BUCCANEERS 52 DE LA SALLE PALMERSTON 17
BUCCANEERS U-20s continue to be a beacon of light for the Pirates recording an impressive 52-17 J.P.Fanagan Leinster U-20 League Premier 2 victory over De La Salle Palmerston at Dubarry Park on Sunday. This Super Six Group 1 tie was a bit of a mixed bag at times, regular scrappy patches being interspersed with sublime sections in a sometimes feisty affair.
On a cold, grey afternoon that turned drizzly, early indications did not suggest such a clearcut winning margin for the Pirates. Indeed DLSP had the first scoring opportunity but Will Saunders was off-target with a 4th minute penalty. Dylan Duffy was similarly profligate 11 minutes later for the home side as both teams struggled to impose themselves on the proceedings.
The exchanges finally came alive after a rousing Niall Tallon surge up the centre that led to a penalty which Buccs kicked to touch on the left and the home No.8 was soon opening the scoring with a 19th minute unconverted try. Four minutes later the Athlone side turned over possession after a DLSP lineout and Tom Cotton burst through for a try which Charlie O’Carroll, now on kicking duty, converted.
The visitors responded and, following a penalty to touch on the left, Tom Suttle got over for a 28th minute try. Slick hands by Tom Sheehan, Cotton and Duffy yielded an excellent 33rd minute try by the home fullback. In the final move of the half, Callum Kelly chipped ahead to send Tom Sheehan in for Buccs bonus point try. O’Carroll converted both of these tries to stretch Buccaneers lead to 26-5 at half-time.
Niel Botes incurred a 46th minute yellow card and the City side reduced their arrears with a Harry Machesney try converted by Saunders five minutes later. Within three minutes a super crossfield kick from right to left by O’Carroll reached Duffy who twice grubbered past DLSP defenders to touchdown. On 59 minutes O’Carroll’s crossfield kick, this time to the right, was fastened onto by Kelly to dot down. O’Carroll converted both tries to ease Buccaneers 40-12 to the good.
Abu Saka then became the second home player to be sin-binned but the seven-man pack withstood a series of close-in DLSP scrums before Cotton romped away to notch his second try on 72 minutes. A third sublime O’Carroll crossfield kick found Duffy who drew the cover before sending Tom Sheehan in for his second try. O’Carroll’s place-kicking was also topclass and he converted both tries to put his side in an unassailable position 52-12 ahead. DLSP continued to battle and got their third try in the final move of the game.
It took Buccaneers some time to hit their groove in the cold, greasy conditions against doughty opponents. But cheered on by their U-16s supporters they scored some wonderful tries in their haul of eight. O’Carroll and centres Cotton and Sheehan were pick of the backs while Tallon, Aindriu Oates and Bobby Foxe worked their socks off in the forwards exchanges. This bonus point 52-17 win moves Buccs up to second place.
One minute’s silence was observed before kick-off as a mark of respect for the late Darragh Quinn, cousin of the Sheehan brothers.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; C.Kelly, T.Cotton, T.Sheehan, L.Cassidy; C.O’Carroll, D.Connolly; S.Doyle, S.Rohan, B.Foxe; A.Saka, C.Sheehan (captain); N.Botes, E.Murtagh and N.Tallon. Replacements:- P.Egan (for Botes, h/t), E.Joyce-Whyte (for Cassidy, 51 mins), A.Oates (for Doyle, 51 mins), D.Martin (for Foxe, 64 mins), S.Browne (for C.Sheehan, 64 mins), L.Giles (for Murtagh, 64 mins), J.Clarke (for Connolly, 64 mins), C.Sheehan (for Saka, 73 mins) and B.Foxe (for Oates, inj. 77 mins).
DE LA SALLE PALMERSTON:- F.Greany; J.Conboy, H.Machesney, W.Saunders, C.O’Buachalla; J.Cazzini, D.Burke; S.Doran, T.Suttle, E.Sutton; L.Troy, E.Geraghty; S.Stokes, A.Murphy and C.Murphy-Leech. Replacements:- S.Pedlow (for Geraghty, h/t), C.Kelly (for Murphy, h/t), C.Kirwan (for Suttle, 55 mins), A.Downes, J.Heatherwick, F.McKeown and C.O’Leary.
Referee:- Karl Haverty (Connacht).
