Unbeaten run continues for Greystones! Bective Rangers defeated

GREYSTONES RFC 20 BECTIVE RANGERS 6

GREYSTONES made it three from three in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League with a 20–6 victory over local rivals Bective Rangers in Donnybrook on Saturday afternoon.

Unbeaten in all competitions so far this season this third win in as many weeks see’s County Wicklow’s premier side lie second to the only other unbeaten team Armagh in Division 2B.

While this perfect start to the season will be pleasing to the Greystones coaching team the statistic that will bring even more satisfaction is the one showing Greystones as having the meanest defence of all teams across the five All Ireland divisions with just one try conceded so far.

This rock solid defence laid the platform for Saturdays hard fought win over Bective who came into the game with a clear tactic of nullifying the Greystones exciting back line who have excelled in the past on the fast artificial 4G surface in Donnybrook.

The Bective pack brought more height and bulk than their Greystones opponents and rarely did they release the ball out to their backs intent instead to bully Greystones with their mauling game. This paid little dividend and once the ball was released into open play the visitors moved it through the hands to create space and were rewarded after just 10 minutes with the games first try. Kiwi Hooker Mike Lea has brought a dynamism that fits perfectly with the Greystones style of play and he was on hand to provide support linking with winger Jack Keating to cross from about twenty meters out. Following his 100 per cent record off the tee last week full back Andrew Kealy uncharacteristically dragged his conversion attempt wide.

Greystones second try had the same footprint as their first. Once again play opened up in the middle of the field with winger Jack Keating making the break and feeding the ball to Lea who showed incredible pace to beat two Bective defenders to cross in the corner. In difficult swirling conditions Kealy’s conversion attempt drifted wide.

Bective’s route one tactic continued to put Greystones under pressure having to defend their line from wave after wave of forward drives. After a series of penalty concessions and warnings from the referee a yellow card was shown to Greystones captain Bobby Clancy on 27 minutes allowing Bective to convert their first penalty score. A second penalty was converted on the stroke of half time, both converted by outhalf Gearoid Doyle leaving the score line 10–6 at the break.

The second half was less than a minute old when Greystones were awarded a very kickable penalty that was easily converted by Kealy and on the hour mark Greystones broke free again except this time it was Captain Bobby Clancy providing the support to cross under the posts. Kealy added the extra two points.

Greystones continued to weather sustained Bective pressure and it looked like they would be rewarded on the stroke of full time when Doyle pierced the Greystones defence to touch down only for the Referee to call obstruction against himself and disallowed the try.

Greystones finished the game as they had played much of it by resolutely defending their line. This performance will allow them bring a confidence into their next home fixture this Saturday when they welcome City of Derry to Dr Hickey Park for a 4pm kick off, knowing they have the meanest defence in the league and satisfied that not only do they have plenty of tries in their backline the forwards are equally adept and are pitching in with the score when it matters.