Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship Round 3

IBEX Buccaneers 27- 22 DHL Stormers

With both teams going into the contest unbeaten, the winner would clearly have the upper hand going into the last three games and, unsurprisingly, it was a lively start to the game. The Stormers exerted the early pressure resulting in the Buccaneers conceding one of too many penalties - discipline being their nemesis this season. With a kicker like fly-half Cruz in the Stormers team, it was an expensive mistake, and he opened the scoring with an accurate kick. Both teams tried to establish control of the game, but it was the Buccaneers forwards who began to win the contest in the scrums, although the wind was playing havoc for both lineouts. Pressure from the Buccaneers continued and from a quick tap, Eastwell managed to score from the ensuing ruck. Although the Buccaneers were edging the possession and territory, the Stormers were the more efficient, coming away with points on each visit to the opposition 22, and just prior to half time Beazley gave them the lead crashing over following another infringement.

8-5 was the halftime score and the Stormers started the second half stronger, with the Buccaneers conceding another series of penalties close to their line. It was only a matter of time before their defense was breached and Southern broke through to give the Stormers some clear water at 15-5. There it stayed for around 20 minutes as the Buccaneers gradually squeezed the pressure on the Stormers forwards and lock Graham was able to score in the corner to bring the score back within five points. Buccaneer’s fly-half Lewis was kicking well from hand, despite the wind, and put his team in a great field position. From the lineout, Payas was able to gather a loose ball and go over to level the score. The Buccaneers had their tails up and five minutes later, from a dominant scrum, the ball went wide and Payas was in space to finish off the move, grab his second try, and with it the lead. Kells added another and with Jones’s conversion it was 27-15, but the Stormers weren’t finished and came right back into the game with a charge up the centre finished off by Ecclestone in the closing minute. 27-22 was the final score from an enthralling game between two evenly matched teams, but the Buccaneers must now be favourites to win the league and repeat their 2019-20 success

Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match

Man of the Match was awarded to Luke Eastwell for his fantastic control in the game and scrum. As well as his brilliant work in and around the breakdowns.

Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship Round 2

Photo by Stephen Ignacio

InLine Framing Straits Sharks 24 – 74 IBEX Buccaneers

Using that old cliché, this was a game of two halves. Hardly a cigarette paper separated the two teams in the first half with each trading scores and neither managing to break free. The Sharks were ruthless with their forward drives and got their scores following a series of tap penalties when they got close to the Buccaneers line. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, got their scores by choosing to spin the ball out wide to their speedy backs, with their forwards dominating the set-piece. It was a fascinating first half and the Buccaneers went into the break narrowly leading by 22-19.

I’m never sure what is said in these half time team talks but a different Buccaneers took the field in the second half and within ten minutes had sealed the game with four wonderfully created scores. Despite this, the Sharks continued to battle and there was a slight glimmer of hope when debutant Luke Manley crashed over from another quick penalty to give them their fourth try and with it a bonus point. However, as the game opened up in the last ten minutes the Buccaneers drove home their second-half dominance with three more scores to round off a convincing win and maintain their unbeaten record in the Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship.

Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match

Man of the Match was awarded to Luke Payas as he controlled the pack and the team well throughout the game and even managing to get two tries to himself.

Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship Round 1

Ibex Buccaneers 42-5 Sovereign Scorpions

It was a lively start to this match with both teams testing each other in the early stages, but it was the Buccaneers who eventually wrestled control and dominated much of the match.

They had some early pressure but conceded a couple of penalties allowing the Scorpions to clear their line and go on the offensive. This was followed by a lengthy interruption due to an injury but when play resumed it was the Buccaneers who took command, and it was only a matter of time before their pressure broke the deadlock.

The Buccs narrowly missed a score from a lovely cross-field kick when the ball bounced the wrong way but, in the next play, a neat feint and step from fly-half Lewis sent the defence the wrong way, allowing him to touch down. This rattled the Scorpions and only a few minutes later Lovelace added to their pain with a touchdown in the corner for what would be the first of his three tries. Loddo and Sweeney, both running great lines, added to the Buccaneers score and with Ben Jones adding the conversions, it was 28-0 at half time.

The Scorpions tightened things up in the second half and it was Hammond who got on the score sheet first with a well-worked try and no small effort to ground the ball. The Buccaneers, however, were not going to relinquish their lead easily and both teams had to put in strong defensive shifts. The Scorpions continued to press the Buccaneers line but on two occasions lost possession leading to two breakaway scores by Lovelace from his own 22, which put paid to any Scorpions comeback.

Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match

Man of the Match was awarded to Ed Lewis for his control of the match, as well as even scoring a few tries himself.