Match Reports category listing | Buccaneers Rugby Football Club Athlone

Buccaneers Annual Player Awards event takes place in The Bounty on Saturday night when our Senior, U-20, Junior and Womens players of the year will be announced along with the ‘Club Person of the Year’ winner who will be presented with the Michael Hanley Memorial Perpetual Cup. Specially commissioned pieces of Athlone Crystal will also be presented to Buccaneers players who have represented Ireland during the season. No less than a dozen Buccs, including Jack Carty and Robbie Henshaw, have worn the green, which is a splendid achievement for a rural club such as Buccaneers. On the playing fields, a Connacht Senior League and Cup double were the highlights for our adult teams.

BUCCANEERS 7 BALLINASLOE 3
Buccaneers and Ballinasloe played out a compelling and thrilling Connacht U-17 Cup final at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Sunday with Buccs shading a fiercely contested decider by 7-3. Two very well matched sides gave it their all in this derby duel but the young Pirates inexorable commitment, particularly in their tackling, richly merited this victory in a battle that was in the balance right up to the final whistle of the 70 minutes.

It’s relegation for the second successive season for Buccaneers following their 30-24 All-Ireland League play-off defeat to Queen’s University at warm and sunny Dubarry Park on Saturday. Buccs battled relentlessly to the bitter end but came up against a well-drilled and highly committed Belfast outfit who were that bit smarter on the day. Queens now progress to a playoff decider at Navan but it’s Division 2A for the midlanders next season.

Despite fielding a very injury depleted squad Buccaneers put up a brave and adventurous showing when going down 33-19 to Naas at Forenaughts in their final All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture of the season on Saturday. The Cobras victory was not as straight-forward as anticipated for the hosts whose final move try flattered their winning margin somewhat. Nevertheless, Naas confirmed their Top Four play-off berth with this victory but Buccaneers can take considerable confidence and encouragement from their lively and committed display.

BUCCANEERS travel to Forenaughts on Saturday to complete their All-Ireland League fixtures against Naas, kick off 2.30 p.m. Naas are flying at the moment on the back of three big wins and could possibly clinch the Division 1B title by winning against the Pirates. They have moved nicely up to third place in the league table, just one point behind Old Wesley whom they defeated in their last home fixture. Sizeable away victories over Ballymena and Banbridge leaves the Co. Kildare club just four points adrift of leaders Ballynahinch so the Cobras have huge incentive should either of the clubs above them slip up. Meanwhile Buccaneers have little only pride to play for so the midlanders can expect an arduous 80 minutes on Saturday.

BUCCANEERS must venture into the play-offs minefield following their narrow 24-20 All-Ireland League Division 1B defeat to Banbridge at well-attended Dubarry Park on Saturday. Buccs led for the majority of this Prince of Wales Hotel sponsored fixture but the northerners bonus point victory ensures they secured their 1B status.

Buccaneers U-20’s accounted for Greystones in a tense and difficult J P Fanagan Leinster U-20 Premier League 2 encounter at Dr. Hickey Park. The score line was the same as the previous game away to Dublin University, but this was a very different match to that impressive win versus the students. Pitch conditions were very poor and this allied to a strong wind ensured Buccaneers found it hard to impose their superior football skills on the contest. However, in a much-changed side due to injuries and unavailability of key players who featured for the AIL side the previous day, Buccaneers again showed their strength of character and depth of squad to grind out a 26-19 win and a try bonus point. Victory moves the Athlone side up another notch to third in the league table.

OLD WESLEY retained pole position in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League when they defeated Buccaneers 29-13 at Energia Park on Saturday. Benefiting from a settled squad on the artificial surface at Donnybrook and helped by a very early try, the Dubliners proved too slick and powerful for a considerably depleted Pirates crew who remain second from bottom.

A greatly depleted Buccaneers could not match the intensity and cohesion of Ballynahinch whose 43-24 victory at Dubarry Park moves them level on top of the All-Ireland League Division 1B leaderboard. Buccs had nine enforced changes from last week’s win at Malone while Hinch could call on a key spine of Ulster players for this ‘Glasson Country House Hotel & Golf Club’ sponsored fixture.