Buccs make it four in a row against 'Rock

Blackrock 13 Buccaneers 19

Buccaneers made it four consecutive wins in the AIB League Division One this afternoon, beating an in-form Blackrock side 19-13 and two tries to one at Stradbrook.

Home side ‘Rock relied on the scoring of Conor Kilroy to keep them in the game, having been down 13-10 at the break, with their season’s top scorer notching all 13 points this afternoon, with his last penalty earning his side a bonus point.

Buccs travelled on the back of a six-try demolition of Dolphin seven days ago which saw them into fourth, and had 19-year-old out-half David Connellan, scorer of 43 points so far this season, in action early on.

His 14th-minute punt over the back of Blackrock’s Kilroy, playing at full-back instead of his usual number 10 berth, saw Buccs steal field position for a well-worked Niall Smullen try in the left corner on 16 minutes.

Lock Smullen, a former Leinster youth, was touching down for the second time this season, but with his effort unconverted the home side hit back on 29 minutes.

Kilroy went over for ‘Rock’s first try short of the half-hour, and converted for a 7-5 home lead.

Six minutes later Buccs had a second try with utility back Niall O’Hara managing to ground the ball following an excellent drive by the Pirates pack.

Connellan went wide with the conversion attempt, but adding on a penalty soon after to put six points between them.

The lively Smullen was sin-binned by Munster referee Leo Mayne a minute into first-half injury time and Kilroy was on hand to punish the indiscretion with his first penalty.

The second half saw the game tightening up with Connellan missing a number of penalty chances but importantly hitting over his second and third of the afternoon in the final quarter to wrestle a second away win for Buccs.