Buccs to sign off for christmas with home win
BUCCANEERS commence the second half of the Ulster Bank League fixtures with a home Division 1B game against Malone at Dubarry Park, Athlone, tonight (Saturday). This Sheraton Hotel sponsored festive floodlit match kicks off at 7.30pm.
Buccs were disjointed and below par when losing 29-11at Gibson Park when the sides met in the opening AIL fixture of the season. This has been the Pirates’ only away defeat.
Malone surrendered a 10-0 lead to Ballynahinch in the Ulster Cup final last week, going down 17-10. Meanwhile, Buccs should have their tails up following a long overdue Connacht Cup triumph when beating Galwegians last Sunday.
Malone have decent backs in full-back Andy Bryans, fly-half Josh Pentland, wing Michael Barker and scrum-half Jack McMurtry. The fiercely competitive Connor Joyce is their key forward and he can count on support from John Burns, Cory Tipping and Darryl Maxwell.
But without any of their 'contracted’ front-liners, the midlanders put in a commendable shift when capturing the Connacht Cup crown. The squad could be bolstered by returns of Diarmuid Higgins, Garreth Halligan, Conor FitzGibbons and Ross Keller, increasing the options of coaching duo Tony Dolan and Paul Flanagan.
A decent crowd is anticipated, particularly as floodlit matches seem to be more appealing. With the onus on Buccs to rebuild momentum at home, a competitive joust should unfold.
If the Pirates hit the form they are well capable of, then they can enter the brief Christmas break in positive shape.