CLOGHER VALLEY 43 BUCCANEERS 14
On a bracingly cold afternoon, Clogher Valley proved far too hot to handle for a puzzlingly off-colour Buccaneers in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B game played at The Cran, Fivemiletown, on Saturday. The Ulster side played at a sustained tempo that Buccs simply could not deal with as they ran in 7 tries in a 43-14 victory that keeps the surprise packets of this division in third place.
Absentees and injuries did not help the midlanders’ cause but, nevertheless, this was a most disappointing display by the Pirates, coming as it did following three fine performances including back-to-back wins. A hamstring injury David Colgan forced the fullback out with Dan Donovan’s red card ruling the flanker out also. Abel Bouwens and Tom Shine returned after injury in the backline with fit again Oisin Dolan coming into the backrow. The homesters tweaked their starting XV with skipper Callum Smyton moving to centre from No.8 with Ryan Stewart filling that backrow role.
On a cold overcast afternoon, Buccs had first use of the fresh breeze that blew from goal to goal towards the neatly appointed clubhouse but it was the hosts who began on the offensive. They were held up over the Pirates line within moments of the kick-off but Smyton made good yardage following the restart and Taine Haire raced in for a try after a mere 3 minutes.
Buccs suffered a crucial loss 8 minutes later when the consistently impressive Leo MacFarlane was forced off, seemingly with a jaw fracture. Dylan Duffy came on at fullback with Bouwens switching to scrumhalf. Buccs won a scrum penalty shortly afterwards but Gearoid McDonald’s kick was off-target. However, Buccs put in a terrific 17th minute maul following a penalty and Bouwens snipe and perfect offload sent Shine over on the right, the winger’s strong finish earning a try converted by McDonald.
Clogher Valley responded with a splendid 30 metre maul that yielded a 22nd minute penalty try and ten minutes in the sin bin for Ryan O’Meara. The Pirates retorted with an excellent McDonald penalty to touch near the right corner after Jamie Allen was yellow carded. Although the midlanders lineout went awry, the northerners lost control of the ball and the alert Dylan Bolger swooped for a 30th minute try. McDonald landed another touchline conversion to level the scores 14-14.
8 minutes later the Tyrone side forced a scrum penalty and, following the lineout on the left, David Stinson got over the visitors line for an unconverted try. In the closing moments of the half, Buccaneers put their best move of the match together moving through multiple phases from inside their own 22 to within touching distance of the home goalline where Bouwens had possession. Inexplicably, despite having support either side, he chipped aimlessly and a certain try went abegging. This left the Athlone side trailing 19-14 at halftime.
Moments after the change of ends, David Maxwell’s chip over the Shannonsiders defence found their left corner unguarded and Haire was unchallenged as he secured his side’s bonus point try. Aaron Dunwoody scythed through some porous tackling on the right to score a 49th minute try and shortly afterwards Buccs defensive frailties were exposed again when reacting too slow as Philip Wilson pounced for a try on the opposite flank.
A smashing break by Matthew Bothwell looked like securing another home touchdown but Bouwens did not give up the chase to put in a try-saving tackle. But Clogher Valley had the final say when Haire, son of their president, notched his second try with Maxwell’s third conversion completing the 43-14 rout.
This was a mystifying flat squad effort by Buccaneers. They never really got off the bus. Meanwhile, Clogher Valley were sharper and slicker from start to finish and were a joy to watch, if not play against. They are a side small in stature but fleet of foot and thought, while their tidy pack demolished the Pirates scrum time and again. Stinson lorded the lineouts while Dunwoody and Jamie Allen made ground every time in possession. Smyton and Maxwell kept Buccs on the back foot throughout a most disappointing display by the visitors who have work to do ahead of the rematch on January 10th.
CLOGHER VALLEY:- T.Haire; P.Wilson, Michael Bothwell, C.Smyton (captain), J.Woods; D.Maxwell, Matthew Bothwell; J.Allen, L.Allen, N.Henderson; T.Coulter, J.Busby; D.Stinson, A.Dunwoody and R.Stewart. Replacements used:- K.Cobane, A.Crawford, M.Treanor, D.Poyntz and A.Howe.
BUCCANEERS:- A.Bouwens; T.Shine, O.Burgess, C.Reid (captain), R.Murphy-Sweeney; G.McDonald, L.MacFarlane; A.Cooper, D.Bolger, R.O’Meara; S.Meecham, C.Sheehan; P.Egan, O.Dolan and L.Balsiger. Replacements:- D.Duffy (for MacFarlane, inj. 11 mins), C.Byrne (for Dolan, temp. 25-32 mins), A.Saka (for Bolger, h/t), H.Balsiger (for Reid, inj. 45 mins), D.Bolger (for O’Meara, 64 mins), J.Kelly (for Cooper, 70 mins).
Referee:- F.Brislane (IRFU).
