CASHEL 36 BUCCANEERS 8
On a wet and windy afternoon Cashel proved too strong for Buccaneers in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A match played at Spafield, Cashel, on Saturday. The conditions suited the physically bigger home side whose bonus point victory keeps them in second place with just two rounds of fixtures remaining with a promotion play-off berth still in their grasp.
The Pirates made 5 changes, a number of them enforced, for this trip to Tipp. Skipper Frankie Hopkins returned at scrumhalf after a lengthy injury lay-off with Harry Hughes and Adam O’Carroll also starting in the backline. In the pack Ryan O’Meara was fit to start and Fionn McDonnell came in at lock. The High Kings were in the fortunate position of just a single change, Tim Townsend returning in place of Marcello Frati.
The visitors opened the scoring through a Gearoid McDonald penalty and their defence looked reasonably secure until Marcel Strydom emerged from the back of a ruck to run in for a try. The majority of the play was in a condensed midfield area for a spell before Cashel enjoyed a period of pressure with a number of penalties to the left before David Upton had the strength to get over for his side’s second try.
Buccs Jack Crampton saw yellow in the second quarter and the homesters added their third try in his absence, Alan Flannery evading a couple of soft tackles to touchdown. Ben Twomey landed two conversions and a penalty to give Cashel a 22-3 lead at halftime.
They forged their bonus point try following a maul in the third quarter, Upton scoring his second try before Joe Calleary broke from a close-in scrum to power over for Cashel’s fifth try. Twomey converted both second half tries. Paudie Leamy was sin-binned for a late tackle on Harry Balsiger and Buccaneers book-ended the scoring following the resultant penalty. Matthew Victory popped a smart lineout to Hopkins whose swift reverse pass gave the hooker the opportunity to head towards the home line where he displayed considerable desire and power to dot down wide on the left for a well-taken try.
Another testing afternoon for Buccs in which their lineout misfired but they battled commendably against stronger opponents and, on the positive side, it was good to see Victory, McDonnell and especially Hopkins all back on the paddock after long absences.
CASHEL:- R.O’Sullivan; P.Leamy, A.Flannery, J.Ryan, B.Twomey; T.Townsend, M.Strydom; C.O’Donnell, D.Upton, A.Shirley; D.Rowe, E.Kelly; M.Wilson (captain), R.Moran and J.Calleary. Replacements:- P.Ryan, N.Roche, F.O’Donoughue, J.Pickering and L.Shine.
BUCCANEERS:- A.O’Carroll; H.Hughes, R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Shine, J.Nagle; G.McDonald, F.Hopkins (captain); J.Kelly, M.Victory, R.O’Meara; L.d’Ambola Riera, F.McDonnell; O.Dolan, C.Walsh and J.Crampton. Replacements:- C.Daly, R.Henderson, S.Fogarty, A.Flanagan and H.Balsiger.
Referee:- Ross Whitfield (IRFU).
