15.02.2012 J5 XV v Bective (H)

The one that got away! A valiant defeat which could very easily have been a win….in fact, it should have been a win. The level of disappointment after the game is a measure of how far we are moving along as a team. We started well with some good pressure being applied on the Bective defensive line. This eventually resulted in a penalty which Fitzy slotted with ease from 28 meters. 3-0. Somewhat against the run of play, Bective mounted a rare attack into our half after 20 minutes which coughed up a kickable penalty from 30 meters. With the wind at his back, they converted. 3-3. Then completely against the run of play, a good Bective attack with forwards and backs involved carved us open and they touched down out wide. Not converted so 3-8. The Bective team was patchy and had some accomplished players and some who were not. All of their accomplished players got involved in their next play however and they scored again …admittedly through some weak attempts at tackling. Just before half time, we suffered a yellow card. So we were 3-15 at half time knowing that we were the better team. A great resolve to put things right at half time and we were off. Captained by stand in Captain Gareth Lloyd, the St Marys team woke up and played 40 minutes of pressurised and intense rugby. A missed long range penalty was followed up by more pressure on the Bective side who, at times, looked all bent out of shape by this pressure. Our new Brazilian forward, Rodrigo, was passed a ball out wide after a good move through our hands and barrelled over for a well deserved try in the corner. Daly slotted the conversion to make it 10-15 with 15 minutes to go. The next 15 minutes was all St Marys. Credit Bective’s defence, it has to be said, but no matter how we tried we couldn’t get over. We nearly scored 3 times with some outstanding team and individual attempts. We will learn from this match and especially remember the lessons for our upcoming Cup campaign.      

Kind regards,

Bobby O’Connor