GREYSTONES 71 BUCCANEERS 8
On a cold November afternoon, Greystones were much too hot for Buccaneers as they coasted to a 71-8 Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A victory at Dr. Hickey Park on Saturday. On the eastern seaboard, the Pirates were all at sea in the opening half, particularly in the first quarter after which they trailed 29-3 and Stones already had 5 tries in the bag.
The midlanders made 3 personnel changes for this encounter. With Daniel Hawkshaw unavailable, Orrin Burgess moved into the centre and Harry Balsiger coming in on the left wing. The latter’s brother Luke started at No.8 with fit again Lucca d’Ambola Riera returning at lock and Jack Scouler’s impact when introduced last week against Ballymena being rewarded with selection as blindside flanker. Greystones, boosted by an away win at Banbridge, made a quartet of changes split evenly between backs and forwards. Ferdia Kenny and Patrick Byrne started in the backline with Jamie Mulhern and Stephen Bourke coming into the pack.
Buccs came under pressure right from the kick-off and Matthew O’Brien opened the floodgates with a 3rd minute try. Three minutes later a chip over the cover caught the visitors flat-footed and Killian Marmion scampered in for a try which he also converted. A quickly tapped penalty by Adam Flanagan earned the visitors a penalty in front of the home posts which Adam O’Carroll slotted over to make it 12-3 after 10 minutes.
Any hopes that this score might grant the Pirates some respite were quickly dashed as, following a penalty punted to the right corner, Greystones drove over after the lineout with Jamie Mulhern applying the finishing touch for a 14th minute try. The bonus point try was secured just four minutes later, Reeve Satherley making the initial yardage and Ferdia Kenny arced in for a try converted by Killian Marmion.
Ferdia Kenny then completed a hat-trick of tries in seven minutes, ghosting in behind the cover to grab a diagonal kick on 20 minutes and then his pace left the defence for dead as he notched his third five minutes later. Killian Marmion’s conversion gave the seasiders a handsome 36-3 lead shortly after Harry Hughes was yellow carded for a perceived deliberate knock-on on 22 minutes.
Greystones stretched their advantage further when Conor Balmaine got in on the scoring on 29 minutes but Buccs restored some pride with a fine try in the final move of the half. Burgess burst up the centre to send Cathal Walsh running in for a try wide on the left that left the Athlone side trailing 43-8 at the interval.
Buccs rejigged for the second half with Burgess now at No.8, Robert Teape in the centre, David Colgan at flyhalf and O’Carroll at fullback. They made a much better start to this half but Greystones, now aided by a more noticeable breeze, got the first score of this period. Michael Doyle nabbed this try on 49 minutes and O’Brien increased the Hoops lead with a 66th minute try.
Six minutes later, Bourke finished off a maul and in the final move of the game fellow backrower Danny Kenny scored Greystones eleventh try. Killian Marmion converted all three second half tries to bring his side’s victory margin to 71-8, which keeps them in the top half of the league table. They were fleeter of foot and action than the Shannonsiders. Ferdia Kenny was a thorn in the visitors’ side until injury curtailed his influence while No.8 Satherley was a strong carrier throughout in a backrow that was so much bigger and stronger than the midlanders trio.
Injury depleted Buccs gave it their all with Burgess their standout performer but they are lacking guile, muscle and experience in most positions. However, they did not help their cause with too many errors including three missed touches in the opening ten minutes that gave attacking possession back to their opponents. Missed tackles remain a common thread and elementary errors particularly in defence must be eliminated quickly to have any hope of steadying a sinking ship.
GREYSTONES:- C.Kenny; F.Kenny, C.Balmaine, M.O’Brien, D.Henry; K.Marmion, P.Byrne; J.Mulhern, R.Byrne, C.Pearse; J.van der Fllier, E.Marmion (captain); S.Bourke, D.Kenny and R.Satherley. Replacements:- C.Connolly (for F.Kenny, inj. 30 mins), C.McAleer (for D.Kenny, h/t), M.Doyle (for Bourke, 46 mins), I.Duffy Takatai (for Pearse, 46 mins), M.Douglas (for R.Byrne, 59 mins), S.Bourke (for E.Marmion, 66 mins) and D.Kenny (for Doyle, 66 mins).
BUCCANEERS:- D.Duffy; H.Hughes, R.Murphy-Sweeney, O.Burgess, H.Balsiger; A.O’Carroll, A.Flanagan; R.Henderson, C.Daly, R.O’Meara; L.d’Ambola Riera, F.Galvin; J.Scouler, C.Walsh (captain) and L.Balsiger. Replacements:- D.Colgan (for Duffy, 21 mins), D.Bolger (for Daly, inj. 30 mins), S.Fogarty (for L.Balsiger, inj. h/t), R.Teape (for Scouler, h/t), C.Daly (for Walsh, inj. 46 mins), C.Byrne (for O’Meara, 57 mins), D.Duffy (for Flanagan, 62 mins), J.Scouler (for Bolger, 70 mins) and R.O’Meara (for Daly, 70 mins).
Referee:- Graeme Ormiston (IRFU).
