BUCCANEERS 12 BALLINASLOE 17
In very poor conditions despite the excellent playing surface at The Green, Creggs, Buccaneers Division 2 squad played Ballinasloe in the Connacht U-15 League final on Saturday when they were pipped 17-12 through a last gasp try for their opponents.
Ballinasloe were quicker out the blocks and scored early on when their out-half ran through a porous defence to score under the posts. Buccs then settled and played their way back into the game. A try by James Clarke after good continuity from the team brought Buccs back into the contest. Patrick Egan was having an outstanding game for Buccs but too many unforced errors and missed tackles allowed Ballinasloe’s big players too much latitude and they touched down again to leave the score at 12-5. Some probing Carty like kicks from out half Finn Duffy put Buccs into good positions and, after a series of attacks, Clarke plunged over for his second try converted by Duffy to tie the scores.
Ballinasloe rallied and after constant pressure scored in the corner with the last play of the game. A disconsolate Buccs team trudged off to an ovation from their large support group. An epic encounter when the Buccs team played their best rugby of the season and the boys should be immensely proud of what they have achieved.
BUCCANEERS:-S Joyce, Guillermo, P Brazil, C Reid, A Saka, J Clarke, F Lyons, P Egan, D Connolly, E Killeen, B Mulvihill, L Cassidy, S Drummond, D Murtagh, M Kenny, D Lally, M Connors, S Buckley, S McCarthy, L Gossy, T McCay and R Gahan.
