 and with Gilsenan foregoing the points again opting for the lineout, where another Gavin Kelly take put Chris Hennessy over. With the difficult conversion missed, it was 10–7 to Bective. Unfortunately, more drama before the half-time whistle, after a good move and kick ahead by Clonmel into the Bective 22, resulting in another harsh card - this time for Rory Mulvihill, leaving Bective with 13 on the pitch and 2 down in the pack. From the ensuing non-contested scrum, it was a simple waltz in for Clonmel fullback Jack Walsh to touchdown under the posts.
(Half-time: Bective Rangers 10–Clonmel 14 )
Bective, back to 14 men, started the half brightly and were soon on the attack. After a couple of penalties, Bective opted again for the tried and trusted kick to the corner, for Gavin Kelly to take and put hooker Chris Hennessy over and with David Moran kicking the difficult conversion for Bective to lead 17–14. Bective were to suffer a further blow with loss of big Tadhg O’Dwyer, replaced by Moby O’Brien. However, this was a good phase for Bective, and from another lineout in the corner, it was again a Gavin Kelly take for Chris Hennessy to touchdown in the corner. With the conversion missed, Bective led 22–14. It didn’t take long for Clonmel to reassert themselves and like the first-half were back in the game in no time. From the restart Bective were harshly penalised at the breakdown leaving Clonmel with a line out 15 meters from the Bective line and from a nice move No. 8 Diarmuid Brannock appeared in the line to barrel over under the posts, 22-21 after 56 mins. With mistakes starting to pepper the game, no one side was taking the game by the scruff of the neck. However, a great break from his 22 by David Moran and a chip through by Chris Rolland gave Bective territory inside the Clonmel 22. From a Donagh Lawler lineout and a maul, Gavin Kelly touched down over the whitewash, with David Moran adding the points to give Bective a 29-21 lead entering the final quarter.
Immediately from the restart though, Clonmel were back. From a ruck in the middle of the Bective half, a neat kick through by Clonmel’s Tom Ross popped up nicely for winger Freddie Davis to grab his chance and race in under the posts. With the easy conversion, momentum had swung back to Clonmel, 29–28 to Bective with 8 mins to the final whistle. Clonmel with their tails up, were now pressing and Captain Henry Buttimer put in a fine kick into the Bective 22 to heap the pressure onto the home side. Unfortunately, an untidy Bective lineout gave the possession away and from the attack, Clonmel conjured up another try with a good backline move and quick hands to put winger Michael Connellan away and score in the corner. With the conversion missed, Bective now had a mountain to climb 29–33 and 77 mins on the clock.
With Clonmel controlling the play from the restart and running down the clock, a crossing infringement while in possession resulting in a penalty, gave Bective a lifeline. Matthew Gilsenan brought play into the Clonmel 22 with the perfect kick to touch, and after another Gavin Kelly take, and the forward’s drive brought down illegally with a yellow card for Clonmel No. 6 Tom O’Dea. Gilso nudged another penalty into touch, no margin for error now. Chris Hennessy’s accurate throw found Gavin Kelly to set the Bective pack up for the perfect drive and rumble over the whitewash and for that man again, Chris Hennesy to get the fantastic touchdown and his 4th try of the game, to end an absorbing contest, with the tightest of margins 34–33 to Bective.
Just 3 points separate the top 3 in the league with Bective now in 3rd place after Round 9.
Next up and just over 3 weeks away, it will be a return fixture between the sides as Bective travel to Clonmel in the new year, in what promises to be another epic encounter down in South Tipperary on Saturday 7 January at 2.30pm.
Scorers: Bective Rangers: Tries — Chris Hennessy (4), James Gallagher (1), Gavin Kelly (1). Con — David Moran (2)
Bective Rangers 1st XV: 15 David Moran , 14 David McPolin, 13 Bobby Holland, 12 Matthew Gilsenan (Capt), 11 Chris Rolland, 10 Oliver Foote, 9 Connor Halpenny, 1 Rory Mulvihill, 2 Chris Hennessy, 3 Conor Kelly, 4 Tadhg O’Dwyer, 5 Donagh Lawler, 6 Oisin McCloskey, 7 Gavin Kelly, 8 James Gallagher.
Replacements: 16 Shane Ryan, 17 Mark O’Brien, 18 Niall Bowkett, 19 Tom McCarthy, 20 Ben Garrett.
Referee: Ross Shaughnessy, IRFU.
