BUCCANEERS 33 SKERRIES 14
BUCCANEERS secured a comfortable 33-14 Energia All-Ireland League victory over Skerries at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday. This was the Pirates first bonus point win of the season as they recorded back-to-back wins in Division 2B. On a mild dry afternoon, playing conditions were quite good with just a light breeze to contend with.
The midlanders made just a single change from the win over Malone with Dylan Duffy returning at fullback in place of the injured David Colgan. The visitors had three changes from their late loss to Rainey with Tom Grehan and John Healy coming into the backline and Barry Murphy in the pack.
The Pirates made the early running but did not make the most of promising territory especially when Orrin Burgess was unattended wide on the left flank on a couple of occasions. However, their sustained pressure gained reward on 16 minutes when Charlie Byrne grounded the ball following a tapped penalty by Sean Glennon and Gearoid McDonald added the conversion.
Skerries took awhile to get into the home half but when they did David Goodman broke through from 30 metres for a 25th minute try after a Buccs lineout had gone awry. Jack Litchfield’s fine conversion tied the scores 7-7.
Oisin McNamara was sin-binned for a no arms tackle on 35 minutes but Buccaneers did not capitalise before the interval. However, they took a firm grip on the proceedings following the change of ends with Adam Cooper thundering through a number of tackles for a 43rd minute try with McDonald adding the extras.
Six minutes later Sam Meecham tapped a penalty and the ball was spread smartly to the left where Rourke O’Sullivan dotted down near the corner flag for a try and a 19-7 lead. Tom Cotton made a fine break on 53 minutes before the ball was transferred slickly to O’Sullivan who outpaced the defence to score his second try in 4 minutes. McDonald landed an excellent touchline conversion to this bonus point try.
The seasiders responded with a 58th minute try by Peter O’Neill with Litchfield’s conversion narrowing the arrears to 26-14 but their skipper was yellow carded shortly afterwards when illegally slowing a Buccs attack. The Shannonsiders piled on the pressure in the closing stages and Dan Donovan notched their fifth try after another quickly tapped penalty on 71 minutes.
McDonald’s conversion completed the scoring and Skerries were forced to defend desperately, conceding a series of penalties. How it took until the final minute for them to incur a third yellow card, this time to Griffin Carrick, or that Buccs were not awarded a penalty try during this spell of close-in dominance is a mystery.
This was best all-round performance of the season to date by the improving, energetic and committed Pirates. Their pack was on top in all facets, each and every forward contributing to this win with busy duo Meecham and Patrick Egan catching the eye. McDonald in a more aggressive role was pick of a lively backline where Cotton continues to blossom and O’Sullivan looks like a valuable addition.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Cotton, C.Reid (captain), O.Burgess; G.McDonald, A.Bouwens; A.Cooper, S.Glennon, C.Byrne; S.Meecham, C.Sheehan; P.Egan, D.Donovan and L.Balsiger. Replacements:- R.O’Sullivan (for Burgess, 36 mins), R.O’Meara (for Byrne, 47 mins), T.Shine (for Murphy-Sweeney, 54 mins), D.Bolger (for Glennon, 65 mins), J.Kelly (for Cooper, 70 mins) and O.Burgess (for Reid, 70 mins).
SKERRIES:- R.Mulcahy; T.Keane-Boylan, T.Grehan, J.Downes, D.Goodman; P.O’Loghlen, J.Healy; O.McNamara, C.Marrey, T.Scuffil; C.McGuinness, R.Gilbride; B.Murphy, A.Cleary and P.O’Neill (captain). Replacements:- J.Litchfield (for Mulcahy, 23 mins), G.Carrick (for Murphy, temp. 38 mins), K.McGrath (for Grehan, h/t), J.Brennan (for Marrey, 50 mins), S.Deering (for McGuinness, 50 mins) and G.Carrick (for McNamara, 71 mins).
Referee:- John Lillis (IRFU).
