v Bective Rangers
(10 Nov 2008)
UCD U-20B 13 - 10 Bective Rangers
Donnybrook November 9th.
Enjoying the best of the weekend weather the U20 Pennant side fought hard to overcome table topers Bective Rangers by thirteen points to ten in Donnybrook on Sunday afternoon. Starting very well Collidge played some very good rugby where forwards and backs interlinked and this good start paid dividends when after seven minutes full back Ross O’Brien scored in the right hand corner.
This try came on the end of some good play from second row Robbie Field which was carried on by flanker Richie Whelan, the ball was quickly transferred by scrum half Mark Conway (playing arguably his best game in a UCD jersey) to his fellow backs. More quick hands from the centre pairing of Colm McSharry & David Fahy allowed O’Brien to touch down in the corner. Ross magnificently converted his own try to give UCD a seven point lead.
Naturally enough Bective fought back but Collidge were able to keep them out thanks to some excellent defence from amongst others Luke Hickey, Sean Tevlin and winger James Finnegan.
Soon Collidge’s indiscipline (when will we ever learn…….) provided Bective with a penalty near the uprights which their out half duly converted. We were fortunate that a later attempt was pushed right as this would have made the end of the match a lot more interesting. Despite the Bective pressure UCD still managed to attack through the hands and a length of the pitch attack ended just short of the Bective line, we will not dwell on the fact that James Finnegan was caught by the Bective lose head during this attack (maybe he is like his uncle after all…). At half time Collidge still lead by seven points to three.
UCD got the perfect start to the second half when Ross O Brien netted two penalties to extend the students lead to ten points. The remainder of the half was a bruising affair as Bective attempted to preserve their one hundred per cent record and UCD went in search of the next score that most likely would have killed the game off. UCD went very close when second row Will Courtney was (harshly?) judged to have been held up over the line and when Shane O’Connor nearly got on the end of a clever chip by out half Daniel Clifford.
Some poor decisions and more ill discipline from the students contributed to the pressure that Bective were able to apply in the final minutes. A missed drop goal attempt was not dealt with by UCD and the Bective centre managed to touch down the lose ball, this try was converted which took the final score to thirteen points to ten giving UCD a hard fought victory. Both teams deserve credit for the endeavor they showed during yesterday’s game.
Yet again all of the squad members contributed to this victory and it is important the we do not lose focus and continue to work hard in advance of the upcoming matches.
The 20 B’s would like to wish Michael Hastings and the first squad the very best of luck in this Friday’s colours match.
I am sure you will all be glad to hear that Joe Mackenzie and his girlfriend Julie, enjoyed a lovely night last Sunday when celebrating their one month anniversary, Joe is already making plans for the two month anniversary and the couple plan to launch their very own website in the near future…address to be announced shortly.
Next up for the 20 B’s is Suttonians at home on Sunday and once again all support is welcome.