MIDLETON 58 BUCCANEERS 0
BUCCANEERS shipped a comprehensive 58-0 defeat in their first competitive fixture with Midleton when the clubs met in the second round of the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B South at Towns Park, Midleton, on Saturday.
Buccs made a handful of changes primarily due to injuries that ruled out Corey Reid, Patrick Egan, Darragh Glennon and Tom Cotton. Tom Sheehan and Ross Murphy-Sweeney formed a new centre pairing with Gearoid McDonald chosen at fly-half while Ryan O’Meara started in the pack. Meanwhile, Midleton made just two changes with Chris Callinan preferred at scrumhalf and Andrew Beyrooti coming in at lock.
On a bright afternoon, the hosts had initial benefit of the breeze but Buccs had the first scoring opportunity, a third minute penalty by McDonald that curled narrowly wide. When the east Cork side were awarded a penalty 8 minutes later, Mikey Lyne’s quick tap set them on the way to opening their account, Gabriele Baffigi finishing off their swift counter-attack for a try with Seamus Lyne’s conversion rebounding off the crossbar.
Another home penalty following a high tackle by Niall Tallon put Midleton in a promising position and, after a few pick and goes, J.B.du Toit surged over for a converted try. Although Tom Sheehan made an excellent catch from the restart, the Reds soon retrieved possession and Denis Broderick galloped forward before off-loading to the supporting Baffigi to score his second try. Just before the interval, Orrin Burgess did not deal with a simple crossfield kick and Hunter Cowan profited from an overlap to secure a bonus point try for the cosmopolitan home outfit. Outhalf Lyne’s conversion gave Midleton a commanding 24-0 lead at half-time.
Similar to last week, the opposition scored an early second half try when the dynamic du Toit’s offload sent Chris O’Brien in for a 44th minute try. Buccs put some phases together but nine minutes later were turned over and Tom Roche profited to score a try and the winger grabbed his second moments later when du Toit again snaffled possession before putting a teasing grubber along the right flank. The Reds were now coasting 41-0 ahead.
Du Toit finished off a 65th minute maul for his second try and substitute O’Brien enjoyed an overlap to touch down for the home side’s ninth try. Flyhalf Lyne converted and landed a penalty with the final kick of the game to give Midleton a resounding 58-0 victory as they have made a very promising start to the campaign.
This was a confidence eroding defeat for the Pirates who did not retain possession well enough throughout in the face of ferocious workrate by the Munster side. Turnovers proved costly time and again while tackling did not match the crispness of the winners. These are areas that must be quickly addressed.
MIDLETON:- J.Colbert; T.Roche, H.Cowan, G.Baffigi, A.M.Jimenez; S.Lyne, C.Callinan; A.Agassi, J.B.du Toit (captain), R.Moloney; A.Beyrooti, D.Broderick; C.McCarthy, M.Lyne andI.Rqibi. Replacements used:- M.Corby, R.Casey, A.Porter, C.O’Brien and T. Coleman.
BUCCANEERS:-J.Quinn; H.Balsiger, T.Sheehan, R.Murphy-Sweeney, C.Dowling; G.McDonald, L.MacFarlane; J.Kelly (captain), S.Glennon, D.Quinn; C.Sheehan, R.O’Meara; C.Walsh, L.Balsiger and N.Tallon. Replacements:- O.Burgess (for Murphy-Sweeney, 29 mins), C.Byrne (for D.Quinn, 33 mins), R.Murphy-Sweeney (for Burgess, h/t), K.Blessing (for Kelly, 45 mins), O.Dolan (for Tallon, 54 mins), A.Bouwens (for McDonald, 59 mins), O.Burgess (for H.Balsiger, 59 mins), N.Tallon (for Glennon, 61 mins), J.Kelly (for O’Meara, 68 mins) and H.Balsiger (for C.Sheehan, inj. 74 mins).
Referee:- John Lillis (IRFU).
