"Harte-wrenching" drama

BUCCANEERS" followers will this week be breathing a major sigh of relief, after their club dramatically ensured AIB Division 1 status for another season. The Athlone club left it very late to secure top-flight status for another term, but an eventual 22-16 success saw them finish the campaign, in which they only managed four wins from 15 games, in 12th position; just three points above the drop-zone. Buccs, who finished top of the Division Two table this time last year, came into the final round needing a win to make them safe at the lower end of the top-flight standings. Fellow strugglers UCD and Young Munster were facing off at Belfield and with Munsters claiming four league points with a 17-14 win, and UCD gaining a losing bonus point, Buccs" pre-match tally of 22 points would not have been enough to keep them up. In the end though, a superb injury-time try from winger Paul Harte did the business for the Midlanders. Buccs" threw caution to the wind late on as they ran the ball out of their 22, facing a 16-15 deficit. Good support play and some excellent angles of running saw them gain serious ground before speedster Harte was released for the try-line. Alan Gaughan"s successful conversion was the icing on the cake and top flight rugby ensured for next season. Speaking after the match, joint-manager Tony Dolan - who is joined in the dug-out by Jude Lennon - said he was nervous this time last week about Buccaneers" survivial hopes. However, he said they deserved to have another crack at the top flight next season and promised their young players will be better prepared for Division 1 rugby next campaign. 'We were the better team on the day and deserved the points. I feel we"ve just about done enough to warrant another go at Division 1 next season. Our aim was to get promoted last season and we achieved that. Our aim this season was to consolidate in Division 1 and it"s been achieved, too. Admittedly, there were times when we looked off the pace and in a bit of bother, but the lads have done enough and the experience will count to them. We initially targeted a mid-table finish but a 12th placed finish is not too bad in our first season as a group at this level,' Dolan said. In the end, bottom-placed Terenure College and UCD were relegated. Although informal talks have not taken place yet between the management and club officials concerning next season, it"s believed Dolan and Lennon are very much focused on having another term in charge, and this subject should become much clearer in the next week or so.