Champions Bective too good for Gorey in last league game
Gorey captain Jordan Ahearn calling the shots.
Gorey first team's captain delivering a pass.
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Gorey 12 Bective Rangers 28
WITH THE league well and truly over and already won by Bective, Gorey welcomed the Leinster Division 1A champions to Clonattin for the final game of the season.
Gorey had already secured the runners-up spot so, with a few front-liners missing, they took the opportunity to introduce a few of their younger squad members to give them a taste of the standard expected at this level.
With nothing at stake for both teams, the visitors showed the more intent as they moved the ball wide when possible. The underfoot conditions did not help the occasion, but it was the same for both sides.
A few soft penalties by Gorey when in the visitors’ ’22 gave Bective good relief and, ten minutes in, they opened the scoring with a close-range try. With 30 minutes on the clock they added a further try to make it 14-0.
Gorey rallied and some excellent work between backs and forwards saw them punch up through the field.
A few phases later, Gorey were in for their opening try. They kept the pressure on and should have added another score but were deemed to be held up, so 14-5 was how the half ended.
The second-half saw Bective add another try within minutes to leave the score at 21-5. Gorey kept working hard and for the next 25 minutes it was nip and tuck between the sides, with some excellent rugby from both considering the conditions.
Some fine defensive work followed from the young Gorey back line, with Arron Joyce and Ronan Cleary, in their first J1 game, showing that they were well able for this company.
But with 10 minutes left, Bective secured the win and the bonus point with another try.
Gorey finally were rewarded when a Brian O’Leary break took them deep into the visitors’ half. Quick hands and a number of phases later, Ewan Stephens got the touchdown for Brian O’Leary to add the points.
It finished 28-12, and Gorey move on to the Towns Cup next Sunday when they welcome Kilkenny to Clonattin for the quarter-final, with kick-off at 3 p.m.
Gorey: R. Deering, L. Molloy, S. Egan, D. O’Leary, S. Gardiner, B. Horan, R. Murphy, J. Ahearn, G. Slattery, F. O’Loughlin, A. Joyce, J. Milne, S. Hadden, R. Cleary, B. O’Leary, D. Fitzpatrick, S. Guilfoyle, E. Stephens, C. Tomkins, K. Breen.