BUCCANEERS 19 BANBRIDGE 35
BUCCANEERS suffered a demoralising defeat when losing 35-19 to Banbridge in their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A game at Dubarry Park on Saturday. Although trailing narrowly by two points in an evenly contested affair, the Pirates were given a real opportunity to secure their first victory of the campaign when Banbridge had a player sent off with 12 minutes remaining. Yet it was the Co. Down team who added to their tally in the final furlong, notching a brace of converted tries to secure a bonus point win whilst leaving the home side disappointingly empty-handed yet again. Defeat means Buccaneers will ply their trade in Division 2B next season.
Yet it had all begun so promisingly for the midlanders despite two late changes prior to kick-off with both Ryan O’Meara and Orrin Burgess crying off, replaced by James Kelly and Cathal Walsh respectively. Fergus Galvin returned at lock while Matthew Victory made his first appearance of the season following a lengthy injury lay-off. In all the Shannonsiders made six personnel changes with Jenson Nagle and Tom Shine restored in the backline. Banbridge rang the changes too with Jonny Scott and Neil Kilpatrick coming into their backs unit and James Canning, Matthew Heasley and Kyle Stirling in their pack.
All the changes did not seem to affect the hosts as captain for the day Corey Reid showed great strength and desire to break through for the opening score, a try after a mere 32 seconds. Gearoid McDonald’s conversion from wide on the right gave the Pirates a tonic 7-0 lead. But the fly-half’s pass near halfway was picked off by his opposite number Jack Hart and, although Harry West chased back to put in a try-saving tackle, Josh Gibson was first up to send Scott in for an 8th minute try at the posts with Hart adding the extras.
Four minutes later McDonald landed a penalty from the left and West and David Colgan did well in separate incidents to clear the home lines as Banbridge applied pressure. New Zealander Hart landed penalties either side of a McDonald three-pointer to leave the teams tied 13-13 after half an hour.
But the northerners led at halftime when, after a lineout on the stand side, the wily Neil Kilpatrick chipped over the cover to an unguarded corner and Adam Doherty got to the ball just ahead of Colgan for an unconverted try to lead 18-13.
Hart extended the Ulster side’s lead with an early second half penalty but McDonald narrowed the arrears to 19-21 with a pair of placekicks in the third quarter during which Daniel Kilpatrick was fortunate not to see yellow for an untidy tackle on Colgan. Nagle and Galvin both put in key tackles during this period as dominance ebbed and flowed.
Colgan was in the wars again on 68 minutes when Ethan Mount’s tackle was both high and late and the Banbridge winger could not complain when referee Michael Reidy produced a red card. In a stop-start climax Buccs pushed forward but lacked the necessary penetration capabilities and Banbridge countered to notch a 74th minute try between the uprights by Stirling. Then in the final move of the game Gibson’s try secured a precious bonus point for the visitors. Hart converted both touchdowns to complete the 35-19 scoreline.
This was a hugely disappointing outcome for Buccaneers who looked capable of eking a first win of the season but despite a spirited and more sustained effort on this occasion they still lacked the wherewithal to get over the line on a grey greasy afternoon when the long looming relegation to 2B was finally confirmed.
BUCCANEERS:- H.West; R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Shine, C.Reid (captain), J.Nagle; G.McDonald, D.Colgan; D.Bolger, M.Victory, J.Kelly; L.d’Ambola Riera, F.Galvin; O.Dolan, C.Walsh and J.Crampton. Replacements used:- C.Daly (for Victory, h/t), H.Hughes (for West, h/t), R.Henderson (for Bolger, 60 mins), S.Fogarty (for Walsh, inj. 67 mins) and A.Flanagan (for Colgan, 75 mins) and D.Bolger (for Kelly, 75 mins).
BANBRIDGE:- J.Gibson; A.Doherty, N.Hook, J.Scott, E.Mount; J.Hart, N.Kilpatrick; J.Canning, P.Cromie (captain), M.Cromie; D.Moore, A.Thompson; D.Kilpatrick, M.Heasley and K.Stirling. Replacements:- R.Sinton (for Stirling, h/t), D.Hayes (for Moore, h/t), J.Cromie (for Hook, h/t), R.Rodgers (for Canning, 51 mins), J.Wilson (for M.Cromie, 51 mins), K.Stirling (for Heasley, 67 mins) and M.Cromie (for Rodgers, 75 mins).
Referee:- Michael Reidy (IRFU).
