Buccs make long trip north to face Ballymena

BUCCANEERS head north to Eaton Park on Saturday where they tackle second placed Ballymena in the third series of AIB League Division 1B fixtures, kick off 2.30pm. This scribe has long advocated that club fixtures should not be scheduled for Bank Holiday weekends as supporters, particularly from the visiting teams, generally tend to give these matches a miss. Having a long trip on such weekends certainly won't increase the number of Pirates travelling in support. The Ulster side have a good mix of youth and experience in their squad, coached by John Andrews. They have won both opening round games to date, coming from behind very late in both to snatch the spoils so Buccs can expect sustained commitment from the Braidmen. The northerners tight five have impressed to date, out-muscling Ballynahinch at home and then mauling two late tries away to UCC, while No. 8 Sam McKinney is their most influential forward. Rory Drysdale has been in immaculate place-kicking form, so discipline must be a priority for Buccaneers, while centre Tom Seymour and full-back Jamie Smith are both strong with ball in hand. Buccs will be hopeful that Colm Rigney, Billy Henshaw and J.H. Potgeiter will have shaken off the injuries that ruled them out of the Cup clash at Shannon. Anthony Hughes and Gavin Kelly should have recovered from their bouts of flu and, hopefully, no further players will be affected similarly. If Conor Higgins and John O'Brien are both available to start, Buccs should have a better balance and, consequently, be more competitive at a ground where they have a reasonable record. But they cannot concede early tries - Buccs have coughed up two in the opening quarter in three of their most recent four matches - gifting opponents such starts makes the mountains too high to climb. It will take a mighty effort from the midlanders but one feels that if they got an overdue break or two, then they can get their campaign back on track. The U-21s have a free weekend as have the Reserves, who most disappointingly and, worryingly, were unable to field away to Tuam last Sunday. Similarly the Thirds could not muster sufficient numbers for their scheduled game also in Tuam, but they get a quick opportunity to regroup when they host NUIG in the Connacht J2 League at Dubarry Park on Sunday, at 3pm.