Staunton try sees battling Buccs grab fourth league victory in a row

BUCCANEERS made it four successive victories when they forged a hard-earned but merited 12-8 Ulster Bank League Division 1B victory over UL Bohemian at Annacotty, Limerick, on Saturday. They displayed wonderful mettle when, despite the absence through injury of key duo Jack Carty and Michael Kearney, they twice came from behind to prevail in a keenly-contested tussle. Underfoot conditions were better than expected and rain held off for the duration of the match, leaving a downfield breeze as the only weather difficulty for the players to contend with. UL Bohs, strengthened by the return of flanker Tommy O'Donnell, had first assistance of the elements and they were quickly on the scoreboard when JJ Hanrahan landed a fifth minute penalty after Buccs were pinged at scrum-time. The homesters kicked away some good possession thereafter and gradually the Pirates settled into the contest. Their first attack of real menace on 16 minutes was stopped by a high tackle on John O'Brien and, when Cathal Sheridan prevented the visitors taking the resultant penalty quickly, the UL Bohs scrum-half was duly yellow carded. Buccs soon made their numerical superiority pay when, after Kolo Kiripati had made good ground, Mark Dolan cleverly switched the axis of attack and full-back O'Brien came steaming through for a 19th minute touchdown which Adam Kennedy could not convert from the right touchline. However, UL Bohs promptly regained the lead with a controversial try just four minutes later. Home replacement Ben Martin clearly carried the ball out from a long Buccs clearance as he slid into touch just outside his own 22 on the right but a team-mate outfoxed the officials with a quick throw-in and, with the midlanders' waiting for the error to be whistled back, suddenly the homesters were romping down the opposite flank for an opportunist Darren Moroney try which Hanrahan didn't convert. Fortunately this score did not affect the result but it did yield a bonus point to UL Bohs that could be vital later in the season. Denis Buckley was penalised for not releasing just before the half-hour mark but justice was done when Ireland U-20 Hanrahan's placekick was off-target for the original offence appeared to be a knock-on by UL Bohs. Buccs too had opportunities but Kennedy's 34th minute penalty shaved the wrong side of the near upright, before the Limerick side finished the half on the offensive, a rousing maul setting up good position for the hosts who led 8-5 at the interval. On the restart, Buccs knuckled down to the task on hand and, despite a slackening breeze, they regained the lead that they would not relinquish on 52 minutes. The ever alert Dolan chased his own deft kick ahead to good effect to force a close-in lineout for Buccs from which substitute prop Martin Staunton crashed over for the decisive try after some good phases by the Pirates. Out-half Kennedy slotted over the conversion and, surprisingly, the remainder of the game proved scoreless although twice Buccs could have added to their tally. Firstly Buckley somehow made up yards to put in a shuddering tackle that won possession but Mark McCrea, who was an ineffectual early substitute, took the wrong option in the follow up and then Shane Layden was tackled late after kicking over the final defender in the dying moments but UL Bohs amazingly escaped any form of censure in this incident! Nevertheless, this was a very solid collective performance by Buccaneers, albeit with errors here and there, that sets them up nicely for next Saturday's top of the table clash with leaders Ballynahinch at Dubarry Park, Athlone, kick-off 2.30pm. This was an all-round effort of endeavour, sheer doggedness and unyielding spirit akin to 'The Three Musketeers' motto of "One for all and all for one" with diminutive scrum-half Dolan putting in a towering performance (even if that sounds like a contradiction!). SCORERS: Buccaneers: J. O'Brien try, M. Staunton try, A. Kennedy con. UL Bohemian: D. Moroney try, J.J. Hanrahan pen. BUCCANEERS: J. O'Brien; S. Layden, P. Harte, A. Hayman, C. Boland; A. Kennedy, M. Dolan; D. Buckley, G. Halligan, J. Robinson; J. Tormey, D. Qualter; D. Heffernan, E. Grace, K. Kiripati (captain). Replacements used: M. McCrea (for Hayman), P. de Burca (for Tormey), M. Staunton (for Robinson, inj.), A. Hayman (for McCrea). UL BOHEMIAN: E. Torrie; D. Moroney, M. McPhail, N. Kenneally, C. Neirne; J.J. Hanrahan, C. Sheridan; D. Kilcoyne, S. Henry, K. Flanagan; D. Foley, E. Kelly (captain); E. Rossitor, T. O'Donnell, S.Rennison. Replacements used: B. Martin (for Moroney), D. Moroney (for McPhail, inj.), D. Cantillon (for Flanagan), B. Walsh (for Rennison), C. Kindregan (for Rossitor). REFEREE: Eanna O'Dowd (IRFU).