A share of the spoils

THE GOREY J2s started the new year with a share of the spoils against a very game Bective Rangers when they welcomed the Dubliners to Clonattin on Saturday.

Gorey started well and on 15 minutes, after some excellent work by the pack, Jordan Ahern went over to open the scoring, with Cian Hadden adding the conversion.

Their lead was shortlived though, with the visitors’ response seeing Jeff Mahon round off a flowing move to go over for a try.

In the 30th minute Bective took the lead with a penalty after an infringement at a ruck.

For the remainder of the half Gorey upped their game and, after Niall Cousins crossed for their second try with Hadden just wide with the conversion attempt, 12-10 was the score at the break.

The second-half saw the visitors start the brighter and it was not long until they restored their lead when they crossed for their second try.

A Gorey penalty saw them tie the teams at 15-15 midway through. Bective responded with a well-worked try to take their score to 22-15.

But the home team responded well and a number of phases later brought the teams level again when Lloyd Stephens crossed for another Gorey try, and Cian Hadden converted.

That was the way it ended, with a draw probably the fairest result as both sides had tried hard in a very entertaining game.

Gorey: W. Rothwell, E. Walsh, J. Mulligan, L. Kinsella, L. Stephens, N. Cousins, D. Saywer, J. Ahern, A. O’Brien, C. Hadden, H. Kennedy, E. Buckley, D. O’Neill, J. Willoughby, S. Tomkins, G. Bater, B. Doyle, K. Rothwell, S. Carty, C. Butler, W. O Morchoe.