BALLINA 47 BUCCANEERS SECONDS 7
BUCCANEERS SECONDS suffered a near replica defeat in their second outing in the Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior 1A League away to Ballina with the Mayo club coming out on top by 47-7 on Sunday.
Buccs kicked off with five changes at Heffernan Park. Euan Joyce-Whyte and Sean Treacy formed a youthful halfback partnership while three other young players — Eoin Naughton, Cameron Brill and Bobby Foxe — started in the pack against a side that played in the AIL last season.
Ballina capitalised on a fumbled ball in midfield and then a loose pass to score two tries in the opening quarter and shortly afterwards notched their third touchdown. Buccs had to rejig when Jim Connolly was forced off due to an injury with Cian Daly switching to the front row and Callum Kelly joining the action. Just before the half-hour mark, a penalty brought the Pirates close to the home line. From the lineout an adventurous 14-man maul followed before the ball was moved to Richie Greene to dot down for a try which he also converted.
The north-westerners secured a bonus point try before the interval and, with fullback Ben Matheson converting all four tries, they led 28-7 at half-time. The Greens added three more tries without reply following the change of ends. Jack Scouler, Conor Morrissey and Luke Balsiger did their utmost for Buccs in the forwards trenches. Kelly and Foxe did their best also as did the inexperienced duo at half-back.
BUCCANEERS:- R.Greene; B.Daly, C.McDonagh, C.Daly, C.Rooney-Digan; E.Joyce-Whyte. S.Treacy; J.Connolly, C.Morrissey, C.Fokam; E.Naughton, C.Brill; B.Foxe, J.Scouler and L.Balsiger. Replacements used:- S.Flynn, K.Connolly and C.Kelly.