UCC spoil Pirates' promotion party

Buccaneers 13 UCC 15

UCC spoiled the promotion party for the home side Buccaneers when they fought back from 13-0 down to pillage the Pirates in today's AIB League Division 2 semi-final at Dubarry Park.

The game opened in sevens style but Buccs suffered an early setback when Alamoti TePou was yellow carded but they took the lead with a 15th-minute Alan Gaughan penalty.

Gavin Dunne had two bad penalty misses for the students either side while Gaughan too was off target with one effort.

Buccs eventually got the try their possession warranted when Garreth Halligan made tremendous inroads before the supporting Mark Bruce darted in to touch down on 29 minutes. Gaughan converted and added a penalty to put Buccs 13-0 ahead at the break.

'College were hanging in gamely and robbed a home lineout close in to transfer the ball from right to left where Colin Crowley opened their account with a 55th-minute try. Dunne's conversion rebounding off an upright.

Buccs looked leaden-footed at this stage and coughed up a needless penalty four minutes later to tighten the scores to 13-8.

The impetus was now with UCC and Ivan Dineen finished off a fine move for a 75th-minute try which Scott Deasy converted.

Buccaneers finally galvanised themselves to pile on the pressure and 'College's Don Keogh was sin-binned in added time.

Unfortunately for the midlanders, Gaughan's penalty tailed wide and the students now advance to meet Young Munster in next Saturday's decider at Donnybrook.

Scorers: Buccaneers: Try: Mark Bruce; Con: Alan Gaughan; Pens: Alan Gaughan 2

UCC: Tries: Colin Crowley, Ivan Dineen; Con: Scott Deasy; Pen: Gavin Dunne