BUCCANEERS 29 NENAGH ORMOND 26
Buccaneers welcomed Nenagh Ormonde to Dubarry Park on Sunday when both teams held a minute’s silence for the Valencia disaster and for one of the Nenagh players father who recently passed away.
Buccs were quickly into their stride with a long period of recycling resulting in No 8 Brian Rourke getting over. The visitors soon replied with a try of their own and it became clear at this stage that Nenagh were going to play with their forwards repeatedly taking up the ball. Meanwhile Buccs were content to play a more expansive game. Cillian Donohue scored a lovely try and at the break Buccs were 12-5 up.
The second half was more of the same with a great effort from Elliot Friel being traded with two Nenagh tries making it 19-19. With 15 minutes left the Tipperary side scored again but the Athlone boys countered with a brace of brilliant tries from the skilful Carlos Movil. It finished 29-26 to Buccs with Murphy, Herron and Rourke best up front and Movill, Donohue and Hughes strongest in the backs as Buccs gave their whole squad valuable game time.
BUCCANEERS:- R O’Connor, D Coffey, A Sebastian, E Friel, E Carr, C Movill, A Rodrigo, C Donohue, R Hughes, C O’Donoghue, T Herron, C McCormack, P Sunny, C Doran, J McDonnell, A Murphy, M Fallon, A Viktor, A Parkes, M Doolin, A Jacob and C Neale.
BALLINASLOE 7 BUCCANEERS 57
Buccaneers U-14 boys Division 2 team headed to Ballinasloe on Saturday hoping to bounce back from last week’s Connacht League defeat to Monivea . Buccs had to make some late changes to their starting line-up but they started brightly and a quickly taken penalty in the 5th minute ended with Fearghal Kelly looping around a number of defenders to grab their first try.
Shortly after the restart, Ballinasloe opted to kick deep into Buccs territory. The high ball was well gathered by Ollie Preston who was playing for the first time as full back. He ran the ball himself and, as the defenders advanced he was able to sidestep four of them, to run under the posts for a great individual try. This was converted by Robert Connor.
In the 20th minute, after more brilliant defending by the whole team, the ball reached Kelly who weaved superbly through a number of defenders for Buccs third try which was converted by Connor. That gave the Athlone lads a 19-0 lead at half-time.
The second half started much the same way as the first with Buccs putting in tackle after tackle, with great line speed across the pitch, until winger Oisin Daly got his hands on the ball and looped around a number of players to touch down behind the posts. This time it was Kelly who kicked the conversion just two minutes into the second half. Five minutes later Kelly took the initiative again and backed himself to score Buccs fifth try that gave them a commanding 31-0 lead.
Shortly afterwards Connor joined the try scoring as he beat the clutches of a number of defenders to power home for try number 6. Preston was on kicking duties and put it between the posts. Then came three tries in a row from Kelly where he ran down the touchline and showed the defenders a clean pair of heels each time, despite their best efforts. Two of these were successfully converted by Preston.
Towards the end of the game, Ballinasloe did score a consolation try to end the match at 5-57. Although it was a day of scores for the Buccaneers backline, this was built on a huge performance by all their forwards who never allowed Ballinasloe to gain any momentum. Well done to all involved.
BUCCANEERS:- O. Kelly, A. Connaughton, J. Monaghan, R. McKenna, T. Mulchrone, O. Killeen, J. Murray (captain), C. Burke, J. Hurley, T. Rayner, F. Kelly, R. Connor, D. Moran, O. Daly, O. Preston and J. McCarron.
