03.10.2014 J5 XV v Bective (H)
| 03/10/2014 | 8:00pm | Metro Div 10 | St. Marys J5 XV | 27 – 0 | Bective Rangers | Home |
St Mary’s College RFC J5s V Bective Rangers J5s.
27 0
J5 Metro League 10
Templeville Road
Friday 3rd October 2014.
It is often said that rugby players are a hardy bunch. Able to play in rain, hail or shine with a smile on their face and without any complaint about the conditions they are facing all for the love ofthe game. The J5’s proved this old adage wrong by many unnamed players making frantic calls and texts asking/hoping that Friday nights game against Bective would be called off due to the inclement weather. Nevertheless the game went ahead and the team secured an important victory in the opening round of Division 10.
The first half of the game was a tense affair with both teams struggling with the conditions and an approximate 40 knock ons meant that the team took awhile to find their rhythm. As the half progressed Mary’s began to exert more pressure on Bective and two penalties taken by Colin O’Neill gave Mary’s a 6-0 lead at the break. Captain Owen Clery rallied the troops with a rousing speech that other players felt was completely lifted from Braveheart. When asked afterwards about this he assured us he had written it many years before as part of a leaving cert essay and accused Mel Gibson of stealing his work.
The team gave an inspired performance in the second half. In the opening stage winger Andy Doran easily stepped his opposite number to go in for Mary’s first try. The pack also began to make ground with strong runs put in by Gareth Lloyd, Dave Balfour and Conor Ryan keeping Mary’s momentum up. Special thanks to Conor Ryan for leaving his own bowling and quasar birthday party at the Leisureplex early to make the game. Out half Colin O’Neill showed a good turn of pace to get in for the second try for Mary’s and the lads looked full value for their lead. The team kept the pressure up with Niall Neville and Tom Keogan charging up the field with some barreling runs. This dominant spell appeared to have affected Tom’s judgement as he made a bizarre drop goal attempt later in the game which cleared about 4ft off the ground before being blocked. When asked afterwards about this he says he always gets them in training and he would’ve gotten the drop but the sun was in his eyes. Mary’s got their final try from a break from Kieran Fitzgerald and some good play at the wings with Tom putting in Chi Yuen for a try with his first touch of the ball. Keogan redeemed himself from his earlier antics by taking the conversion and capped off a comprehensive victory for the team.