MALONE 22 BUCCANEERS 27
BUCCANEERS recorded an impressive 27-22 bonus point victory over Malone in the seventh round of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B at Gibson Park, Belfast, on Saturday. Buccs set the pace from the start and always held the lead as they overcame the third-placed side in a keenly contested battle.
Buccs made three change, some enforced, for this encounter with Tom Shine again unfortunate to incur an injury in the warm-up. David Colgan was selected at fullback with Dylan Duffy promoted from the bench while Dylan Bolger started at hooker in place of the injured Oisin Dolan. Malone had just a solitary change from the side that won impressively at Sligo with Logan Wakefield replacing Josh Storey in the second row.
The Pirates were swiftly out of the starting blocks and Leo MacFarlane intercepted after just two minutes but a try-saving tackle held him out. However, Buccs did not have to wait long to open their account with Luke Balsiger surging over wide on the left three minutes later. Gearoid McDonald added the conversion and then kicked an 11th minute penalty to give the Shannonsiders an early 10-0 advantage.
Malone responded with a Tane Hotham try three minutes later and Matty Rae added the extras in a lively start to the contest. The Red Sox then incurred a yellow card when Zach Devine was sin-binned and Buccs took advantage with Bolger getting over the home line following a number of pick and goes stemming from a Patrick Egan break.
Malone then had a period of ascendancy but Buccs withstood this pressure, helped by the homesters conceding penalties. No points were conceded during this period and Buccaneers had a 15-7 advantage at half-time despite having played against the breeze.
Malone narrowed their arrears when Sam Green rumbled over for a 45th minute try. But a splendid chase by Ross Murphy-Sweeney following a kicked clearance earned the winger a super try. Buccs were now commanding territory but a 68th minute yellow card for Sam Meecham saw a shift in dominance for a spell.
Following a penalty, the Ulster side capitalised on a ruck ball and Ricky Greenwood dotted down for a 72nd minute try that narrowed their arrears to 20-17. McDonald was off-target with a penalty before Buccs notched a bonus point try, Dan Donovan continuing his fine try scoring sequence three minutes from time. McDonald landed the conversion before Ben Halliday’s late try earned Malone a second bonus point.
U-20 player Egan was pick of the Buccs crew with fellow backrower Donovan also to the fore in the committed forwards exchanges while the halfback pairing of MacFarlane and McDonald steered the Pirates with calm authority.
MALONE:- D.McMaster; M.Melville, B.Gibson, T.Quigley, T.Hotham; M.Rae, D.Gaskin; B.Halliday, D.Kerr, R.Greenwood; L.Wakefield, Z.Devine; J.Edwards, D.Greatorex and R.Todd (captain). Replacements:- S.Green, B.Young, M.Crothers, A.Lowry and J.Pentland.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Colgan; D.Duffy, O.Burgess, C.Reid (captain), R.Murphy-Sweeney; G.McDonald, L.MacFarlane; A.Cooper, D.Bolger, R.O’Meara; C.Sheehan, S.Meecham; P.Egan, D.Donovan and L.Balsiger. Replacements:- S.Glennon, J.Kelly, C.Byrne, N.Tallon and H.Balsiger.
Referee:- Henry Richmond (IRFU).
