Second Half Push Gives Mary’s The Points

St. Mary’s College look like they are winning the race to be included in the restructured eight-club top tier of the AIB League next season, following their 15-point beating of Buccaneers on Saturday afternoon.

AIB LEAGUE: DIVISION ONE: Saturday, March 7

BUCCANEERS 6 ST. MARY’S COLLEGE 21, Dubarry Park

Scorers: Buccaneers: Pens: Alan Gaughan 2
St. Mary’s College: Tries: Shaun McCarthy, Philip Brophy; Con: Barry Lynn; Pens: Barry Lynn 3 

Mary’s were 6-3 behind at half-time but they always looked the more likely to score in an entertaining second half.

In wet conditions at Dubarry Park, Buccs were first to make headway through the forwards and Alan Gaughan landed a brace of penalties, with Barry Lynn landing one in reply for the visitors.

However, within eight minutes of the restart, Mary’s had foraged into a 16-6 lead.

Australian out-half Shaun McCarthy speared through a midfield gap and exposed some poor defending from Buccs to grab the game’s first try.

It was a soft score for the Pirates to concede and with Lynn converting and kicking a penalty either side of the try, there was suddenly some distance between the sides.

With their scrum half Mark Bruce hounded by the Mary’s back row, Buccs never really rallied and an unconverted try from centre Philip Brophy, off a pacy counter attack, finished off the job for Mary’s.