Published: Friday, 18th December, 2009 10:45am

Score shy Buccs lose out to more clinical students

UCC 25 Buccaneers 6

Despite a quite promising opening half-hour, Buccaneers slumped to a disappointing 25-6 AIB League Division 1B defeat away to University College, Cork, at the Mardyke on Saturday.

Conditions were fine with the pitch in surprisingly firm and good nick following its recent flooding, and a diagonal breeze was all that made life somewhat difficult for the players. Buccs welcomed back John O'Brien and Paul Harte after recent injuries with Brian Touhy also returning in the backline where Brian O'Carroll started at out-half with Alex Hayman reverting to centre. With an unchanged pack for the fourth successive match, it looked a much better Buccs outfit on paper as they squared up to a young College side that was hugely changed from last season.

The midlanders had first advantage of the elements and large chunks of the opening half hour were played in the home half but Buccs squandered three penalties in that period. The first two, admittedly, were long-range efforts but the third was eminently kickable. Buccs should really have opened their account with their lively play in this period when UCC almost conceded a 7th minute try after Conor Lavelle blocked down but the Students defence retrieved that early danger.

While Buccaneers did not score early, more positively they did not concede the early scores that have blighted their displays to date. However, UCC got on the scoreboard in their first telling attack on 26 minutes, Andrew Burke landing a penalty after Buccs came in from the side. Five minutes later, the midlanders indulged in some kamikaze play when Hayman (normally so reliable) made a dreadful pass straight to Brian Dennehy and then compounded his woeful error by slipping, allowing his opposite number to race 70 metres unchallenged for a breakaway try totally against the run of play. Ex-Garryowen player Burke slotted over the conversion and Buccs were again chasing a game. Adam Kennedy finally found his range when UCC were pinged for another ruck infringement on 33 minutes while Buccs had a let-off two minutes later after Stephen Burke's late tackle on Ivan Dineen. The visitors were doubly fortunate that the referee did not flash a yellow card and that UCC's Burke missed the resultant penalty. While it was disappointing to be trailing 10-3 at half-time having had so much possession and territory, this match was still very much a winnable one for Buccs who replaced Colm Glynn for O'Carroll at the break.

Four minutes into the second half, College were again guilty when bringing down a Buccs drive and Kennedy reduced the arrears with his penalty kick. But the Students got another slice of luck five minutes later when the referee penalised Buccs for handling at a scrum although a home flanker clearly dropped the ball forward. Ireland U-20 Burke did not worry about that as he counter-balanced the scoreline with a successful penalty. The decisive score arrived before the hour mark, Sean Scanlon claiming a long Buccs restart and the full-back targeted the opponents' props with a powerful run that really should not have carried him all the way through from deep for a try wide on the left to stretch UCC's lead to 18-6 after 57 minutes.

Seven minutes later, referee Barry O'Keeffe belatedly had enough of the home side's persistent infringing and he despatched Dennehy to the sin-bin. Buccs made good ground from the resultant placekick but Benny Gilligan, just on the paddock a mere two minutes, promptly saw yellow when deemed guilty of shoeing. Thus Buccs' numerical advantage was all too readily thrown away. Five minutes later, UCC almost notched a try set up after an unpunished late tackle on Glynn and the hapless referee was a key figure again in the 79th minute when he reversed a penalty decision to Buccs who were protesting, quite correctly, that a UCC player had clearly kicked the ball away well after the penalty was awarded. But College rode their luck to get good territory in the left and Ivan Dineen forced his way over for his side's third try which Scanlon converted.

This was a vital win for the Students which elevates them to third place in the league table. They survived a very ropey opening but they were always industrious and made the most of the breaks that came their way. They were much sharper at rucking, albeit almost consistently getting away with not staying on their feet. John Ryan, Philip Donnellan, Scanlon and Burke all played key roles in this crucial win that leaves Buccs rooted at the bottom. The midlanders once again conceded soft scores despite their wholehearted endeavours. They lack leadership and a clinical edge, tending to unnecessarily hurry matters too often. Santa really needs to produce a regular try-scorer although pacey duo Harte and O'Brien may be the answer here when they get back to full fitness after their lengthy injury lay-offs. A more prolific return from placekicks is also essential. Padraig Burke and O'Brien were Buccs' two most prominent contributors while Glynn's return to the fold could have an important bearing if Buccs are to climb out of the relegation zone.

SCORERS - UCC: B. Dennehy try, I. Dineen try, S. Scanlon try & con; A. Burke 2 pens & con.

Buccaneers: A. Kennedy 2 pens.

BUCCANEERS: J.O'Brien; C.Lavelle, B.Touhy, A.Hayman, P.Harte; B.O'Carroll, A.Kennedy; M.Staunton, G.Halligan, C.Higgins; P.Burke, J.Tormey; S.Burke, C.Watters and C. Rigney (captain). Replacements used: C. Glynn (for O'Carroll, h/t), B. Gilligan (for Staunton, 63 mins), G. Kelly (for S. Burke, 63) and S. Stapleton (for Watters, 73).

UCC: S.Scanlon; B.Derham, B.Dennehy, I.Dineen (captain), K.Buckley; A.Burke, B.Slater; G.Duffy, W.Falvey, John Ryan; M. Lenihan, P. Donnellan; D. O'Callaghan, S. O'Sullivan and James Ryan. Replacements used: A. Cudmore (for Duffy, 68 mins), B.Cagney (for Falvey, 68), N. Barry (for O'Sullivan, 71) and R. O'Sullivan (for Burke, 77).

REFEREE: Barry O'Keeffe (Leinster).

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