DE LA SALLE PALMERSTON 14 BUCCANEERS 38
After a sluggish start, Buccaneers U-20s turned matters around to open their J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier League 2 Section A campaign with a fine victory away to De La Salle Palmerston at Kirwan Park on Sunday. After conceding a couple of soft early tries, Buccs got into their stride to control the final hour as they forged a 38-14 bonus point victory.
Buccs had had no warm-up fixture whereas DLSP had a couple against Navan and Greystones and it showed in the early exchanges. The homesters scored under the posts via an intercept try and then missed tackles contributed to their second touchdown as they took a 14-0 lead.
Buccs then got their act together, shoring up their defence and began to put plays together. Great patience and ground work by the forwards through pick and goes was rewarded with a Sean Rohan try. The backs got in on the act for the second try finished by Lorcan McCormack. Andrew Henson converted the first try and Dylan Duffy the second to leave the teams level 14-14 at the interval.
Following the change of ends Niall Tallon scored from a maul while Callum Kelly burnt his opposite number for pace to secure the bonus point try. He repeated the feat shortly afterwards before Tallon burst through the middle to score Buccs sixth try. Henson and Duffy added a conversion apiece to seal the Pirates 38-14 victory.
The team performance improved as the game progressed with special mentions to Evan McMickan, Tallon and Rohan who played out of position.
DLSP:- J.Conboy; E.Campion, S.Weatherley, J.Heatherwick, L.Cabral; R.O’Dowd, G.O’Dowd; S.Stokes, F.Saunders, E.Geraghty; O.Dooley, J.Davitt; L.Choy, S.Oyekanmi and C.Murphy. Replacements:- D.Poullain, D.Burke, J.Roe and C.Kelly.
BUCCANEERS:- A.Henson; C.Kelly, L.McCormack, B.Tallon, G.Murphy; D.Reid, E.McMickan; K.Blessing, S.Glennon, A.Oates; C.Spellman, M.O’Sullivan; K.Byrne, S.Rohan and A.Saka (captain). Replacements:- T.Trainor, S.O’Connor, M.Turner, C.McKinney and D.Duffy.
Referee:- Niall O’Shea (Leinster).
