posted — January 24th 2012

A final quarter flurry yielded a bonus point victory for Buccaneers Development squad when they accounted for Creggs 26-3 in their Connacht Junior 1B League clash at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Sunday.

Conditions were sunny but cold for this encounter with a heavy sod making this an energy sapping joust. Buccs got an early breakthrough with a fine try by Alex Hayman and he added the conversion. But the homesters failed to build on this and then injuries to experienced duo Sean Stapleton (ankle) and the unfortunate Anthony Hughes (elbow) took some of the momentum out of the Pirates' swagger. Creggs capitalised and now fared better as Buccs lost their structure and tempo. With the last kick of the first half, Emmet Collins landed a Creggs penalty to leave the game finely balanced at 7-3.

David Dunning and Liam Doran were summoned from the Thirds and gradually Buccs control was rebuilt, yet Creggs hung on doggedly. However, Buccaneers clicked again as the contest neared its conclusion with Declan Byrne finishing off a smashing move for a try. Hayman's conversion attempt struck the top of an upright and was not allowed but he repeated his break that led to the second try with another exciting foray to again stretch the Creggs cover as he set up Kevin Naughton for a try at the posts with time running out. Suddenly, the Pirates sniffed the possibility of a bonus point and went in search of further booty with a vengeance. They now piled on the pressure and opted for a series of scrums with a number of close-in penalties before Darragh Lennon burrowed through to beat the visitors' cover and the referee's watch to snatch a crucial late touchdown. Hayman converted both these tries to complete the 26-3 winning margin.

Hayman was the most influential operator on the park with notable support from Andrew Douglas, Conor Molloy, Padraig de Burca and prop Lennon as Buccaneers remain hot on the heels of pace-setters Ballinasloe.

BUCCANEERS:- K. Naughton; J. Maguire, D. Byrne, A. Hayman, B. Walsh; A. Douglas, C. Molloy; D. Lennon, S. Stapleton, B. Gilligan (captain); Anthony Hughes, R. Byrne; P. de Burca, R. Walshe and Adrian Hughes. Replacements:- D. Dunning (for Anthony Hughes, inj.) and L. Doran (for Stapleton, inj.).

Referee:- Roy Gibson.