BUCCANEERS 26 OPHIR 26
The revived Buccaneers Womens team commenced their return to active service with a friendly encouraged by big support at home to Ophir on Sunday. The Buccs girls battled to the end to earn a commendable 26-26 draw against the more experienced Newtownards representatives.
While the senior Irish women’s team were preparing to do battle with Japan, our Buccs women prepared to take to the pitch for the first time as a unit. Ophir quickly popped 5 points on the board. The work rate of the Buccaneers pack and speed/strength of the back line soon made their presence felt as Buccs went 12-5 up but in a ding song battle for both teams the sides were level 19-19 at halftime.
The Buccaneers women didn’t stall there with the home centres duo dominant and the Athlone side forced a late converted try to level the scores. The match ended 26-26 after a solid performance from both teams.
Buccs scorers were Charlotte Blackweir (2 tries), Siva Malassou (1 try & 3 conversions) and Abbie Murray (try). The Buccaneers senior women’s team are now set to start into the first round of the Connacht Invitational League on the 7th September on our home grounds v Westport RFC. As a squad of 30 people, they are looking forward to building on solid foundations and making our mark in Connacht again as a women’s team. Buccaneers RFC Senior-Vice president Sean Flynn commented “it’s a very promising start to a new season for our Senior women’s team”. Congratulations to all on a great start – and to the coaches and back room team Kieron, Tina, Kelley and Diarmuid.
For anyone wishing to get behind the Buccaneers senior women’s squad, looking for opportunities to play or to sponsor, please get in touch with team manager Amy O Connor through the club.
BUCCANEERS:- J.Molloy; G.Bardauskaite, C.Blackweir, S.Malassou, A.Gaynor; N.Gough, N.O’Dwyer; T.Merrigan, S.Kennedy, H.Sarpong; N.Ross, G.Currid; K.Buckley, P.Collins and A.Murray. Replacements:- K.Donovan, D.Ajdereva, L.McEntegart, L.Stuart Trainor, A.Coyle and L.Murray.
