BANBRIDGE 62 BUCCANEERS 26
Buccaneers shipped a fourth successive heavy defeat at Rifle Park where Banbridge eventually shot them down 62-26 in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A game on Saturday. Buccs were further depleted for their trip north but a surprise looked possible when their enterprising play saw them deservedly lead 21-7 after half an hour. However, errors and a yellow card in the closing ten minutes enabled the home side to score two tries that left them only 21-19 in arrears at half-time. With their confidence restored, helped by a try within a couple of minutes of the restart, Banbridge scored almost at will thereafter.
James Kelly, Jenson Nagle and Gearoid McDonald were among the growing list of absentees through injury as the Pirates made six personnel changes for the journey to Co. Down. Daniel Hawkshaw made his first appearance of the season in the centre and U-20 Dylan Duffy moved to the pivotal outhalf berth. Harry Hughes came in at fullback and Tom Shine on the right wing. Ryan O’Meara resumed at tighthead prop with Cian Daly at hooker and Conor Morrissey at blindside flanker in the much-changed midlanders’ outfit. Banbridge had a handful of changes also with Ulster’s Rob Lyttle returning in the centre and Ireland U-18s Connor Magee at hooker.
With the bright sun and light breeze at their backs, Buccaneers made the better start. Duffy landed an early super 50/22 and Lucca d’Ambola Riera claimed the resultant lineout after which the visitors mauled over the home line where Adam Flanagan dotted down for a 5th minute try converted by Duffy.
Orrin Burgess then made great ground down the left flank where his progress was halted by a tackle that seemed high but went unpunished. Banbridge opened their account following a lineout near the 22 and Jonny Scott burst through for an 11th minute try converted by Jack Hart to level the scores 7-7.
Buccs responded immediately with Hughes holding off a couple of defenders to touchdown wide on the left on 14 minutes. Duffy judged his conversion perfectly and his lengthy penalty six minutes later earned the Shannonsiders a lineout in a promising position inside the home 22. Although the subsequent maul stalled, Flanagan broke smartly on the blindside to score a smartly-taken try at the left corner. Duffy again landed another smashing conversion and Buccs were good value for their 21-7 advantage with little more than the opening quarter played.
The hosts were rattled but they got some breaks before the interval. Hughes was yellow-carded for an untidy tackle on 31 minutes. This was compounded by a missed tackle near the 10-metre line that gave the Ulstermen extra space to attack and Magee finished off the move for a 33rd minute unconverted try, despite the scoring pass looking forward.
Then an error at a Buccs scrum enabled the alert Hart snaffle the loose ball and he sent Peter Cromie scampering away for a fortuitous try with Hart’s conversion completing the first-half action. Buccs lead was now reeled in to 21-19.
Burgess, who had been Buccaneers best performer, was forced off due to an injury with Robert Teape coming in at centre for the second half and Ross Murphy-Sweeney switching to the left wing. Banbridge now had their tails up and they took the lead within two minutes of the change of ends. Magee scored their bonus point try following a scrum and Hart added the extras as the hosts lead for the first time, having scored three tries while Buccs had a player in the sin bin.
Three minutes later their best move was rewarded with a Josh Gibson try and the fullback notched his second shortly afterwards. South African Hart converted all three and suddenly Banbridge were 40-21 to the good. With the breeze now more influential, the northerners were in full flow and tries by Charlie Beattie and a second from Scott pushed their advantage to 52-21 by the hour mark. At this stage, David Colgan made his AIL debut for Buccs, replacing Flanagan who was struggling from a knock incurred early on in the game.
Fergus Galvin became the second Buccs player yellow carded for a high tackle and Banbridge swiftly profited with Magee completing his hat-trick of tries after 72 minutes. The Pirates raised their game in the final stages and Hawkshaw finished off a spell of pressure, showing good desire and strength to score a 76th minute try which earned Buccaneers their first league point of the campaign.
However, Banbridge had the final say when Josh Cromie scored his side’s tenth try wide on the right to complete the 62-26 scoreline. So a difficult and disappointing outcome for Buccaneers who are not enjoying any luck so far. Burgess, Hawkshaw, Walsh and d’Ambola Riera were to the fore in Buccs best efforts. Magee, Hart and Matthew Heasley caught the eye for the winners.
BANBRIDGE:- J.Gibson; X.Lowham, R.Lyttle, J.Scott, N.Hook; C.Beattie, J.Hart; J.Wilson, C.Magee, S.Cromie; M.Laird, A.Weir; P.Cromie (captain), D.Hayes and M.Heasley. Replacements:- J.Cromie (for Hook, 29 mins), R.Rodgers (for S.Cromie, h/t), M.Cromie (for Wilson, 57 mins), K.Sterling (for Weir, 57 mins), N.Kilpatrick (for Hart, 57 mins) and N.Hook (for ??
BUCCANEERS:- H.Hughes; T.Shine, R.Murphy-Sweeney, D.Hawkshaw, O.Burgess; D.Duffy, A.Flanagan; R.Henderson, C.Daly, R.O’Meara; L.d’Ambola Riera, F.Galvin; C.Morrissey, O.Dolan and C.Walsh (captain). Replacements:- R.Teape (for Burgess, h/t), C.Byrne (for Henderson, 55 mins), S.Fogarty (for Morrissey, 55 mins), D.Colgan (for Flanagan, 59 mins), D.Bolger (for Daly, 61 mins), R.Henderson (for O’Meara, 69 mins), C.Morrissey (for Walsh, 77 mins) and R.O’Meara (for Fogarty, 77 mins).
Referee:- Henry Richmond (IRFU).
