Buccaneers 18-23 St. Mary's
05/05/01:Simon Allnut believes his Buccaneers team need just one more point to secure Division One rugby next year, despite losing at home in a non-stop clash against Brent Pope’s St. Mary’s side at Moher Road this afternoon.
Pope described Mary’s first half as "fortuitous" after he saw his team run in two tries in as many minutes to secure a 17 point advantage at the break.
It mayhave been somewhat of an understatement from the big man, who watched his side fight hard in defence to keep a tireless Buccaneers at bay.
Allnut opened the scoring after 20 minutes with a penalty only for it to be cancelled out three minutes later by theboot of McHugh.
The rest of the half belonged to Buccaneers except of course that crucial two minute spell in which Peter McKenna and John McWeeney ran in counter attacking tries.
McKenna latched onto a wayward pass from Eddie Hekenui after a cute loop move by the out-half to steam over the line and under the posts to open the tie’s try scoring.
Undeterred, Buccaneerswent right back at Mary’s before gifting the ball to Smith who in turn fed McWeeney on the burst.The international winger wasn’t to be stopped and Mary’s were in the comfort zone.
Or at least they thought they were.Pope believed they had "broken the back" of the homeside with that late show but his optimism proved to be premature.
Buccaneers came out as they did in the first half but this time converted their chances.Under-20 call-up, Justin Maher, neatly dummied Ireland’s Denis Hickey and the rest of the Mary’s defence to creep over in the corner despite five of his team-mates being involved in a fraca on the 22.The deficit now reduced to 12 points.
Adding to Mary’s woes was the sin-binning of prop Peter Coyle after an off the ball incident, for which he lookedharshly judged.
As is so often the case the fourteen men tightened up and claimed three points back with a McHugh penalty.
However, with their minds possibly on a late surrendered lead at Garryowen earlier in the week, Mary’s decided to give their fans the nail-biting finish they have become accustomed to.When Ireland ‘A’ prop Jimmy Screene came barrelling toward the line, the away defence had no answer and the gap was reduced to five points after Allnut converted.
It was too little too late for Buccaneers though, as they were beaten by the clock and possibly their own inability to take their chances.
Some credit must go to Mary’s defence, especially in the first half, for a well disciplined performance that set up the platform for what was to be an unassailable lead.
Buccaneers (3) 18:Tries: Meaghar, Screene. Cons: Alnutt. Pens: Alnutt 2.
St Mary's (20)23:Tries: McKenna, McWeeney. Cons: McHugh 2. Pens: McHugh 3.
