Buccs U20s prove too strong

BUCCANEERS U-20s consolidated second place in the South-West Conference League with a 42-11 victory over a willing Young Munster side at bitterly cold Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday. Buccs eventually emerged comfortable winners but the Limerick side belied their lowly position to make life difficult for the midlanders until the third quarter of a well-contested duel. But Buccs all-round ability gradually forced the gaps as they recorded another Bonus point victory with a haul of six tries despite John O"Brien, John Connellan, Billy Henshaw, Paul Robinson and Trevor Thompson being among their absentees. Young Munster had the assistance of the elements in the first half which was very competitive and finely balanced. Buccs scored just one try in that opening period, Joe Kenny applying the finishing touch for a pushover try which Adam Kennedy converted. The out-half also landed two penalties while Munsters replied with two penalties and an unconverted try to leave the home side narrowly ahead 13-11 at the break. Buccs struggled to find their usual rhythm against gutsy opposition but, following stern half-time advice, they began to avoid the disruption through spreading the ball wide much more quickly. They were boosted by Kenny"s second try soon after the restart when, following a lineout, he stormed through for a well-executed score. Backs and forwards soon linked up smartly to send Kennedy scampering away from halfway for their third try. Following a ruck, Conor Murtagh notched the fourth before Conor Molloy grabbed his first competitive try when he hacked on following an error by the visitors. Yet another Conor got in on the try-scoring act when prop Higgins showed commendable pace to capitalise on ball that was spun wide. Kennedy converted two of the second-half tries and showed no ill-effects from his "Westmeath Independent Sports Stars Awards" banquet the preceding night as he put in an influential contribution at out-half. Higgins was superb throughout with Kenny, until injured, highly prominent in the pack where David Egan"s lineout throwing was radar-like. David Fagan, Terry Hynes and Molloy did well in the backline. BUCCANEERS: D. Fagan; T. Hynes, C. Draper, R. Walsh, C. Molloy; A. Kennedy, C. Murtagh; N. Harney (capt.), D. Egan, C. Higgins; K. Headd, R. Byrne; S. O"Neill, K. Creavin J. Kenny. Replacements used: C. Greene (for Fagan); L. Walsh (for Kenny), D. Burns (for Harney), J.J. Carey (for Creaven) and E. Dooley (for Murtagh).