RUGBY with MICHAEL SILKE

 FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS SEASON BUCCANEERS conceded a last minute score that turned potential success into galling defeat when they lost 9-8 to Galwegians in a hugely disappointing AIB League encounter at cold but sunny Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday. Had they not dropped these points, the midlanders would be nestling in the top half of Division One, instead the sceptre of relegation is looming into view.

 The rescheduling by the IRFU of this match on the same day as a home Six Nations fixture was very contentious but, in hindsight, that may have been a blessing as perhaps the smallest ever attendance at a home Buccs league game witnessed a turgid tie. It was even worse than the UL Bohemian league game which, coincidentally, ended in the same scoreline after a similar finish. Health warnings have been issued for less! Adding gall to the outcome was the fact that Galwegians were very poor but, unfortunately, Buccs were worse for too much of this contest. Wegians won't mind, however, for this crucial win lifts them two places up the league table and now the midlanders are really looking over their shoulders with growing anxiety and evaporating confidence.

 Both sides fielded changed line-ups from their recent abandoned meeting. Alex Hayman was Buccs latest injury victim with Aidan Wynne slotting in at centre while Danny Riordan operated at full-back due to John O'Brien's involvement with Ireland U-20's. Simon Rolleston (a flu victim the previous day) and Conor O'Loughlin formed the  half-back partnership. In the pack, Marcus Madden started at hooker while Colin Watters came in at wing forward with Kolo Kiripati switching to lock in place of Louie Tonkin, who was on the bench along with fit again Garreth Halligan. Galwegians had a new halfback pairing also, young Cormac O'Beirne replacing the injured Matt Brandon to link up with Kieran Campbell. Barry Lee was preferred in the three-quarters line to Chris Rodgers while Andrew Browne came in to the pack for the unavailable Joe Moran.

 Wegians had whatever advantage there was from the elements in a quite dreadful opening half. Buccaneers were strangely lethargic in a stop-start affair, and the one hundred or so souls who ventured to the game must have been seriously considering the wisdom of their decision. Riordan was prominent twice in the opening minutes for the home side but Wegians took the lead after just 8 minutes when Rolleston's shoulder tackle was penalised and Robert O'Beirne stroked over the penalty kick.

 Wynne put in a thumping tackle on 15 minutes and did not release the player but O'Beirne missed this penalty. However he duly slotted over his next placekick after Kevin Moran had been flagged by a touch-judge on the half-hour mark. This put the westerners 6-0 to the good, a lead they held at half-time. Riordan was again prominent in the opening stages of the second half when there was more urgency and interest shown by Buccaneers but the match was at the three-quarters stage before they got a scoring opportunity in a dire contest.

 Then Alan Gaughan converted a fine penalty from the ten-metre line after Wegians strayed offside. Five minutes later, Buccs were awarded a penalty a shade further out. Three weeks ago, the broken crossbar frustrated Buccs when leading 6-0 and, on this occasion, the upright denied them a levelling score when Gaughan's fine penalty attempt rebounded into play and the visitors cleared the danger.

 Scoring chances were at a premium throughout but Buccs were now dominant and finally forcing the tempo. Paul Harte looked set to finish off one promising raid but Browne got across very well to get in a crucial ankle tap that stopped the home winger. Their pressure brought them close to the Wegians line and forced a penalty which O'Loughlin tapped and, a couple of passes later, Riordan angled in for a smartly-taken 70^th minute try on the left which Gaughan failed to convert. Nevertheless, the homesters were now 8-6 ahead and Galwegians were rarely threathening at this stage. But the light blues made one final flurry in the last minute and Moran flapped in needlessly from the side to concede a penalty to the visitors on the 22. It was a tricky enough kick from the right but fullback O'Beirne, whose place-kicking has been vital for Galwegians this season, was not found wanting on this occasion and he duly put a nail in Buccs coffin.

 So, yet again, Buccaneers failed to hold on to a late lead. Worryingly, they just cannot close off a game and, overall, they lacked spark, cohesion and confidence in a very poor game in which only Kieran O'Gorman played anywhere near potential for the homesters as he claimed the ‘OYSTERhomes Man of the Match' accolade.

 One minute's silence was observed before this game in memory of the late Michael Hanley.     

 BUCCANEERS:-  D.Riordan; P.Harte, A.Gaughan, A.Wynne, S.Carey; S.Rolleston, C.O'Loughlin; M.Diffley, M.Madden, K.Moran; K.Kiripati, J.Tormey; C.Watters, K.O'Gorman and A.Hanley (captain). Replacements used:- L.Tonkin (for Tormey, 51 mins) and G.Halligan (for Madden, 56 mins). Temporary blood substitution:- Tonkin (for O'Gorman, 14/17 mins).

GALWEGIANS:-  R.O'Beirne; J.P.Cleary, C.Briegl, B.Murphy, B.Lee; C.O'Beirne, K.Campbell; J.Naughton, C.Muldoon, J.Stephens; D.Nolan, A.Browne; L.Scahill, I.Muldoon (captain) and L.Casserly. Replacements used:- C.Rodgers (for Lee, 20 mins), D.McHugh (for Naughton, 75 mins), D.Boyd (for Casserly, 75 mins) and A.O'Sullivan (for C.Muldoon, 77 mins). Temporary blood substitution:- Boyd (for I.Muldoon, 40/42 mins).

 REFEREE:-  R.Kerr (Ulster).

 BUCCANEERS  42  YOUNG MUNSTER  11

 BUCCANEERS U-20's consolidated second place in the South-West Conference League with a 42-11 victory over a willing Young Munster side at bitterly cold Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday. Buccs eventually emerged comfortable winners but the Limerick side belied their lowly position to make life difficult for the midlanders until the third quarter of a well-contested duel. But Buccs all-round ability gradually forced the gaps as they recorded another Bonus point victory with a haul of six tries despite John O'Brien, John Connellan, Billy Henshaw, Paul Robinson and Trevor Thompson being among their absentees.

 Young Munster had the assistance of the elements in the first half which was very competitive and finely balanced. Buccs scored just one try in that opening period, Joe Kenny applying the finishing touch for a pushover try which Adam Kennedy converted. The outhalf also landed two penalties while Munsters replied with two penalties and an unconverted try to leave the home side narrowly ahead 13-11 at the break.

 Buccs struggled to find their usual rhythm against gutsy opposition but, following stern half-time advice, they began to avoid the disruption through spreading the ball wide much more quickly. They were boosted by Kenny's second try soon after the restart when, following a lineout, he stormed through for a well-executed score. Backs and forwards soon linked up smartly to send Kennedy scampering away from halfway for their third try. Following a ruck, Conor Murtagh notched the fourth before Conor Molloy grabbed his first competitive try when he hacked on following an error by the visitors. Yet another Conor got in on the try-scoring act when prop Higgins showed commendable pace to capitalise on ball that was spun wide.

 Kennedy converted two of the second-half tries and showed no ill-effects from his ‘Westmeath Sports Stars Awards' banquet the preceding night as he put in an influential contribution at outhalf. Higgins was superb throughout with Kenny, until injured, highly prominent in the pack where David Egan's lineout throwing was radar-like. David Fagan, Terry Hines and Molloy did well in the backline.

 BUCCANEERS:-  D.Fagan; T.Hynes, C.Draper, R.Walsh, C.Molloy; A.Kennedy, C.Murtagh; N.Harney (captain), D.Egan, C.Higgins; K.Headd, R.Byrne; S.O'Neill, K.Creavin and J.Kenny. Replacements used:- C.Greene (for Fagan), L.Walsh (for Kenny), D.Burns (for Harney), J.J.Carey (for Creaven) and E.Dooley (for Murtagh).

TAG RUGBY

 On Friday night, the girls from Cornafulla N.S. and Ballybay N.S. participated in a half-time game of Tag Rugby that entertained the spectators attending the ESB Six Nations U-20 Championship rugby match between Ireland and France at Dubarry Park. The young girls performed wonderfully on the occasion, taking playing in front of such a large crowd in their collective stride.  Both teams made some splendid runs on the wings as well as comprehensive tagging by both sides. The girls especially thank Kieran Sloyan and their schools for their continuing support and, of course, particular mention goes to coach Lorna Stuart-Trainor who officiated in her own inimitable fashion.

 CORNAFULLA N.S:-  Emma Hughes, Nicole Meehan, Ciara Quinn, Sarah O'Sullivan, Christine Conway, Saoirse McManus, Orlagh Shine, Kayleigh Allen, Ciara Connaughton, Eimear Hannon and Aileen McKenna,

 BALLYBAY N.S:-  Emma Lydon, Susan Cullinan, Lily Mannion, Ciara Egan, Rachel Slattery, Sarah O'Rourke, Emily Mannion, Alanna Byrne, Shauna Francis, Vanessa McCabe and Beibhinn Scouler.

 BUCCANEERS U-16 GIRLS

 BUCCANEERS GIRLS U-16 team were due to travel to Clane on Sunday for a friendly match which, unfortunately, was cancelled due to the bad weather conditions. They will now travel to Clane for a Blitz on Sunday,February 22^nd, when parents are needed to drive on the day. There is also provincial fixtures next weekend for both U-18 and U-16 girls; hence, full attendance is required at training on this Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

 BUCCS AWAY TO GARRYOWEN IN CUP QUARTER-FINAL

 BUCCANEERS will be hoping that they can regain their form when they travel to tackle Garryowen in the quarter-final of the AIB Cup at Dooradoyle on Saturday, kick off 2.30 p.m. (at time of writing).

 The Limerick club are showing improved form of late and have climbed to fifth position in the league table. They will, undoubtedly, be hot favourites to progress and will look to two ex-Buccs Conor Kilroy and Conor Hartigan as well as the peerless Paul Neville for leadership which can be capitalised on by Willie Staunton, Ciaran O'Boyle and Conan Doyle. Buccs will be hoping for a more focussed and committed display than last week and will hope that Alex Hayman, whose tenacity was sorely missed against Galwegians, will be fit to resume. Second row remains a problem sector for Buccs with Kolo Kiripati more influential in the back row. But with their resources stretched and confidence waning at present, Buccs will be up against it to cause another Cup upset.

 Buccaneers Thirds are away to Loughrea in the Connacht J2 League on Sunday at 3 p.m. while the U-20's, who face UL Bohemian in a crunch rescheduled league match on February 28^th, continue their preparations with a friendly against Athlone I.T. in Dubarry Park on this Wednesday night, k.o. 7 p.m. The Reserves await confirmation of a fixture at time of going to press.    

CONGRATULATIONS

 CONGRATS to Adam Kennedy and Patricia Cleary on their ‘Westmeath Sports Stars Awards'.