posted — January 30th 2012

BUCCANEERS 6	BALLYMENA 8
J. Carty 2 pens	A.Kerr try, L. Marshall pen

Ian Moore (on right) presents the AUDI ATHLONE Man of the Match award to Garreth Halligan of Buccaneers. Club President Ted Carty is also pictured.

BUCCANEERS spurned the chance to go top of the Ulster Bank League when they lost a home Division 1B game for the first time this season, going down 6-8 to Ballymena in a low-scoring affair under the Dubarry Park floodlights on Saturday night. With a late kick-off in Athlone, the homesters knew following earlier results that victory would elevate them but they didn't grasp the opportunity with a sometimes clueless and frustrating performance.

Buccs had a handful of changes with David Heffernan suspended, John O'Brien injured, and Daniel Qualter, Shane Layden and Conor Finn not available due to their involvement with the Ireland U-20 squad. Nevertheless, they fielded a reasonably strong side with Mark McCrea making his first start on the left wing and Callum Boland lining out at fullback. Ballymena too had a number of changes with Ulster duo Luke Marshall and Mike McComish bolstering them in this match sponsored by The Bounty Bar & Restaurant.

An inclement night made for testing playing conditions and home fans had an early scare when Denis Buckley went down inside the opening minute but the prop was soon fit to put in a fine shift. Buccs had tons of possession particularly in the opening half and especially in first quarter when they missed three penalties in the opening ten minutes. Ballymena made life difficult for the Pirates and consistently bordered the offside line, conceding penalties on 6 and 8 minutes for offside. But Jack Carty missed both and then, just two minutes later, he was also off-target after Darrell O'Kane brought down a fine Buccs maul. None of the placekicks was straight-forward but, on another night, the young outhalf would certainly have enjoyed a better return.

Buckley made a thundering break on 13 minutes that was carried on by Boland but Ballymena scurried back to stem the tide while a knock-on in the next attack spoiled another promising raid. Marshall then made ground far too easily for the visitors after 16 minutes to get them into Buccs territory in a meaningful way for the first time in the game and this led to their opening chance but Marshall too was unable to land a penalty after 19 minutes. The Ulster side were coming into the game a bit more now and Paul Harte put in a tremendous 21st minute tackle to nip a Ballymena attack in the bud. Boland found a sweet touch on the left as Buccs continued to dominate before Buckley kicked ahead when retention looked a better bet as Buccs failed to translate territory and possession onto the scoreboard.

Roger McBurney was yellow-carded for obstructing McCrea after the home winger had chipped the visiting fullback on 26 minutes. Buccs opted for a scrum and, despite Martin Staunton going close to the line, the midlanders should perhaps have opted for the placekick. Marshall eventually cleared the danger with a good touch. Referee Peter Fitzgibbon had words with McComish as the northerners continued to play on the edge, yet it was the Braidmen who led 3-0 against the run of play at halftime when Marshall kicked a 34th minute penalty after Buccs were guilty of coming in from the side. Buccs worked the line with one final penalty before the break but the lineout came to nought.

The second half was a more even affair and a clever McBurney chip ahead forced Boland to boot the ball dead within moments of the restart. Diarmuid Higgins replaced Staunton soon afterwards before Ballymena were penalised for not releasing on 45 minutes and Buccs punted the penalty to the right. From this lineout, they applied fierce pressure but Ballymena held their line intact before Eoghan Grace snaffled possession and Garrett Halligan drove on to force an infringement at a ruck. Carty comfortably slotted over this 53rd minute penalty to level 3-3 but substitute Andrew Kerr wriggled in for an unconverted Ballymena try wide on the left just on the hour mark.

Padraig de Burca replaced Eoin Rooney and Robert Henshaw got his first taste of AIL rugby when he came on for Adam Kennedy at this stage. The northerners were pinged again for offside on 67 minutes and Carty's penalty narrowed the margin to just two points. But an error from the restart put the Pirates under severe pressure for a spell before some stout defending earned a relieving penalty after somehow keeping Ballymena out.

Ross Hackney was sin-binned four minutes from time when the No.8 persistently infringed as Buccs finally got some momentum going with a wonderful drive but Ballymena held on for a hard-earned win that moves them level with Buccaneers on 30 points just a single point behind joint leaders Ballynahinch and Belfast Harlequins at a very congested top of the table. Ballymena defended steadfastly and were that bit cuter but Buccs will rue an aimless kicking plan that they surprisingly persisted with in the second half. At times one could have thought they were watching the Australian Tennis Open such was the number of times the Pirates booted away possession. They lacked patience and smartness, tried to move the ball wide much too early, whilst they should have realised, either on or off the pitch, that they made better inroads when picking and driving. In reality, Buccaneers should have had much more than a losing Bonus point to show for the greater territory and possession they had.

Buccs hooker Garrett Halligan was a worthy ‘AUDI ATHLONE man of the match’ while centre Marshall was Ballymena's most composed performer in front a reasonable attendance on a miserable night.

BUCCANEERS:- C. Boland; C. Lavelle, P. Harte, A. Kennedy, M. McCrea; J. Carty, M. Dolan; M. Staunton, G. Halligan, D. Buckley; M. Kearney, J. Tormey; E. Rooney, E. Grace and K. Kiripati (captain). Replacements used:- D. Higgins (for Staunton, 44 mins), P.de Burca (for Rooney, 61 mins) and R. Henshaw (for Kennedy, 61 mins).

BALLYMENA:- R. McBurney; R. Aingworth, A. Frazer, L. Marshall, R. Andrew; M. Irwin, B. McIlroy; C. Carey, J. Andrew, S. Shawe; D. O'Kane (captain), D. Whann; S. Mulholland, M. McComish and R. Hackney. Replacements:- A.Kerr (for Whann, 31 mins), J. Burns (for Andrew, 34 mins), C. Fitzpatrick (for Aingworth, 44 mins), A. Warwick (for Carey, 58 mins), Carey (for Shawe, 72 mins) and Shawe (for Carey, 75 mins).

Referee:- Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU).