Clontarf coach Alex Wyllie will be hoping his side doesn't come up against much stronger packs than Buccaneers if they are to lift themselves from the bottom of Division One.
Hammered 25-3 at Ericsson Park, Clontarf had no answer to Buccaneers' forward strength. "Obviously when you are up against sides with such a weight advantage, particularly with the change in laws, it will be difficult," Wyllie said. "While we held up well in the first half, it took its toll in the end."
Behind 13-0 at half-time, Clontarf's single scoring chance of the first half was repelled when captain Craig Brownlie was held up just short of the line and in the ensuing scrum, Clontarf were sent reeling backwards. Yet there was some hope when out-half Richard Murphy slotted the second of his two penalty chances on 48 minutes.
But that was all the Dubliners could muster with the wind at their backs in the second half as Buccaneers took total control to ensure they got their campaign back on the winning trail after three defeats.
Out-half Simon Allnutt, who kicked two penalties and converted Mike Devine's first half try, continued to kick for touch to utilise his side's forward strength.
The ploy paid dividends and when Buccaneers won a scrum on their opponents' line, Allnutt deftly popped the ball back inside to centre Eamon Molloy for the home side's second try. The conversion put the game out of Clontarf's reach.
Scoring Sequence: 11 mins: Allnutt pen 30; 27: Allnutt pen 6-0; 34: Devine try, Allnutt con 13-0; half-time: 13-0; 48: Murphy pen 13-3; 62: Molloy try 18-3; 81: Rigney try, Allnutt con 25-3.
Buccaneers: C Kilroy; M Devine, E Molloy, M Deane, T Stuart-Trainor; S Allnutt, O Cobbe; J Maher, J McVeigh, M Cahill, D Rigney, C Rigney, D Rigney, E Brennan, M Steffert. Replacements: J Screene for Cahill (46 mins).
Clontarf: D O'Brien; C Bewley, O Winchester, A Reddan, D McElligott; R Murphy, S Forster; I Glynn, D Hyland, T Kearns, D Moore, C Power, A Dignam, P Ward, C Brownlie. Replacements: R Casey for Dignam (49 mins), J Ball for Power (68), R O'Reilly for Murphy (72), C Brady for Glynn (75).
Referee: A Watson (Ulster).
