J1 League – Bective Rangers 18 Clontarf 25
By Mark Byrnes
Clontarf snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to maintain their unbeaten run at this level against a tough Bective side in Donnybrook on Monday night.
Bective opened the scoring after a minute with a penalty was advanced 10 metres for dissent. That lead was increased to 8-0 when the Bective pack mauled their way over the line.
Philly Howard opened Clontarf’s account with a penalty on seven minutes and followed that up with a gut busting run through the Bective defence to score a brilliant try which he converted. On 27 minutes Bective retook the lead with a carbon copy of their first try when they mauled over- this time the conversion was successful and they went in 15-10 in front at half time.
The second half was only three minutes old when Howard again scythed through the Bective defence again for another converted try. However, Clontarf’s lead was brief as Bective landed a penalty to swing the lead back to the home side 18-17.
Missed penalties were traded on both sides as the action went end to end. A superb maul by the Clontarf forwards gained 25 metres, but unfortunately yielded no score.
With two minutes remaining, Phil Howard held his nerve to land a superb penalty to retake the lead, and in injury time, following a tremendous carry from Stephen Boyle and a fine pass from Des Merrey, the ball was released to Ross McAuley who raced into the corner to seal the victory.