Buccaneers spoil Bruff party

Bruff 18 Buccaneers 26

Kilballyowen Park hosted its first top flight game in the All-Ireland League, but Bruff could not muster the desired result for the vocal Kilballyowen Park crowd today.

In a hugely entertaining tie, Buccaneers, under new South African coach Hendre Marnitz, just about deserved their win.

Second row Alfie Laffan opened the scoring for Bruff with an encouraging third minute try, but Connacht prospect Adam Kennedy converted John O'Brien's eighth-minute score to move Buccs ahead.

A well-struck penalty from Brian Cahill edged the Limerick side back in front, only for scrum half Kennedy to slot two penalties of his own and make the margin 13-8 for half-time.

There was clear distance between the sides early in the second half The elusive O'Brien raced over from his right wing for his second try, after Kennedy had landed a 44th-minute penalty.

Bruff, beaten at Clontarf last weekend, bounced back with another penalty from Cahill.

The experienced centre, who played alongside his two brothers Eoin and Tony, then converted a try from number 8 Peter Malone to whittle the visitors' lead down to just three points.

But a length of the pitch move finished with young full-back Callum Boland running in a spectacular try, which was a fitting way for Buccs to close out the scoring.

The result keeps Marnitz's charges tucked behind pacesetters Clontarf in the Division 1B standings, ahead of the sides' crunch clash at Castle Avenue on October 23.

Scorers:

Bruff: Tries: Alfie Laffan, Peter Malone; Con: Brian Cahill; Pens: Brian Cahill 2

Buccaneers: Tries: John O'Brien 2, Callum Boland; Con: Adam Kennedy; Pens: Adam Kennedy 3