Terenure thump depleted Buccaneers to lift Bateman Cup

TERENURE COLLEGE 71 BUCCANEERS 13, Lakelands Park

Terenure College were crowned Energia Bateman Cup champions for the first time, doing it in clinical fashion with a 71-13 final win over an understrength Buccaneers team at Lakelands Park.

Full-back Adam La Grue ran in a hat-trick on a night that 'Nure racked up 11 tries, with Buccaneers' only consolation a 69th-minute converted effort from replacement Robert Teape.

It took a sterling effort from the host club's players and volunteers to clear snow from the pitch and ensure the game went ahead, and Terenure quickly hit top gear on the all-weather surface to score five tries in 28 minutes.

La Grue touched down twice and Craig Adams, Alan Bennie and Niall Lalor also chipped in with scores, Buccaneers getting off the mark through Michael Hanley and Stephen Mannion penalties but trailing 31-6 at the break.

Missing their Connacht Academy contingent and some other key players, a battling Buccs deservedly got over the whitewash, but 'Nure secured their first senior national title since 2014's Division 1B win with further scores from Adams, Sam Coghlan Murray, captain Harrison Brewer, Lalor, La Grue and Conor McCormack.

Terenure gave a warning of their power-packed mauling with a monster fifth-minute drive almost seeing Jordan Coghlan score. Bennie's flicked pass opened the way for winger Adams to cross in the left corner.

Dooley converted and also added the extras to Bennie's 10th-minute score, the experienced scrum half scampering through a gap off another ground-gaining maul from his forwards.

Buccaneers gained some traction from their tactical kicking, forcing 'Nure offside and Hanley slotted a fine long-range strike to reduce the arrears to 14-3.

The hosts swiftly snapped back with