BUCCANEERS 10 GREYSTONES 48
GREYSTONES moved up to second place in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A by virtue of a clearcut 48-10 victory over Buccaneers on Saturday. With Dubarry Park waterlogged in parts at Saturday morning’s pitch inspection, this match (which was a rearranged fixture as the original game fell victim to Storm Eowyn) was switched to The Green, Creggs. With the IRFU sticking by a 4 p.m. kick-off, it resulted in a paltry attendance all of whom were unable to watch the Wales v Ireland match live!
As this was originally a ‘free’ weekend, Buccs were missing some players and made four changes for this outing with Harry West making his first start of the season following a lengthy injury absence. He operated at fullback for the first half with Ross Murphy-Sweeney lining out in the centre and David Colgan given the scrumhalf role. Dylan Bolger at prop was the only change in the Pirates pack. Greystones made a quartet of changes evenly divided between back and forwards.
On a sunny evening a strong crossfield breeze was an influence. Greystones, chasing promotion, began on the front foot and opened the scoring after 8 minutes when they ran back a Gearoid McDonald clearance with Ferdia Kenny applying the finishing touch. Five minutes later Jamie Mulhern was awarded a try although he dropped the ball over the home line before grounding it!
The impressive Killian Marmion added their third, running in between the uprights on 19 minutes. A poorly executed tackle on Adam O’Carroll by Craig Kenny resulted in a visit to the sin bin for the Greystones fullback on 24 minutes. Buccs tapped the resultant close-in penalty and Ryan O’Meara powered over for an unconverted try wide on the left to leave the score 5-19.
But it was Greystones who struck next with Ferdia Kenny grabbing his second try and his side’s bonus point when the ball was moved to him on the right flank following a close-in scrum. From the restart Buccaneers were cut open far too easily as Dylan Henry finished off a swift counter-attack. Flyhalf Marmion added three conversions to push his side 31-5 ahead at the break.
Corey Reid, who went through a huge amount of work, saw yellow for a misjudged tackle three minutes after the change of ends. Four minutes later a fast flowing move by the Wicklow outfit yielded Henry’s second touchdown. At the three-quarters stage Paddy Kieran surged through for a try converted by Gavin Rochford.
Buccs best spell of good handling in the opposition half was rewarded when Reid showed tremendous desire and strength to get through a number of defenders to get his side’s second try at the left flag. But Stones had the final say when Conor McAleer dotted down wide on the left to complete his side’s 48-10 victory.
The visitors winning margin saw them leapfrog Cashel and Corinthians to move up to second place. They were much swifter, sharper and more clinical than the midlanders for whom Reid and David Colgan were pick of their backs while Sam Fogarty and Dylan Bolger gave their all in the forwards exchanges.
BUCCANEERS:- H.West; D.Duffy, R.Murphy-Sweeney, C.Reid, A.O’Carroll; G.McDonald, D.Colgan; D.Bolger, C.Daly, R.O’Meara (captain); L.d’Ambola Riera, S.Fogarty; O.Dolan, J.Crampton and P.Egan. Replacements:- J. Kelly (for Daly, inj. 34 mins), E.Joyce-Whyte (for West, h/t), A.Flanagan (for O’Carroll, h/t), F.McDonnell (for Egan, 57 mins) and C.Byrne (for O’Meara, 62 mins).
GREYSTONES:- C.Kenny; F.Kenny, C.Balmaine, M.O’Brien, D.Henry; K.Marmion, D.Baker; J.Mulhern, R.Byrne, I.Duffy Takatai; E.Marmion (captain), P.Kieran; F.Happonen, C.McAleer and R.Satherley. Replacements used:- B.Carolan, G.Rochford, C.McGrath, S.Fikken and M.Doyle.
Referee:- Kevin Coffey (IRFU).
