Published: Wednesday, 14th April, 2010 5:00pm

Fourth win on the trot sees Buccs stay in division one

Buccaneers 18 Young Munster 8

BUCCANEERS' remarkable renaissance culminated in a fourth successive victory that secured their Division 1B status when they were full value for their 18-8 win over promoted Young Munster in a keenly contested AIB League joust at well-attended Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday.

This was another stirring display by the rejuvenated Buccs as they turned the tide in their battle to successfully stave off relegation and the hordes of Pirates' supporters celebrated as if they had won the league title once this result and those elsewhere confirmed that the midlanders would again be a Division One club next season.

That looked an unlikely prospect at the Christmas sojourn and even less so following three defeats in January, the latter one a bitter last kick drop goal defeat away to Galwegians. That loss anchored Buccaneers at the foot of the league table but since David Henshaw and Charlie Couper took over the reins, the players responded splendidly, ekeing out four crucial wins on the trot.

On a glorious sunny afternoon, playing and spectating conditions were near ideal at Dubarry Park apart from a swirling breeze that made life tricky for placekicks and line-outs. An enthusiastic crowd provided a worthy backdrop for this key fixture and, while most observers felt Young Munster had little chance of overtaking Old Belvedere (who were away to UCC) at the top of the league table, the visitors played with the pride and passion that one would expect from the 'Cookies'. Indeed, in the opening half, the exchanges were contested in feverish fashion on a firm sod with Buccs smartly out of the starting blocks in this Kilmartin's N6 sponsored game.

Both teams fielded more or less on anticipated lines with Young Munster's XV being close to their squad who prevailed over Buccs on the opening day of the season. The hosts had two changes in personnel from their last outing, Brian Touhy being available to partner Paul Harte in the centre, and John O'Brien came in for the injured J.H. Potgeiter at full-back. Skipper Colm Rigney was selected in a more familiar blindside flanker role, with Colin Watters decidedly unfortunate in being the player omitted.

Buccaneers' opening score took just five minutes to arrive but, prior to that, they already had threatened the visitors' try line on three occasions. Garrett Halligan thundered down the right flank in the opening minute but Martin Staunton lacked quick support when possession was transferred to the prop. One minute later, Buccs other prop Conor Higgins got into a promising position but his pass couldn't find a team-mate while Alan Kingsley had to scurry to deny Alex Hayman winning a chase for possession. However, Young Munster made little ground when clearing this particular danger and Rigney claimed good line-out possession on the left and Harte showed tremendous balance and desire to waltz in for a well-taken try. Adam Kennedy's conversion never curled in the difficult breeze, but Buccs had some reward for their early pressure.

Three minutes later, the Limerick side had a chance to open their account when Buccs were penalised for coming in from the side but Kingsley's ambitious placekick fell short. On ten minutes, Young Munster showed a glimpse of their attacking potential when, despite a dodgy looking line-out throw, they then moved the ball right to left but O'Brien made an excellent covering tackle. The prominent Hayman made another telling break down the right on 19 minutes but Buccs just could not add to their tally.

Young Munster threatened in a 25th minute move that had reflections of their earlier raid, but full-back O'Brien put in a superb tackle to dump Danny Grace into touch almost within touching distance of the home try-line. However, this only delayed Munsters' opening score for the home line-out went awry and the visitors promptly capitalised getting the ball crossfield smartly to Aaron Carroll for a try wide on the right. The usually so reliable Kingsley's conversion attempt was well off the target so the scores were tied 5-5.

Buccs upped the ante after this and piled forward in search of a score before half-time. They applied steady pressure and caused the visitors' some anxious moments especially when Mike Prendergast's attempted clearance was blocked down. But they spurned a gilt-edged try opportunity when Rigney cut back in on 35 minutes instead of linking with the overlapping Stephen Burke. But this spell yielded a penalty which Kennedy steered over for a 8-5 lead. Just before the break, the impetuous Stapleton retaliated after an apparent stamp by James O'Neill but Young Munster made poor use of the penalty and Buccs had their noses in front at half-time although their lead should have been greater as they had enjoyed the lion's share of possession and territory, and they had also had the greater benefit of the breeze during a helter skelter opening half.

Seven minutes into the second half, Young Munster drew level again when Kingsley finished off some decent play with a sweet drop goal. The exchanges remained relentless with Rigney flagged by a touch-judge and then Shane Hassett also fortunate to escape harsher censure just before the hour mark in a sometimes torrid contest - although the Fire Services attending a hedge fire nearby were not required to cool down the on-field action! The home pack generally held the upper hand and, following a 61st minute line-out, Buccs mauled impressively towards the visitors' try-line where Kennedy was stopped within touching distance.

However, the homesters kept the Cookies penned back and Padraig Burke put in a terrific block on Kingsley to set up a chance for Kolo Kiripati, who was stopped at the uprights where Young Munster infringed, and Kennedy duly slotted over the resultant 64th minute penalty to edge Buccaneers ahead for the third time (11-8) in a fascinating duel.

Young Munster steadily unloaded their bench during the second half while Buccs introduced Watters for Stephen Burke who had been carrying an injury. The wily army man then got away with a cunning block on 71 minutes while Hayman kicked direct into touch as Buccs suffered a few anxious minutes before they regained their composure to score a cracking try after 77 minutes. Kennedy got quick ball to Conor Lavelle near halfway and the wing scooted off down the stand side where he cleverly committed the Cookies defence before a deft offload to the supporting Touhy, who showed his experience and composure en route to touching down behind the posts for a superbly-executed try, which Kennedy comfortably converted to ease frayed nerves.

Buccs now did what they had been unable to do earlier in the season, wind down the clock and close out the game as they comfortably retained possession and controlled matters. The game threatened to boil over in added time and, after some handbags were exchanged, referee David Wilkinson prudently blew the full-time whistle before matters got a chance to erupt.

Buccaneers were worthy 18-8 victors and had done their part of the equation before the short but tense wait pending results from Ballynahinch and Dungannon. These worked out just right and indeed Buccs finished in fifth place while Hinch, as expected, and Ballymena, surprisingly due to their recent freefall, were relegated. With that the celebrations were promptly into full swing at The Bounty.

Padraig Burke, who has really blossomed this season, put in another splendid shift and the young lock was a worthy winner of the 'Athlone Springs Hotel Man of the Match' award. Overall, the pack worked their collective socks off and dominated the much-vaunted visitors' unit whose tardiness at line-out time was treated with great patience by the referee. Rigney has his best showing of the season as did Tormey. Hayman was a constant thorn in Young Munster's side, O'Brien was a rock at full-back, and Touhy orchestrated his young backline to splendid effect. All in all, it was a cohesive and sustained performance by the homesters that gained its due double reward as Buccs made their own 'Great Escape'.

SCORERS - Buccaneers: Paul Harte try, Brian Touhy try, Adam Kennedy 2 pens & con.

Young Munster: Aaron Carroll try, Alan Kingsley drop goal.

BUCCANEERS: J.O'Brien; C.Lavelle, P.Harte, B.Touhy, S.Stapleton; A.Hayman, A.Kennedy; M.Staunton, G.Halligan, C.Higgins; P.Burke, J.Tormey; C.Rigney (captain), S.Burke and K.Kiripati. Replacements: C.Watters (for S.Burke, inj. 51 mins). Blood sub: B.Henshaw (for Stapleton, 23/29 mins).

YOUNG MUNSTER: R.Moloney; A.Carroll, D.Corcoran, C.Casey, D.Grace; A.Kingsley, M.Prendergast; G.Faherty, G.Slattery (captain), D.Murphy; S.O'Neill, K.Hanley; S.Hassett, J.O'Neill and N.Melbourne. Replacements: L."g Murphy (for Melbourne, inj. 49 mins), J.Griffin (for Hanley, 54), H.McGrath (for Murphy, 54), C.Clohessy (for Grace, inj. 67) and Murphy (for Flaherty, 73). Blood sub: H.McGrath (for Murphy, 28/34 mins).

Referee: David Wilkinson (Ulster).