Buccs blow chance to go top as UCC bogey strikes again

BUCCANEERS' dreadful record at The Mardyke, Cork, continued on Saturday when UCC recorded their first Ulster Bank League victory of the season, being worthy 22-18 Division 1B winners over a rudderless Pirates outfit. Both teams made enforced changes for this fixture played in near perfect conditions on a dull but mild afternoon in front of a sparse attendance. Michael Kearney and Denis Buckley were both in Italy with Connacht with James Tormey and Benny Gilligan coming into the Buccs pack, while Jack Carty and Brian Touhy were out due to injury with Adam Kennedy switching to out-half, Callum Boland returning on the left wing and Alex Hayman coming in in the centre. UCC were missing centre James Kiernan (due to the death of his grandfather of the same name and former Munster stalwart, for whom one minute's silence was observed prior to kick off) and lock Michael Linehan. Pat Parfrey replaced his cousin Kiernan in the centre with James Mulcahy starting in the second row. However, UCC's most important change was the reinstatement of Brian Kingston at out-half where he proved the dictating force throughout as well as enjoying a flawless six out of six placekicks for College. Buccaneers made the brighter start but spoiled an early try chance with a forward pass after nine minutes. UCC struggled to cope in the initial exchanges and Kennedy opened the scoring with a 14th minute penalty for the midlanders. But the visitors were already being hasty in their play and conceding soft penalties. Kingston landed two penalties in quick succession to put UCC 6-3 ahead before the end of the opening quarter. The Students were now settled into the contest and Billy Newman was twice stopped close to the Buccs line as College went on the offensive. Buccs too had opportunities but held on to possession for too long on 31 minutes when the UCC defence was stretched. Two minutes later, Garrett O'Suilleabhain was yellow-carded for not retreating as Mark Dolan quickly tapped a Buccs pen. Three minutes later, College looked in dire straits when Mulcahy tempted the referee's patience once too often and thus joined his winger in the sin bin. Kennedy kicked the ensuing penalty acrossfield where Shane Layden did well to field and off-load the ball to Paul Harte, and the centre darted in for a 36th minute try on the right. From my vantage point directly behind the goal, Kennedy's conversion looked good to me and indeed to other spectators there but, surprisingly, it was flagged wide! Nevertheless, Buccs led 8-6 at halftime and looked in a very rosy position to build their momentum on the restart. However, it was 13-man UCC who took the initiative, keeping the ball tight and going through the phases to embarrass the midlanders by forcing a penalty through impressive driving on the left. Kingston nosed the Students back in front with this placekick on 45 minutes for a lead that they would not relinquish, even though they suffered their third yellow card when Cyprian Jouve had an enforced ten minute rest from the 50th minute. Buccs were now ringing the changes and began to pile forward but twice in promising positions they spoiled real chances when knocking on close to the UCC line and then being whistled, unluckily, for crossing as College rode their luck. The imperious Kingston edged them further ahead with a penalty on the hour mark but, within a minute, Kennedy had narrowed the arrears to the minimum with his second penalty. Harte almost stole through when he collected a loose pass on 70 minutes but the spirited Students survived this scare too and then drove Buccs back, helped by one awful missed tackle, as Paddy Ryan powered over for a 71st minute try which Kingston duly converted from the left to leave UCC 18-11 ahead. Now sensing a first win of the season, the Students dug even deeper and their tackling and work-rate were relentless. Daniel Qualter got in a fine block on 73 minutes but symptomatic of Buccs efforts he could not control the ball and UCC escaped again. However, Buccs set up a grandstand finish when Layden surged through from halfway for a magnificently taken try at the posts which Kennedy converted to leave the minimum again between the sides. This gave the Athlone side hopes of yet salvaging a win that, due to leaders Ballymena losing the previous night, would have put Buccaneers top of the league but Kingston sealed a much-needed home victory with another impeccable penalty just before the final whistle. This score was vital as, otherwise, the visitors may have felt hard done by when their conversion was not awarded but, in truth, UCC were worthy victors on this occasion. On their own patch now boasting a highly impressive new clubhouse, College have constantly proved a bogey team to Buccaneers. They were much the hungrier outfit once they settled into the contest and had a clear man of the match in standoff Kingston, who caused huge discomfort to the Pirates every time he got possession. Prop Ryan would have relished his crucial try and he looks a player of decided potential when fitter. Brian O'Callaghan led his young side excellently at No. 8 while young Kerryman of the French name Jouve put in a Trojan effort in the centre. Buccs were at sixes and sevens from an early stage. They looked decidedly rusty after the long festive break, with neither tackling or passing being sharp enough. Most disappointing was a lack of leadership and composure while decision making was very mixed in a performance that Sir Alex Ferguson would surely bellow as a "disaster". Scorers UCC: Paddy Ryan try, Brian Kingston con + 5 pens. Buccaneers: Paul Harte try, Shane Layden try, Adam Kennedy con + 2 pens. Buccaneers J. O'Brien; S. Layden, P. Harte, A. Hayman, C. Boland; A. Kennedy, M. Dolan; M. Staunton, G. Halligan, B. Gilligan; J. Tormey, D. Qualter; D. Heffernan, E. Grace, K.Kiripati (captain). Replacements: D. Higgins (for Gilligan, 36 mins), B. Stewart (for Tormey, h/t), J. Tormey (for Stewart, 53), C. Finn (for Boland, 53), S. Stapleton (for Halligan, 60), C. Lavelle (for Hayman, 70). UCC L. Duffy; G. O'Suilleabhain, C. Jouve, P. Parfrey, B. Newman; B. Kingston, B. Slater; R. O'Neill, W. Falvey, P. Ryan; B. Quill, J. Mulcahy; W. Ryan, J. MacCarthy, B. O'Callaghan (captain). Replacements: J. Holland (for Parfrey, 32 mins), S. Moynihan (for Ryan, h/t), P. Ryan (for Moynihan, 65). Referee John Lacey (IRFU).