BUCCANEERS 11 GALWAY CORINTHIANS 38
Galway Corinthians proved the stronger of two youthful squads in the opening fixture of the Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior League when they defeated Buccaneers 38-11 at Dubarry Park on Thursday night. Rugby weather of rain and cold heralded the arrival of the season’s start. There was a mix of good and bad, typical for this early stage, with the visitors more clinical edge when in the home 22 proving the real difference between the sides.
Dylan Duffy opened the scoring with a 3rd minute penalty for the hosts but Corinthians responded swiftly when Patrick Fahy capitalised on Mark Boyle’s quickly tapped penalty to score an 8th minute try. Ten minutes later Tom Shine made a terrific break to link with Duffy but the fullback’s offload attempt to Orrin Burgess was poor and thus a gilt-edged try opportunity went abegging.
The westerners stretched their advantage when John Hughes finished off a spell of pressure for a 23rd minute try converted by Jack Conway. The Pirates spurned another try opportunity following a 5-metre lineout on the stand side when they opted to go infield while the powerful Burgess was unattended on the left flank before Duffy reduced the halftime arrears to 6-12 with a penalty kick.
The outcome was decided in the opening minutes of the second half. Boyle rumbled forward much too easily to send C.P.Leonard in for a 42nd minute try. Four minutes later Hughes capitalised on a lineout ball slipping from Sam Fogarty’s grasp to secure an opportunist bonus point try. Conway converted both tries to ease the Tribesmen to a 26-6 lead.
Both teams steadily unloaded their benches in the final quarter and a tremendous break by debutant replacement Abel Bouwens was finished off in style wide on the left by Burgess for a smashing 65th minute Buccs try. This livened up the proceedings but Corinthians scored two tries in the final two minutes, Hiram Wood-Hennessy and Joey Tierney applying the finishing touches. A Conway conversion completed the 38-11 scoreline.
The late brace of Corinthians tries put a flattering look on the scoreboard for them but, nevertheless, they were that bit stronger and more organised whilst much more clinical when opportunities presented themselves.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Shine, C.Reid, O.Burgess (captain); L.MacFarlane, D.Connolly; J.Kelly, C.Daly, C.Byrne; F.McDonnell, S.Fogarty; A.Saka, N.Botes and L.Balsiger. Replacements:- O.Dolan (for Daly, 42 mins), A.Bouwens (for Connolly, 47 mins), R.Byrne (for McDonnell, 47 mins), H.Balsiger (for Shine, 63 mins), A.Oates (for C.Byrne, 63 mins), O.O’Donoghue (for Kelly, 63 mins), C.Daly (for L.Balsiger, 70 mins) and E.Friel (for MacFarlane, 72 mins).
GALWAY CORINTHIANS:- D.O’Loughlin; B.Wall-Cooke, S.Fox, C.de Buitlear, J.Burns; J.Conway, J.Tierney; P.Fahy, C.P.Leonard, J.Hughes; A.Broderick, R.Glynn; P.Flannery, J.Claffey and M.Boyle (captain). Replacements:- J.D.Duffy (for Fahy, 59 mins), A.Burke (for Hughes, 59 mins), J.Treacy (for Flannery, 59 mins), D.Joyce (for de Buitlear, 63 mins), L.Carpenter (for Wall-Cooke, 63 mins), L.Cahill (for Claffey, 75 mins) and H.Wood-Hennessy (for Leonard (75 mins).
Referee:- Andrew Fogarty (Connacht).
