Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship Round 6

DHL Europa Stormers 3 - 62 IBEX Buccaneers

The IBEX Buccaneers maintained their unbeaten record to secure their second consecutive Championship with an impressive and comprehensive win over the DHL Stormers.

With the Championship at stake, this was an all-or-nothing game and it was the Buccaneers who dominated and had all but sealed the win by halftime.  From the start, they used their big pack effectively with Timmins and Waller repeatedly taking the ball into contact, and, in the set-piece, they overpowered the Stormers, providing a great platform for their backs. 

It was from a lineout and an ensuing ruck that they got their first score with Eastwell diving over.  As is often seen, however, they made a hash of the restart, conceding a penalty and with a kicker as accurate as Cruz, it was an easy three points for the Stormers. But that was to be the last of their scoring as the Buccaneers began to squeeze the pressure and from another set-piece, Sweeney broke for the line and, despite the covering tackle, managed to touch down.  Although the Buccaneers were beginning to get the better of the possession and territory, it was still a tight contest, demonstrated by Lewis opting for a kick at goal to keep the scoreboard ticking over, rather than going for the corner.  But it wasn’t long before they had their third try, again down to their forwards, with Kells scoring off the back of a five-meter scrum.  Obviously, fired up by his score, only minutes later he galloped out of his own 22 and, although tackled, managed to offload to Neave who was following up and finished the move, giving the Buccaneers their bonus point try and a 31-3 lead just before the break

The Stormers were finding it difficult to get into the game and despite some strong tackling were up against a rampaging Buccaneers team who started the second half the way they finished the first. Within five minutes they were back on the scoreboard with Neave nabbing his second, again initiated from a set-piece, and, with intelligent kicking, Lewis was keeping the Stormers pinned back in their own half.

It was only a matter of time before they got another score this time with Loddo running a great line from an offload from Waller.  The Stormers did have a bright spell with a sustained period of attack but, despite repeated infringements, they couldn’t convert that to points and the Buccaneers were able to clear and wrestle back control.  As the game went into the final quarter, the Buccaneers were still full of running and tries by Payas, Graham and McNab brought the game to a close and a very successful season for the Buccaneers with back-to-back Championships.   

Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match

Man of the Match was awarded to Kris Timmins for his incredible running play and fierce aggression when going into contact.

The league table at the end of the season with the Buccaneers finishing the season unbeaten.

Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship Round 5

IBEX Buccaneers 38 - 0 InLine Framing Straits Sharks

Another glorious day at the Europa Sports Complex for the penultimate round of the U-mee GRC Championship but, unfortunately, both games were impacted by the Scorpions and the Sharks having to forfeit their games due to a lack of player numbers.  Both games, however, were played out due to the assistance of the opposing teams sharing players and Dave Barley and Phil Nilson having a run-out.

There was a feisty start from the Sharks, but it was the Buccaneers that took control of the game from early on and it was only their errors that prevented them from getting on the scoreboard sooner. As it was, they had to wait ten minutes before breaking the Sharks defence with the ball worked out to winger Foster, who skipped a tackle and raced in from halfway to open the scoring.  Despite the Sharks efforts, their 14 men were struggling, and the Buccaneers were winning the battle upfront.  Fly-half Lewis was sharp and always looked dangerous and a long pass cut out the defence for Neave to score in the corner.  Regaining some possession and control, the Sharks traded territory with the Buccaneers but as the clock slipped towards the last ten minutes of the first half, and having lost a man through injury, the Buccaneers struck again and added three more scores before the break, to lead 31-0.

Within ten minutes of the second half, the Buccaneers had added another try, from Loddo but, unfortunately, further injuries took the Sharks below the required numbers to safely compete, and the game was called to a halt with a 38-0 victory for the Buccaneers.  As with the earlier match, with a mix of the players, the remaining half hour of the game was played to its conclusion with free-running from both sides and the Buccaneers notching up a further half dozen scores to one from the Sharks. With the advantage of the breeze, Jones was keeping the ball in the Scorpions 22 with great positional kicking and from another Buccaneers power play, Loddo crashed over to give them the lead. It looked like the Buccaneers were beginning to take control, but a great break from the Scorpions turned the tables and a scoring opportunity was only stopped by a try-saving tackle from Foster.

A disappointing way to end what had been a tough encounter but it was good to see the game being played out, albeit in a more friendly nature over the last 30 minutes.

With an unbeaten record, the Buccaneers go into the final game of the season against the Stormers in a ‘winner takes all’ contest that will decide this season’s League Champions.

Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match

Man of the Match was awarded to Nick Pitto for scoring two tries for the Buccs and great passing play from his no. 9 position.

The league table as it stands, with one more match to play against the Stormers.

Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship Round 4

Sovereign Rock Scorpions 12 - 15 IBEX Buccaneers

Along with the weather, we saw a change in the Scorpions team today. Their back line had more shape, fly half Milton kicked intelligently into space and territory, and in the forwards, Milward along with Tonbridge were a constant thorn in the Buccaneers attack. Although the Scorpions had some early pressure, it was a game of cat and mouse for much of the first quarter with neither side taking control.

The Buccaneers scrum was causing issues in the tight, but when the Scorpions got the ball out wide, they looked threatening, and it was only a great scramble defence that stopped a promising break. It was almost on the half hour before the first score and, ironically, it came from a Buccaneers mistake as they tried to run the ball out of defence. A loose pass was picked up by Cook just inside the Buccaneers half and, evading the covering tackle, he romped in under the posts. Despite the Buccaneers efforts and their forward muscle, they couldn’t get on the scoreboard before half time and 7-0 in favour of the Scorpions was a well-earned lead.

The Buccaneers seemed to get their second wind after the break but despite some early pressure, the Scorpions defence held out and some stalwart jackalling from Millward rescued them on more than one occasion. The Buccaneers were keeping the ball tight, exerting their forward dominance with a series of rolling mauls and making ground. It was only a matter of time before the pressure would tell and when the ball was fed to Hanlin, he showed a lovely feint, created a gap and was through for the levelling score. This made Hanlin the oldest player to ever score in the Gibraltar Rugby Championship at 54-years-old.

With the advantage of the breeze, Jones was keeping the ball in the Scorpions 22 with great positional kicking and from another Buccaneers power play, Loddo crashed over to give them the lead. It looked like the Buccaneers were beginning to take control, but a great break from the Scorpions turned the tables and a scoring opportunity was only stopped by a try-saving tackle from Foster.

With their tails up they stayed in the Buccaneers 22 and following another quick handling move the ball was fed wide to Ignacio who this time evaded the covering tackles to score in the corner. All square going into the last few minutes of the game. Knowing where they had to play the game, Jones kicked the Buccaneers into the Scorpions 22 and when they won a penalty, calmly slotted the kick to seal the game by the narrowest of margins. Relief for the Buccaneers but a bitter blow for the Scorpions and their losing bonus point will be small consolation.

Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match

Man of the Match was awarded to Ben Jones for his control of the match at fly-half and his brilliant kicking, securing the winning points for the Buccaneers.