January 26, 2008

RUGBY with MICHAEL SILKE
SUTTONIANS 19 BUCCANEERS 25

BUCCANEERS returned to winning ways with a 25-19 AIB League Division 2 victory over Suttonians at JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds, Sutton, on Saturday. Victory moves Buccs up one spot to eight in the league table with one game in hand but, while the midlanders were far the better outfit overall, they really should have secured a Bonus point as well especially when they got off to such a whirlwind start.

Buccs made two changes both in the pack from their last outing with Clifford Richardson returning in the second row after a long absence and Ray Ofisa coming in on the flank. Anthony Hughes was included in the substitutes but captain Adrian Hanley failed to make the bench. Suttonians fielded a beefy, cosmopolitan side skippered by the mammoth Adrian Kearney. Conditions were windy and cool at the coastal venue but otherwise near perfect for rugby.

Buccaneers had first use of the strong if slightly diagonal breeze and, although Suttonians opened in spritely manner, it was the visitors who soon made the breakthrough on the scoreboard. Adrian Penzhorn weaved his way through from outside the 22 for a well-taken 6 th minute try which Alan Gaughan converted. Four minutes later, Gaughan confidently landed a 30 metre penalty after Suttonians were caught offside and the winger then waltzed through from his own 10 metre line after intercepting for a try at the posts which he also converted for a highly-promising 17-0 lead after a mere 13 minutes.

Buccs should really have hammered home their superiority from hereon and clearly a four-try haul was on, but perhaps it was coming too easily for them at this stage and thus application and discipline dropped, allowing the shell-shocked seasiders back into the contest. They got assistance in their opening score, Simon Rolleston taking far too long to clear his lines and when his kick was charged down Magnus Coetzer punished the outhalf’s error by touching down for a 23rd minute try that threw a lifeline to Suttonians.

Buccs were not helped when Penzhorn, who was playing very brightly, sustained an injury that forced his withdrawal by the half-hour mark, with young Paul Harte coming in on the wing and Gaughan shifting to centre. Buccs kept the pressure on, nevertheless, but they lacked the cutting edge and composure to translate it into scores. Alex Hayman was off-target with an ill-advised drop goal attempt before Gaughan gained some reward for territorial supremacy when he landed a fine penalty in added time to give Buccaneers a 20-5 halftime lead.

Now with the wind to their backs, Suttonians promptly took the game to their visitors on the turnaround but missed an early penalty chance. However, the imposing Marno Lourensmeyer powered his way down the left flank to burst through for a 46 th minute try and Patrick Maguire made it third kick lucky when he added the touchline conversion. Buccaneers looked in difficulty at this stage but Rolleston made a terrific break that was carried on by Alamoti TePou and Ofisa to end just short of the home line. But Buccs won lineout possession from the clearance and Garreth Halligan finished off the attack for a 55 th minute try. Gaughan’s conversion was undoubtedly good but, after some hesitancy and discussion by the team of match officials, it was not awarded and so Buccs lead was only 25-12.

The next scoring chance came to Buccs when, after Suttonians knocked on the midlanders snaffled possession and kicked over the cover where the chasing Sean Carey won possession, but the referee called play back for a scrum without allowing advantage! Then it was Suttonians turn to go close after Mark Bruce’s attempted chip was blocked down but Rolleston put in a try-saving tackle although Kearney could have been more direct for the home side. Daire Higgins then made a raid down the right flank but Niall O’Hara hampered him sufficiently to deny a scoring opportunity.

Five minutes into added time, Suttonians were awarded a penalty in their own half which was kicked into touch between the flags on the Buccs goalline and the deadball line. A scrum-back to Buccaneers should have been the outcome but Suttonians were awarded a lineout five metres out! They duly won possession and rumbled over the line for a John Tainiu try which was converted from wide on the right via an upright by Maguire to complete the scoring. This did not change the outcome for Buccaneers but it earned Suttonians a precious Bonus point as they strive to keep out of the relegation dogfight.

But, with the start Buccaneers got, the hosts should have been nowhere near salvaging anything from this contest but the midlanders let their aggression and focus drop after notching seventeen points seemingly too easy and early. Errors and indiscipline crept into their play for a period before knuckling down again to the task on hand when the chips were down in the second half. Penzhorn’s influence was missed in the backline where Rolleston, Gaughan and Hayman did well. Colin Watters and substitute Trevor Conneely both did a huge amount of work in the pack where Kevin Moran had his best outing to date and Richardson will be pleased with his contribution. Perhaps more should have been gained from this visit to the seaside but, nevertheless, Buccs have regained some momentum with this away victory.

BUCCANEERS:- N.O’Hara; A.Gaughan, A.Hayman, A.Penzhorn, S.Carey; S.Rolleston, M.Bruce; B.Gilligan, G.Halligan, K.Moran; C.Richardson, A.TePou; C.Watters, R.Ofisa and S.Burke. Replacements:- P.Harte (for Penzhorn, inj.30 mins), T.Conneely (for Burke, inj. 47 mins), M.Madden (for Halligan, 64 mins), M.Diffley (for Gilligan, 72 mins) and Anthony Hughes (for TePou, 78 mins).

SUTTONIANS:- D.Higgins; M.Covis, R.Murphy, T.Taipea, M.Lourensmeyer; P.Maguire, J. van der Westhuizen; C.Kavanagh, R.Delaney, J.Munro; B.Reilly, A.Kearney (captain); J.McDonagh, M.Coetzer and J.Tainiu. Replacements used:- N.Hehir (for Coetzer, 59 mins), M.O’Shea (for Covis, 66 mins) and E.Conroy (for Munro, 78 mins).

 

REFEREE:- Trevor Collins ( Munster).