Pirates swoop to victory with late Hayman try

BUCCANEERS grabbed a tight victory over University College, Dublin, when Alex Hayman burst through for a late, late try which Jack Carty converted to secure an exciting 16-15 Ulster Bank League victory at the Belfield Bowl on Satuday. This win, by the minimum margin, moves Buccs up a notch to second place in Division 1B just a single point adrift of leaders Belfast Harlequins. The Pirates were a shade fortunate to pilfer the booty for the Students had led from the fourth minute and it took the midlanders a long time to reel them in. But they stuck manfully to the task on hand and pilfered a late reward. Drizzly conditions and a fresh downfield breeze added to the challenge for both sides on a top-class surface in front of a sparse attendance. Buccs made four changes from last week's setback at home to Ballymena. With Garreth Halligan (man of the match last time out) nursing a hip injury, Sean Stapleton got his first start at hooker. Denis Buckley was required by Connacht so Diarmuid Higgins started at tighthead and David Heffernan returned to the backrow after suspension while Conor Finn got the nod this time ahead of Conor Lavelle on the left wing. Like Buccs, UCD were also missing their quota of Ireland U20s but College welcomed Mullingar's Mark Flanagan (who had impressed recently for Leinster in the RaboDirect) back at lock. They also had a handful of recent Ireland U20s in their line-up including Andrew Boyle, Alex Kelly, James Tracey and Peter du Toit. Assisted by the elements, UCD got off to a flying start with an impressive 25-metre maul being finished off in the left corner by David Lynch after just 4 minutes. They got a further boost when Niall Earls conversion was awarded rather hesitantly by the touch judges for a 7-0 advantage. It took Buccs some time to get to the tempo but Higgins stole a home lineout and Kolo Kiripati drove forward but his support went over the top in a good position. Soon afterwards Mark McCrea and Heffernan made good ground before a knock-on spoiled this raid. Heffernan then was replaced by Padraig de Burca due to an injury after only 17 minutes before McCrea, who had a fine first half, made an opening for Carty to try a drop goal but the outhalf spilled the ball as he prepared to kick. Buccs were to rue these missed opportunities when UCD punished a wayward clearance and the Students counter-attacked swiftly from midfield to swoop for a try dotted down by Keelan McKenna after 21 minutes but Earls missed the conversion. Shortly afterwards Stapleton did well to tidy up after Buccs lost possession going forward and a College kick ahead found a hole in the defence. But the Athlone outfit finished the half stronger benefiting from a quick throw-in that was punted upfield where Earls knocked on. From the ensuing scrum, possession was moved to Paul Harte who made inroads into the home territory where Kiripati charged forward before he was stopped almost within touching distance of the UCD line but the Buccs captain, with support a bit slow to arrive, could not resist the temptation to pick up the ball before he was back on his feet and thus the Students got a relieving penalty to end the half 12-0 ahead. Buccs were quickly on the offensive after the restart but Carty was wide with a 44th minute penalty. However, the young out-half responded with a tidy drop goal within a minute to open the visitors' account and Halligan entered the fray shortly afterwards as Stapleton sustained a knock. Another wayward clearance by Buccs almost cost them dearly on 51 minutes as UCD ran back at pace but staunch tackling denied the Students virtually at a goalpost. Carty reduced the deficit further with a lengthy 57th minute penalty as the Athlonians made good use of the elements. Buccaneers were now forcing the pace and pressure and the hits and tackles took their toll on the Students. Carty then saw a long 65th minute penalty go off target but three minutes later he had a lovely strike from a central position to narrow the arrears to 12-9. College rallied to put in their best spell of the second half and they were rewarded with a 75th minute Earls penalty that looked as if it may have secured the spoils for them. But Buccs were not to be denied and they put some decent, patient phases together that inexorably sucked in the home cover before Alex Hayman, who had replaced the injured Harte just eleven minutes earlier, stormed through for the vital 77th minute try near the posts. Carty coolly added the decisive conversion and, just before the end, he was unlucky to see a fine drop goal attempt go narrowly wide. This was a crucial victory for the midlanders as they strive to maintain their promotion aspirations. They responded well to the concession of an early try and kept on plugging away in the first half when they rarely got a favourable bounce. They were composed in the second half when the scores did not come quickly. Most impressive of all was the manner they responded when UCD seemed to score their vital late penalty. Kiripati led by example throughout, Higgins had another solid outing in the front row, Michael Kearney dominated the lineouts and Stapleton had a decent innings in the forwards exchanges. In the backline, Carty refused to get flustered, Harte was busy in the centre, McCrea had his best outing to date for Buccs and that super servant Hayman took his try chance very well in a victory that edges Buccs up a notch on the league ladder. Buccaneers play UL Bohemian in the next round of the league at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm. Buccaneers- C. Boland; M. McCrea, P. Harte, A. Kennedy, C. Finn; J. Carty, M. Dolan; M. Staunton, S. Stapleton, D. Higgins; M. Kearney, J. Tormey; D. Heffernan, E. Grace and K. Kiripati (captain). Replacements:- P. de Burca (for Heffernan, inj. 17 mins), G. Halligan (for Staunton, inj. 48 mins), A. Hayman (for Harte, 66 mins), S. Reilly (for Higgins, 78 mins) and C. Lavelle (for Finn, 78 mins). U.C.D:- M. Twomey; A. Boyle, A. Kelly, D. Lynch, T. Fletcher; N. Earls, R. Shanley; J. Tracey, R. Byrne, B. Hall; K. McKenna, M. Flanagan; D. Kenny, D. Doyle and S. Grannell (captain). Replacements:- P. du Toit (for Shanley, 32 mins), K. Moloney (for Hall, h/t) and R. Bent (for McKenna, 62 mins). Referee:- O. Hodges (IRFU).