BELFAST HARLEQUINS 7 BUCCANEERS 20
Putting in a much more committed and organised effort, Buccaneers got back to winning ways when they defeated Belfast Harlequins 20-7 in their Ulster Bank League Division 1B game played in incessant rain at Deramore Park, Belfast, on Saturday. The miserably wet and cold conditions did not hinder Buccs who started at a high tempo to lead 17-0 at half-time and they maintained their workrate and appetite for a fully deserved victory on a pitch that stood up commendably well.
The Pirates raided from the off and it was hard to fathom the decision not to award Alan Gaughan a try on five minutes when his touchdown beside a goal-post pad was not allowed by referee John Carvill. But Gaughan got the scoreboard ticking over with an eighth minute penalty. Alex Hayman also came close and a Buccaneers try looked likely from these early exchanges and it duly arrived after only 13 minutes. Callum Boland got another Pirates attack going down the left and, following some fine support play and handling, Jacob Walshe crashed over on the right to score.
Gaughan had a rare miss with the conversion but landed a hat-trick of penalties on 18, 21 and 29 minutes as pressure forced the hosts to repeatedly offend while the Athlone side’s defence was rarely threatened in this half.
Buccs had much more work to do in that regard following the change of ends but were not found wanting while Quins spurned a ‘gimme’ penalty just two minutes into the second half with a fruitless penalty to touch. Kolo Kiripati incurred a bizarre yellow card shortly before the hour mark! The big No.8 was kicked on the ground, right in front of a touch-judge, but was sin-binned for attempted retaliation while the instigator was not even cautioned. Nevertheless, the visitors just got on with the work in hand and were unlucky not to stretch their lead when Gaughan’s 70th minute drop goal attempt rebounded off an upright.
Two minutes later, Quins did breach Buccs cover when Mark Best side-stepped neatly for a try which he also converted. But Buccaneers had the final say when teenager Ross Keller drilled over a 75th minute penalty and the substitute was narrowly off-target with a second placekick in the final minute as Buccs deservedly took the spoils to regain their momentum.
BELFAST HARLEQUINS:- J.Bulumakau; R.Kirkwood, D.McMaster, O.Loughead, P.Dunlop; M.Best, J.Fullerton; M.McGrath, M.Logan, T.Fraser; J.Davidson, C.Montgomery; F.Taggart, B.Mullan and D.Annett (captain). Replacements:- J.Andress (for Montgomery, 35 mins), K.McComb (for McMaster, 48 mins), A.Marica (for Fraser, 50 mins), S.Weir (for Logan, 68 mins) and E.Hamilton.
BUCCANEERS:- S.Layden; B.Henshaw, C.Boland, A.Hayman (captain), E.O’Reilly; A.Gaughan, M.Dolan; J.Walshe, G.Halligan, S.Meunargia; D.Qualter, C.Romaine; S.McVeigh, R.Moloney and K.Kiripati. Replacements:- L.Satchwell (for Moloney, 33 mins), S.Delahunt (for Halligan, 50 mins), C.FitzGibbon (for Boland, inj. 63 mins), M.Staunton (for Walshe, 70 mins), R.Moloney (for Kiripati, 70 mins) and R.Keller (for Gaughan, 74 mins).
REFEREE:- John Carvill (IRFU).
Buccaneers play Dublin University in the Ulster Bank League on Saturday next at Dubarry Park, Athlone, kick off 2.30 p.m.