BUCCANEERS 7 NAVAN 41
BUCCANEERS succumbed to another disappointing defeat as Navan outscored them 41-7 in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A game played at Dubarry Park on Saturday. The Co. Meath club, on their first competitive visit to Athlone, were more clinical than the hosts in this Hodson Bay Group sponsored fixture.
The pitch was in excellent condition despite the recent rain and storms but a very cold, swirling breeze made life difficult for the players particularly the placekickers and hookers. Buccs made three changes with Daniel Hawkshaw, David Colgan and Goncalo Catarino coming in, the latter for his first start while the main talking point was the siting of Orrin Burgess at No.8. Navan recalled Evan Dixon and Harry Devlin to their backline.
The Pirates forced a kickable penalty straight from the kick-off but Adam O’Carroll misjudged the elements. In their first attack, Navan moved the ball from left to right and Mark Coen notched an unconverted 6th minute try. Ten minutes later he popped up on the opposite flank to capitalise on further pressure by the visitors. Tom Gavigan’s conversion gave the Meathmen an early 12-0 lead.
Buccs lost fullback O’Carroll to injury shortly afterwards and then fell further behind on 22 minutes. Navan were awarded a penalty for offside and the home defenders turned their backs and visiting captain Evan Dixon punished them by tapping quickly and running in unchallenged at the uprights for a gift-wrapped try. Gavigan added the extras.
After that abject opening spell, Buccaneers then put some promising phases together and, after going close on a number of occasions, Reece Henderson powered over on the left for a 26th minute try which Dylan Duffy converted. This reduced the arrears to 7-19 and that is how the scores stood at half-time.
Navan’s Jayden Henderson, fortunate not to see yellow in the opening half, made telling ground to send Tom Ciot over for his side’s bonus point try ten minutes into the second half. Harry Hughes was swiftly out of the blocks to spoil Gavigan’s conversion attempt. Both sides rang the changes as the game entered the final quarter and Navan substitute James Wyse finished off a maul to touchdown on the right after 67 minutes. This score followed a lengthy period of good territory by the Pirates but they just could not conjure up another score.
Gary Faulkner scored Navan’s next try following another maul while in the final move winger Coen completed his hat-trick with Gavigan’s conversion stretching the visitors winning margin to 41-7. Abrasive visiting hooker Henderson was the best operator on the day and Jordan Finney was also prominent in their pack.
Burgess’ move from the wing to the backrow earned him the ‘Michael Moore Car Sales Man of the Match’ award with Fergus Galvin, Lucca d’Ambola and Adam Flanagan strong contenders for that accolade. The midlanders are simply inexperienced and small in too many departments but cannot be criticised for their whole-hearted efforts in the face of a barren campaign.
BUCCANEERS:- A.O’Carroll; H.Hughes, R.Murphy-Sweeney, D.Hawkshaw, H.Balsiger; D.Colgan, A.Flanagan; R.Henderson, C.Daly, R.O’Meara (captain); L.d’Ambola Riera, F.Galvin; J.Scouler, G.Catarino and O.Burgess. Replacements:- D.Duffy (for O’Carroll, inj. 19 mins), S.Fogarty (for Catarino, 46 mins), D.Bolger (for Scouler, 52 mins), R.Teape (for Balsiger, 65 mins) and C.Byrne (for Daly, 68 mins).
NAVAN:- E.Dixon (captain); M.Coen, M.de Wit, K.Dixon, H.Devlin; T.Gavigan, M.Farrell; L.Carroll, J.Henderson, L.Jackson; J.Finney, L.McAree; C.Hand, B.McEntagart and T.Ciot. Replacements:- G.Faulkner (for Finney), J.Wyse (for Jackson), C.Ryan (for McAree), J.Dixon (for Farrell) and C.Horan.
Referee:- Cillian Hogan (IRFU).
