Buccs steal tough win against Dungannon

Buccaneers 14 Dungannon 8

Buccanners continued to their Division One title bid in Ericsson Park, but not before they were forced all the way by a dogged Dungannon.

What promised to be a cracker of a match turned into a fizzer as a single Chris Keane try in the 73rd minute finally wrapped up matters for the home side.

Buccaneers had been forced to overcome a 6 - 8 half-time deficit against the former All Ireland champs who are now looking at little better than a midtable position for their seasonal efforts.

Buccaneers had little show for their first 20 minutes of dominance. Only two early penalties kicked by outhalf Lee Turner were their reward, while Dungannon¹s outhalf Mark Bradley was on target with his seventh minute effort.

The Ulster side seemed content to soak up the pressure or wait for Buccaneers to make a mistake, which they did in increasing regularity in scoring positions.

One of those mistakes was a penalty, and Dungannon turned it into a worthy try, opting to run from inside their own half.

Centre Ryan Constable found a huge hole through the centre, and although he was unable to touch down after his kick and chase, his midfield partner Alistair Clarke was on hand to claim the half¹s only try.

With it all to play for the in the second half Buccaneers applied all the pressure and were rewarded with a 50th minute penalty from Turner.

But try as they might the home side could not make the necessary breakthrough. A reversed penalty, several knock-ons with the line a-begging, and a 67th minute penalty which shaved the upright could have spelled disaster for the home side.

However the winning try finally came from the most unlikely situation when scrumhalf Chris Keane, in an erratic return from injury, opted for the packed blindside.

With no where to go, Keane opted for the kick and chase, winning the race to get a try in the 73rd minute, although they failed to convert..

Wayne Munn did well to stand up to the double tackle Opting for the packed blindside. it

was just enough to maintain their home momentum before meeting league leaders Clontarf in their next outing.

Buccaneers: N O'Hara, T Robinson, D Yapp, W Wallace, W Munn, L Turner, C Keane, R McCormack, J McVeigh, M Cahill, R Frost, N Smullen, G Schoeman, E Brennan (cpt), C Rigney. Replacements, E O'Donoghue for Brennan (54m), G Halligan for McVeigh (77m).

Dungannon: B Cunningham, J Cunningham, R Constable, A Clarke, T Howe, M Bradley, J Turkington, C O¹Neill, C Farrell, M Farquhar, K Walker, J Davidson, S Roberts, A Hughes, A Boyd (cpt). Replacements, R Stafford for Walker (60m), M Armstrong for Bradley (79), G maxwell for O¹Neill and N Suitor for B Cunningham (80m).

Yellow cards: Buccaneers, M Cahill 62m); Dungannon, J Turkington (67m).

Referee: D McHugh (Munster)