BUCCANEERS 24 INSTONIANS 52
INSTONIANS, promoted from 2C and 2B in successive seasons, signalled their intent on making it three promotions in a row with a comprehensive 52-24 victory over Buccaneers in the opening round of this season’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A at Dubarry Park on Saturday. In the process the visitors put a bit of a damper on the Athlone club’s celebration of 30 years of Buccaneers.
Wearing their new Azzurri strip the Pirates kicked off with only 4 starters from their final AIL fixture of last season, skipper Frankie Hopkins being the solitary back while Fergus Galvin, Oisin Dolan and Ryan O’Meara were survivors in the pack as the host club has had a massive change in personnel. They were not helped by the absences of Gearoid McDonald and Corey Reid. The Northerners fielded a much more settled squad, physically bigger and more experienced and, while it took them awhile to settle into the contest, they took a firm grip on the proceedings when they realised the contrasting strengths and vulnerabilities.
Nevertheless, aided by the light breeze on a perfect pitch, Buccs made a bright start. Adam O’Carroll, making his first ever start at flyhalf, slotted over a 2nd minute penalty and two minutes later his smart snipe sent Tom Shine in for a try which the young outhalf converted for a 10-0 lead.
Towards the end of the opening quarter, Instonians began to make inroads through their imposing pack and several mauls led to Neil Saulters opening their account with a 17th minute try. Six minutes later Galvin was sin-binned for a lineout offence and shortly afterwards O’Carroll was caught in possession before he could clear. The Ulster side got to work with another maul which yielded a 25th minute penalty try to edge them 12-10 ahead.
In the final moments of the half, Buccs were driven off their own scrum near the ten-metre line on the right and Instonians got quick ball to Bevan Prinsloo who arced through a number of tackles to score an excellent try on the left. Josh Eagleson’s conversion stretched the visitors’ advantage to 19-12 at the interval.
Four minutes into the second half, Prinsloo had too much pace for the home defence to secure his side’s bonus point try. Two minutes later, Jenson Nagle was caught in possession and from the resultant penalty the Northerners pack got to work again driving over for Saulters second try.
Although physically outgunned, Buccs were battling valiantly and when they moved the ball quickly they were able to make inroads as when Ross Murphy-Sweeney made ground down the left where Hopkins was tackled before he could receive the offload. Referee Paul O’Connor duly awarded a penalty try which narrowed the arrears to 31-17.
Another Instonians maul was finished by Robert Whitten before Patrick Egan and Schalk van der Merwe were yellow carded for separate offences before Cathal Walsh was held up over the Instonians line. Youthful Buccaneers continued to play with spirit and their endeavours were rewarded when Hopkins finished off a smart attack, wrong-footing two defenders to touchdown for a try converted by O’Carroll to make it 38-24.
But the more powerful visitors finished with a brace of tries stemming from mauls, Prinsloo completing his hattrick and Ali Burke notching their eight try. Eagleson’s four second half conversions completed the 52-24 scoreline.
O’Carroll’s performance in his new role earned him the ‘Michael Moore Car Sales Man of the Match’ accolade with his halfback partner Hopkins being a close contender. Walsh and debutant Reece Henderson fared best in the forwards exchanges. Centre Prinsloo was the outstanding performer for Instonians for whom David Whitten (formerly of Queen’s University) has yet to taste defeat at Dubarry Park.
One minutes silence was observed prior to kick-off as a mark of respect for those who have passed during the off-season, including past presidents Pat McManus and Tom Hughes and captain Gerry McNamara.
BUCCANEERS:- J.Nagle; R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Shine, R.Teape, H.Hughes; A.O’Carroll, F.Hopkins (captain); J.Kelly, D.Bolger, R.Henderson; F.Galvin, S.Fogarty; O.Dolan, C.Walsh and R.O’Meara. Replacements:- P.Egan (for Bolger, 22 mins), D.Bolger (for Dolan, 50 mins), J.del Olmo (for Kelly, 54 mins), J.Kelly (for Egan, 69 mins), A.Flanagan (for Hopkins, 69 mins) and H.Balsiger (for Murphy-Sweeney, 73 mins).
INSTONIANS:- B.McNamara; M.Keane, B.Prinsloo, I.Whitten, H.Ellerby; J.Eagleson, R.O’Farrell; A.Lupari, N.Saulters, L.Kaprigiannis; M.Vorster, A.Burke; M.Mairs, M.Preston and D.Whitten (captain). Replacements used:- O.Clark, S.van der Merwe, R.Whitten, S.McMaster and C.McGrath.
Referee:- Paul O’Connor (IRFU).
