March 22, 2008

RUGBY with MICHAEL SILKE

Look, it's over here! Clifford Richardson catches the ball behind a bemused
Darren Barbour of Malone.

BUCCANEERS maintained their strong bid for promotion with a rousing and rampant 24-0 AIB League Division 2 victory over fellow contenders Malone at Gibson Park, Belfast, on Saturday. In bitterly cold conditions, the midlanders proved much too hot for the homesters who could not match their commitment and sheer passion. Buccs were simply relentless in their quest, dashing Malone’s aspirations in the process, as they powered to a sixth successive victory. Destiny is now in their own hands and feet.

Buccs were, surprisingly and disappointingly, without any of their eligible Connacht frontline players albeit injury ruled out Ray Ofisa, and they had just one change from their previous outing against Wanderers, Alamoti TePou returning after injury with Anthony Hughes on the bench. Malone, despite Ulster pulling Kieran Hallett and Filo Paulo, nevertheless had a handful of contracted players in action. A biting, crossfield breeze made life difficult for players and spectators alike but conditions otherwise were firm and sunny in front of a decent attendance, including good numbers from the midlands.

Buccaneers kicked off with the elements assisting them and they immediately piled on the pressure. It took them just six minutes to breach the home cover. Their “in your face” tactics forced Malone to regularly cough up possession and, from such a situation outside the home 22, Simon Rolleston fastened on to the ball to break smartly to set up Alan Gaughan for a tonic try (his sixth in the league) which the winger also converted.

Buccs continued to drive forward but handling errors and an unbalanced high penalty ratio against the midlanders meant that it took time for the second score to arrive, but it was worth the wait. Mark Bruce, who excelled throughout, made a terrific diagonal sniping run that drew the home cover to one side and the scrumhalf’s offload opened up a channel that took Rolleston to the posts for a 26 th minute try which Gaughan converted.

The visitors kept Malone pinned back as they strove to add to their tally. Trevor Conneely looked like he might go all the way but desperate defending stopped him dangerously close to the home line and shortly afterwards another U-20 Conor Higgins too came tantalisingly close. However, the on-going pressure yielded a 36 th minute Gaughan penalty for a 17-0 advantage before Malone finally got into Buccs territory but the midlanders held firm and Gareth Fry made a ‘hames’ of a drop goal attempt with the final piece of action of the first half.

Buccaneers set a marker when Garreth Halligan made a stirring surge on the restart while the Buccs pack drove Malone off their ball after a penalty had got the northerners a foothold in visiting territory, with Niall O’Hara kicking cutely to touch. These endeavours further instilled confidence in the Buccs ranks, as did thumping tackles on Peter Baird and Johnny Burgess. Buccaneers tackle count throughout, both defensively and offensively, must surely have made for impressive statistics.

With Phil Coulter unable to orchestrate a way through Buccs, Malone replaced the scrumhalf with the more physical Simon Cahill on 56 minutes. He helped to further up the tempo in a non-stop, no holds barred contest that was sportingly contested all the way. Buccaneers quickly responded with the introduction of Adrian Hanley for Stephen Burke, the Mullingar man having put in a huge contribution for an hour. With a point or two to prove, Hanley was promptly in the thick of the action, typically making a number of driving rampages taking the game to Malone.

Buccs continued to battle with controlled aggression and terrific discipline, and they were the much more composed and cohesive outfit. Another rollicking Hanley surge on 71 minutes made hard yards before he transferred possession to Rolleston but the outhalf’s pass went agonisingly behind the supporting Sean Carey when Malone were stretched. However, Buccs wonderful and sustained efforts earned further due reward when, after teenager Higgins was again stopped just short the prop popped the ball to Colin Watters and the flanker drove over for a last minute try, Buccaneers 37 th of this campaign. Gaughan’s placekicking produced a 100% return with his third conversion completing a magnificent 24-0 triumph.

Clifford Richardson was supreme in the lineouts and also made his presence felt around the paddock. TePou too made hard yards and the front row in which Garreth Halligan was again outstanding had a rare ould battle with their direct opponents. Alex Hayman, one knock-on blip apart, was splendid in a magnificent defence while Bruce was superb in dictating matters from scrumhalf. Overall, this was truly a terrific team performance by all involved.

FOOTNOTES:- Another key factor in this victory was the substantial numbers who journeyed far on a Bank Holiday weekend to loudly support Buccs; would that “ Connacht” could have a similar attitude!

BUCCANEERS:- N.O’Hara (captain); A.Gaughan, A.Penzhorn, A.Hayman, S.Carey; S.Rolleston, M.Bruce; M.Diffley, G.Halligan, C.Higgins; C.Richardson, A.TePou; C.Watters, T.Conneely and S.Burke. Replacement used:- A.Hanley (for Burke, 62 mins).

MALONE:- P.Baird; J.Anderson, J.Burgess, A.Lowe, C.Rowan; G.Fry, P.Coulter; D.Halliday, S.Bailie, J.Carey; S.McDonald, D.Barbour; M.Bradford, N.Alcorn and G.Moore (captain). Replacements used:- S.Cahill (for Coulter, 56 mins), G.Norwood (for Barbour, 75 mins) and De Wet Bekker (for Alcorn, 75 mins).

REFEREE:- Eanna O’Dowd ( Leinster).