BUCCS IN BATEMAN CUP FINAL ON FRIDAY NIGHT
Bateman Cup Final, St. Mary’s College RFC, Dublin 20/4/2019
City of Armagh vs Garryowen
A general view of The Bateman Cup
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
BUCCANEERS travel to Dublin again next weekend where they face Terenure College in the final of the Energia Bateman Cup at Lakelands Park on Friday night, kick off 7.30 p.m.
Buccaneers will not have any Academy players available who are a “down” week, yet amateurs are expected to play week after week. That is a player welfare concern! With a number of other players unavailable due to injuries and pre-booked breaks (as this was originally a rare free date on the fixtures list) as well as Harry West with the Ireland U-20’s the Pirates will have a threadbare crew. Terenure scrumhalf Alan Bennie was an interested spectator at Buccs semi-final win over Queen’s University but hard to know what he gleaned from that as the Pirates fielded a very mixed squad.
Friday’s decider will give a number of younger players an opportunity to display their potential but they will be facing a seasoned Terenure squad currently in second spot in Division 1A. Hopefully a callow squad will give a good account of themselves and that no further injuries are sustained.
For those going to this match, Lakelands Park has very limited parking so go early. For fans who cannot attend, there will a live stream available on Irish Rugby’s You Tube channel./strong>
BUCCS U-20’s AWAY TO UCD
BUCCANEERS U-20’s wind up their J.P.Fanagan Leinster Premier 2 campaign with a trip to the capital on Sunday where they face University College Dublin at Belfield. Kick-off is 1 p.m. Last week’s defeat allayed to a bonus point win by Wanderers over Naas means that Buccs have slipped out of the top four. The Athlone side need to win against UCD and hope that Wanderers come up short against Dublin University in their final fixture if the Pirates are to secure a top four spot. So lots to play for but if Buccaneers can repeat the effort and endeavour shown against Terenure (and also possibly have some of their injured players back) the midlanders can get a win and then hope that Trinity do them a favour in their Dublin derby.
