NAVAN 29 BUCCANEERS 5
NAVAN completed a double over Buccaneers when they proved too strong for the midlanders in front of big home support at Balreask Old on Saturday when they secured a 29-5 victory. The bonus point win moves the Co. Meath club up a notch on the league table which remains propped up by the Pirates.
Buccs unfortunate run of injuries continued with Reece Henderson and Harry Hughes ruled out following last week’s match while Frankie Hopkins’ hoped for return did not materialise as the skipper suffered a setback at training. Illness meant Patrick Egan was a late cry-off. Thus Dylan Bolger, Adam O’Carroll and Orrin Burgess all started. Navan had just two changes from the side that prevailed in Athlone, both in the backline where Rory Gordon and Cormac Horan got the nod.
The homesters had first benefit of the cool breeze and the slope and quickly pegged Buccs back. They took an early lead with Jayden Henderson grounding the ball following a 4th minute maul. O’Carroll blocked down two clearances by the hosts in quick succession and he surely warranted at least a penalty on the first occasion when he was held back which denied him a possible run in.
Following a penalty to the left on 16 minutes, Navan moved the ball to the opposite flank where Liam McAree got over for a try converted by Tom Gavigan. They promptly added a third try helped by some sloppy play by the Shannonsiders who lost possession near their ten-metre line and, when the ball was worked from right to left, Ben McEntagart slipped off a weak tackle all too easily to run in for a try. Gavigan’s conversion gave the Hoops a healthy 19-0 lead by the end of the opening quarter with their three tries all coming via their more powerful forwards.
Buccs responded when a Gearoid McDonald penalty gave them territory on the left where Lucca d’Ambola Riera won the resultant lineout. Following a number of sallies at the home line, Daniel Hawkshaw surged in for an unconverted 22nd minute try. Evan Dixon chips over the cover caused some discomfort for Buccaneers before Gavigan landed a 28th minute penalty for the hosts.
Burgess made a powerful break but then spoiled its promise when losing possession while Buccs ended the half in defensive mode with Navan 22-5 to the good at the interval.
The second half was more evenly contested with Burgess making another couple of exciting breaks. On the second occasion he held on to the ball too long before throwing a wild pass beyond O’Carroll who would surely have scored. The midlanders got into promising positions on a number of occasions, primarily through penalties to touch, but poor handling and wrong options left them unable to add to their solitary score. From one of these situations, Navan turned over possession and Gordon raced from his own 22 to notch a late bonus point try which Gavigan converted to complete the 29-5 scoreline.
Kiwi hooker Henderson and captain Dixon were Navan’s top operators. Buccs battled valiantly to the bitter end but they lack the necessary nous and brawn while basic errors continue to add to their discomfort. Fergus Galvin and Burgess were best in their pack while Hawkshaw and Jenson Nagle were pick of the backs.
NAVAN:- R.Gordon; C.Horan, M.de Wit, E.Dixon (captain), H.Devlin; T.Gavigan, M.Farrell; L.Carroll, J.Henderson, L.Jackson; J.Finney, L.McAree; C.Hand, B.McEntagart and T.Ciot. Replacements:- G.Faulkner (for McAree, inj. 29 mins), J.Wyse (for Jackson, 56 mins), M.Coen (for Farrell, 62 mins), J.Dixon (for Devlin, 62 mins), L.Jackson (for Carroll, 72 mins) and M.Brady (for Hand) and C.Hand (for McEntagart).
BUCCANEERS:- J.Nagle; R.Murphy-Sweeney, T.Shine, D.Hawkshaw, A.O’Carroll; G.McDonald, D.Colgan; D.Bolger, C.Daly, R.O’Meara (captain); L.d’Ambola Riera, F.Galvin; O.Dolan, J.Crampton and O.Burgess. Replacements:- C.Byrne (for Bolger, h/t), D.Browne (for Daly, h/t), C.Reid (for Shine, 50 mins), S.Fogarty (for Crampton, 56 mins), A.Flanagan (for Colgan, 74 mins), T.Shine (for O’Carroll, 74 mins) and D.Bolger (for O’Meara, 75 mins).
Referee:- Paul Haycock (IRFU).