Wicklow’s brave effort falls short

WICKLOW BECTIVE 3 12

WICKLOW’S first XV went toe to toe with a strong Bective side at Ashtown Lane on Sunday in an absolute must-win game.

Third-placed Bective, coached by Bernard Jackman are in a rich vein of form of late with five wins from the last six in this ultra competitive league.

Wicklow have struggled to find any consistency this season and needed to produce the performance of the year were they to get the win.

The game was played on a dreadful afternoon with driving rain and a strong crosswind that eased as the first half ran on.

The breeze favoured Bective in the first half. The first 25 minutes were very tight as both sides gave as good as they got but it was the Dublin men who opened the scoring with a powerful driving maul. The good conversion made it 0-7 after 25 minutes.

Wicklow were competing well but struglling to make any real inroads into Bective territory. On the stroke of half-time a powerful Wicklow scrum dismantled the Bective eight and a well deserved penalty was awarded. Niall Earls made no mistake and Wicklow went in at half-time trailing 3-7.

The second half opened in a similar vein. Wicklow attacked with everything they had but a strong Bective defence held them at bay. Wicklow’s set piece was much improved and the hard work over recent weeks was beginning to pay dividends.

When the home side did get into a scoring position they were too often undone by s simple knock or forced pass. In some ways it was a case of trying too hard.

A breakaway Bective try was finished off well and the score was 3-12 with time beginning to run out.

To Wicklow’s credit they gave it everything but couldn’t breakdown a miserly Bective defence. Eventually the final whistle went and Bective had won.

Wicklow produced a much-improved performance full off real endeavour but a strong Bective side did enough to take all the points.

There were eye-catching displays from young Sam Porter and

Jack McGrath in the second row.

Mathematically Wicklow can stay up but must win the last three league games and hope results go their way.

Next Saturday they travel to second from bottom Seapoint.

A win here would hopefully ignite a positive end to the season and set them up for a run in the Provincial Towns Cup. Kick-off is at 1 p.m. for the seconds and 2:30 p.m. for the firsts.

The lads could do with all the support they can get.