Match Reports category listing | Buccaneers Rugby Football Club Athlone

LANSDOWNE 26 BUCCANEERS 17

BUCCANEERS 10 GARRYOWEN 22

With just two rounds of fixtures remaining, Buccaneers enter the ‘last chance saloon’ when they square up to Garryowen in their final home match of this season’s Ulster Bank League on Saturday. This Glenroyal Hotel sponsored Division 1A game is vital for both clubs’ aspirations with the Limerick side intent on retaining their current Top Four play-off berth while nothing less than victory by the Pirates will prevent an immediate return to 1B for the Athlone outfit. Consequently, a full-blooded encounter is anticipated at Dubarry Park where the action kicks off at 2.30 p.m.

There was no joy for Buccaneers as NUI Galway completed a League and Cup double when they proved much too strong for the Athlonians in the Connacht Womens Cup final played at a typically windy Galway Sportsground on Sunday with the Students triumphing 39-0. College got off to a flying start and, despite the best efforts of Buccs, the outcome was rarely in doubt thereafter.

A late try secured a narrow 24-22 victory for Young Munster over Buccaneers in a well contested Ulster Bank League Division 1A encounter played in sunny conditions at Tom Clifford Park, Limerick, on Saturday. The bonus point win keeps the Cookies in touch for a Top Four finish while Buccs, who rallied from 19-3 down to edge ahead going in to the final quarter, will gain little solace from their losing bonus point as they strive to avoid relegation.

BUCCANEERS travel to one of the great homes of club rugby in Ireland on Saturday when they square up to Young Munster in their penultimate away fixture in the Ulster Bank League at Tom Clifford Park. The Limerick venue, where home support is absolutely partisan, has seen a number of epic battles in front of bumper crowds between these two clubs who both sport black and gold colours. While this weekend’s joust is unlikely to attract such a large attendance, the outcome of the exchanges which kick off at 2.30 p.m. will nevertheless be of the utmost importance to both the Cookies and the Pirates.

Congratulations to young Buccaneers scrumhalf COLM REILLY who has been named in the Ireland U-19 squad. The richly promising teenager is a product of Garbally College and also his home town club Ballinasloe. Colm has featured regularly for Buccs U-20’s this season in the Leinster League. His father Stephen was also a back of note, serving Ballinasloe for many a season and also wearing Buccaneers colours with distinction. Everyone at Buccaneers wishes Colm every success on his international call-up.

BUCCANEERS remain rooted at the bottom of Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League following their 33-7 home defeat to Clontarf on Friday night. This ‘Ganly’s of Athlone’ sponsored match, which fell victim to the recent snow, was rescheduled under the Dubarry Park floodlights. A cold, wet and windy night meant conditions were testing for player and spectator alike with the elements better suited to the physically stronger visitors whose bonus point victory, allied to Garryowen’s home defeat, saw the Dublin side leap frog a pair of Limerick clubs into the Top Four.

This column last week predicted that “Dubarry Park would be a busy spot”. However, the “beast from the east’s” collision with “storm Emma” meant that virtually all activity was cancelled. Buccaneers home AIL fixture against Clontarf which was postponed has been rescheduled for FRIDAY night next in Dubarry Park. Kick off time under the floodlights is 8 p.m. Both teams are searching for vital points from different perspectives with the visitors chasing a Top Four play-off berth while Buccs are seeking to climb away from the bottom of the league table. Hopefully, the Pirates will play to their potential and, if they do, they could surprise Tarf who have lost three of their last four matches to slip down the league table. A big attendance on the day could help the midlanders.