BUCCANEERS 34 GREYSTONES 3
BUCCANEERS U-20s first half performance ensured they were going to continue their winning ways as they overcame Greystones 34-3 in their J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier League 2B game played at sunny Dubarry Park on Sunday. Fielding an unchanged starting XV, Buccs steadily got a firm grip on the proceedings and they were full value for their victory that perhaps should have been more clearcut.
Greystones actually made a promising start, forcing a number of close-in penalties at which they opted for pick and goes but found the home defence in resilient mood. They really should have taken the straightforward three points on offer and get the scoreboard working. They were quickly to rue this when a teasing diagonal kick by Tom Sheehan was fumbled and the Pirates swiftly plundered a 6th minute try by Tom Cotton.
Play was stop/start for a spell until Charlie O’Carroll made a smashing snipe and unselfishly passed to his right sending Tom Sheehan in for a 19th minute try. Buccs now upped the tempo with Callum Kelly linking with Niel Botes who burst through a number of tackles and Abu Saka’s strong finish yielded the Pirates third unconverted try after 25 minutes, now 15-0 ahead.
Three minutes later a smart Donnacha Connolly break sent O’Carroll scampering in for a bonus point try at the posts with Dylan Duffy finally on target with a conversion. A further three minutes on, Callum Kelly grubbered ahead a number of times but a Greystones defender just got to ground the ball before he could score. A thrilling attack followed shortly afterwards but a forward pass denied a near certain try.
But just before the break, Buccs won a lineout following a penalty to the left and when Tom Sheehan was held out he got the ball to Niall Tallon and the No.8 crashed over for a try which O’Carroll, on kicking duties for the conversion, was unable to add the extras. Nevertheless, Buccaneers were well in control and 27-0 ahead at half-time.
An offload that went forward denied Patrick Egan a try within 4 minutes of the change of ends but Lorcan McCormack was soon powering over just seconds after his introduction. Duffy’s conversion was surprisingly the final home score with both Giorgio Racca and O’Carroll surely wondering why their touchdowns were ruled out. Ryan McCormack landed a late penalty for the Co. Wicklow outfit.
Buccs were excellent for the majority of the first half when they laid the foundations for this victory but, with the points all but assured at the interval, the intensity and accuracy dropped noticeably as the game progressed. Nevertheless, there was much to enthuse about the overall performance especially the contributions by Tallon and Connolly.
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; C.Kelly, T.Cotton, T.Sheehan, T.Bourke; C.O’Carroll, D.Connolly; O.Donoghue, S.Rohan, A.Oates; A.Saka, C.Sheehan (captain); N.Botes, P.Egan and N.Tallon. Replacements:- J.Dillon (for Saka, h/t), L.McCormack (for Cotton, 46 mins), E.Murtagh (for Egan, 51 mins), G.Racca (for Botes, 57 mins), S.Doyle (for Donoghue, 62 mins), L.Cassidy (for Oates, 62 mins) and B.Foxe (for C.Sheehan, 67 mins).
GREYSTONES:- K.Hingerty: K.Jackson, D.Stewart, M.Stewart, N.Griffiths; R.McCormack, C.Bourke; J.Weil, S.Gaughran, C.McGrath; N.Ross, L.Galvin; C.Lunn, D.Potts (captain) and F.Denver. Replacements:- R.Hopkins, S.Bourke, O.Denver and D.Mooney.
Referee:- Kevin Bolger.
