March 1, 2008

RUGBY with MICHAEL SILKE

Although not playing with the panache that has seen them climb from eight place in the past six weeks, Buccaneers ground out a hard-earned 12-5 AIB League win over Wanderers at Dubarry Park, Athlone, to take outright leadership of Division 2.

Perhaps burdened by the weight of expectation among home fans, Buccs were far from vintage on a breezy, dampish afternoon, conditions that militated against the strengths of the midlanders. Nevertheless, the sign of a decent team is ekeing out results when playing well below par, and that is exactly what Buccaneers had to do against dogged opponents in front of a disappointing attendance bearing in mind the importance of this encounter to the Athlone side.

Buccs started with only one change in the backline where Adrian Penzhorn, Simon Rolleston and Mark Bruce were all deemed fit to play. Bruce started in place of the now ineligible Keith Matthews. In the pack, however, injury ruled out Alamoti TePou while Colm Rigney and Ray Ofisa were both involved with Connacht and thus the midlanders had no front line provincial players for this crucial match. Clifford Richardson was switched to the second row where he paired up with Anthony Hughes for the first time while Stephen Burke returned at No. 8 and Trevor Conneely came in at wing forward. Christian Warner played for Leinster against Connacht and so was not available to Wanderers who had former Bucc Damian Hunt on the right wing.

Buccaneers had first use of the breeze and, just as at Barnhall, went ahead with a second minute Alan Gaughan penalty for a high tackle. However, there was to be no repeat of the enterprise and endeavour shown at Parsonstown one week earlier for the remainder of the opening half, although a crafty crossfield kick by Rolleston after seven minutes almost yielded a try but Cathal Garvey got across to just edge out Sean Carey to the touchdown.

The midlanders were dealt a double blow in the early stages of the third quarter when first Carey (ankle) and then Michael Diffley (knee) sustained injuries that makes them doubtful for the remaining two rounds of fixtures. Paul Harte and Benny Gilligan came into the action earlier than anticipated. Gaughan curled a penalty the wrong side of the upright on the half-hour mark, just before Wanderers put their first real move of the game together. Their two South Sea Islanders, Kolo Kiripati and Donny Latu, were both prominent in this attack which stretched Buccs from right to left and substitute James Ferris (who had replaced Melvin McNamara after 25 minutes) applied sufficient downward pressure to notch a 32 nd minute try on the left which Daithi Fitzgerald could not convert.

This threw a spanner in the works for the homesters and, when Bruce was harshly deemed to have deliberately knocked on as he tried to block Brendan O’Brien getting the ball away after a scrum, matters looked more ominous. But Fitzgerald was wide with this debatable 36 th minute penalty. Buccs upped their collective effort up to halftime, finally retaining possession instead the previous barrage of aimless kicking that utterly failed to harness the elements. This was rewarded with an added time Gaughan penalty that nosed the home side 6-5 ahead at the break.

In that opening period, Buccaneers lacked the intensity of recent performances nor were they as composed. They reverted to their early season weakness of hurrying moves and it looked like the occasion got to some of the players whilst others were clearly not comfortable in the testing conditions. Nervous tension filled the air, not helped when Bruce spilled possession from the restart to give Wanderers possession inside the home 22 but Buccs survived this early scare.

However, their play was much brighter thereafter, not entirely due to the floodlights now being on. There was greater industry and purpose in their endeavours, particularly when they picked and drove to good effect. They steadily drove Wanderers back and the pressure forced Kiripati to handle on the 22 after 46 minutes, Gaughan making no mistake from the resultant penalty.

Three minutes later, Harte made an exciting raid down the left flank chasing his chip ahead while Kiripati’s persistent infringing merited his yellow card after 53 minutes. Buccs piled on the pressure but could not breach resilient Wanderers defending and the score was still only 9-5 in favour of the home side when the imposing Maori returned to the fray.

Buccs put the visitors scrum under huge pressure on 65 minutes to earn another penalty which Gaughan gratefully tapped over to get a bit more breathing space. The placekicker then made a promising 70 th minute break down the right but lacked the necessary support while Harte was unlucky when he fastened on to a poor Wanderers clearance on the opposite flank after 76 minutes.

Wanderers, surprisingly clad in red jerseys, were now making an increasing number of errors but Buccs were just not as sharp as in recent weeks to capitalise on these mistakes while Gaughan was short with an ambitious 80 th minute penalty. Buccs only real try opportunity arrived in added time when Bruce made a snappy break but, with Gaughan in support, the scrumhalf delayed his pass too long and the chance evaporated. Buccs had one more scoring attempt but Alex Hayman’s poor drop goal kick was typical of their labours.

It is hard to fathom this display but the doubts in the build-up to this game regarding the availability or not of the walking wounded as well as any contracted players possibly unsettled the squad. The mantle of favourites may not have helped either while, perhaps, too many were already thinking about the upcoming Malone match. But, conversely, it was a gritty victory when things were just not happening as anticipated on the playing field. “Winning ugly” as a former Buccaneers coach might say! Buccs did not score a try for only the second game this season but Gaughan brought his league points tally to 110.

Colin Watters epitomised Buccs heart with an unrelenting contribution that earned him another ‘OYSTERhomes Man of the Match’ accolade. Garreth Halligan put in a huge effort also and Gilligan made the most of his opportunity when called upon. Harte did likewise in the backline where Niall O’Hara not only maintained his unbeaten streak as captain but played a key role in ensuring Buccaneers made it five wins in succession. Kiripati and Paul Ryan (wearing 5 and 8 respectively but playing in opposite positions) were a handful for the home pack while Hunt rarely got possession to remind Buccs fans of his talent. Nevertheless Wanderers hopes of avoiding an immediate return to Division 3 were greatly boosted by the Bonus point they gathered.

Meanwhile, Buccaneers now top the league table by two points with just two rounds of fixtures remaining with everything to play for!

BUCCANEERS:- N.O’Hara (captain); A.Gaughan, A.Hayman, A.Penzhorn, S.Carey; S.Rolleston, M.Bruce; M.Diffley, G.Halligan, C.Higgins; A.Hughes, C.Richardson; C.Watters, T.Conneely and S.Burke. Replacements used:- P.Harte (for Carey, inj. 25 mins) and B.Gilligan (for Diffley, inj. 27 mins).

WANDERERS:- C.Garvey; D.Hunt, R.Niland, D.O’Keeffe, M.McNamara; D.Fitzgerald, B.O’Brien; D.Latu, B.Cantrell (captain), G.Fitzgerald; G.Thompson, P.Ryan; V.Ball, A.McMahon and K.Kiripati. Replacements used:- J.Ferris (for McNamara, inj. 17 mins), D.Burns (for Cantrell, 57 mins), D.Roe (for Latu, 63 mins) and S.Farrelly (for Thompson, 63 mins).

REFEREE:- M.Kennedy. ( Munster).

 

DIVISION 2 League Table

	Played	Points
BUCCANEERS	13	44
Belfast Harlequins	13	42
Malone	13	41
Young Munster	12	40
U.C.Cork	12	40
Highfield	13	37

Buccaneers now top Division 2 with the above clubs being the only realistic contenders at this stage. UCC are home to Young Munster in their game in hand which takes place next weekend. Harlequins have both their remaining games at home and look a certainty for promotion. Lets get behind Buccs to drive them on and up too!