Buccs reserves lose out to tenacious Tuam

BUCCANEERS RESERVES suffered their second home defeat of the season when a hungrier Tuam departed Dubarry Park with a notable Connacht Junior League success and the vital points on a 22-14 scoreline last Sunday. Tuam possessed the greater desire against a home squad that appears to require urgent harder work in the training arena. Overall, it was a poor enough encounter but Tuam clearly wanted the game more as they outscored Buccs by three tries to two on a glorious, sunny afternoon in front of a fair-sized crowd. Mel McGerr and substitute Declan Byrne were the pick of the home backs, while young Paraic Burke impressed most in the forwards. Louie Tonkin, bidding to start for the senior side in next Saturday"s AIB League kick-off, scored Buccs" first try while Byrne, who did well following his introduction, notched a fine second try which came too late to turn home fortunes around. Teenager David Fagan capped a very promising contribution at outhalf (despite the half-backs getting a far from requisite cover from their pack) by converting both tries. BUCCANEERS: K.O"Neill; M.Kilduff, J.Seery, M.McGerr, A.Roche; D.Fagan, F.Sweeney; S.Stapleton, G.Halligan, G.McGill; P.Burke, L.Tonkin; M.Madden, A.Cloonan and D.Ryan. Replacements used:- D.Byrne (for Roche), R.Johnston (for Halligan, injured), A.Daly (for McGill) and Roche (for Kilduff). U-20 FRIENDLY BUCCANEERS 14 BLACKROCK COLLEGE 45 A physically stronger, better skilled Blackrock College gave Buccaneers something of a lesson when doling out a 45-14 U-20 friendly defeat to Buccaneers in ideal conditions at sunny Dubarry Park on Sunday. But the homesters should learn far more from this setback than they would in winning against weaker opposition, and if they do it will benefit them in the longer term. One certain thing they will have gleaned is that you cannot give any opposition - and particularly a side as well-drilled and able as Blackrock - is a nineteen points lead. Rock looked very slick and confident in the opening half hour when their elusive running caused the young Buccs endless discomfort as they ran in three tries. The midlanders were particularly guilty of poor tackling and giving the visitors far too much space in this period. However, they eventually grasped that Blackrock, big and all as they were, did not relish some of the physical aspects when space was closed down. Buccaneers grew in confidence and were helped when Ian Worley, after Keelan Headd had made good inroads into the Rock territory, outwitted the cover for a try just before half-time, John Connellan"s conversion reducing the arrears to 7-19 at the break. Buccs were more forceful and focused on the restart and, after they had turned over possession, David Egan finished in style for a 48th minute try which the returning Connellan also converted to tighten the scores to 14-19. It now looked like game really on but Blackrock, who brought a huge squad in size and numbers with them, regained control when they taught Buccs another salutary lesson - how to take chances. They tacked on two tries either side of the hour mark, clinically punishing home errors and displaying the fine margins between success or failure. Their sixth try was a magnificent score with sustained and smart handling in the best phase of a competitively contested encounter, although their final try emanated from an unsavoury tackle to win possession in which Lorcan Walsh was injured. But Blackrock College were, no doubt, the superior outfit and gritty Buccaneers will have got plenty of fodder to chew on from this game. If they take the positives from it, then it will clearly have been worthwhile. The U-20s have another friendly this Saturday against St. Mary"s College in Dublin. BUCCANEERS: R.Ahearne; I.Worley, C.Draper, R.Walsh, E.Doolan; J.Connellan, C.Worley; A.Hughes, D.Burns, L.Doran; K.Headd, R.Byrne; S.O"Neill, K.Creaven, L.Walsh. Replacements used: G.Fallon (for C.Worley, inj. h-t), D.Egan (for Burns, h-t), G.Thompson (for Doran, inj. 43 mins), C.Greene (for R.Walsh, 46), S.Flynn (for Ahearne, 51), R.Grehan (for Creaven, 62) and Ahearne (for Flynn, inj. 70).