Development Team defeat Buccaneers as they play Ballina in Cup
SLIGO RFC Senior Development Team, playing in the Connacht J1A League, travelled to Athlone to face Buccaneers RFC in their last League match of the 2017/18 season on Friday night.
In their last encounter Sligo blew away Buccaneers 77-5 so it was evident that the home side wanted to put on a much better performance and had supplemented their side with players from their U20 squad. From the first whistle Buccaneers, playing toward the club house, dominated the exchanges with some fine football and nice running lines. Sligo put up a good defence and Buccaneers only really threatened the visitors try line on one occasion.
So it was a little against play when Sligo opened the score account with a fine try in the top left hand corner after 12 minutes by Charlie Cooper. The ball had been won in defence by Sligo and Garry O’Hehir, the Sligo scrum half, chipped the ball into the home side’s half on the right hand side after a solid Sligo ruck. The chip was chased down and knocked on by Buccaneers. Moving off the scrum Sligo played it to the left and Niall Gray, Sligo’s no 10, spotting a flat defence, played a grubber to the corner where Charlie Cooper won the race and tapped down the ball for a try. The away try settled the young Sligo charges and on 20 minutes a penalty was awarded to Sligo. It was now in range for a kick and Niall Gray duly slotted the penalty for Sligo to go ahead 0-8. The lead was quickly reduced to just 1 point when Buccaneers powered through utilising their big front 5 in a good team try. Half time score was 7-8 and the game hung in the balance. Just before half time Sligo lost their powerfull flanker Matt Davey through a knee injury and he was replaced by Christian Nielsen. Around half time as well Sligo circulated their front row and introduced Aaron Tansey for Mark Keegan and some time later Ross Mannion for Ross O’Boyle. Sligo added another penalty to take the score to 7-11. Generally speaking the continued infringements by Buccaneers probably cost them the match in the end as they kept loosing territory and providing Sligo with go forward ball. Ross Hickey in his first season as a senior player was instrumental in keeping Buccaneers in check and has a bright future in any Sligo back row set up. Similarly Enda Gavin orchestrated the back line very well and ran some piercing lines to test the Buccaneers defence.
Both players was awarded “Man of the Match” as they both had a very good performance on the night. Sligo got another try through Stuart O’Brian assisted by Christian Nielsen, a fine individual try by winger Stuart O’Brian. With 15 minutes remaining Buccaneers struck back in a free flowing move that stretched Sligo from touch line to touch line and was justly awarded a try out wide. No conversion from a difficult angle and Sligo remained in the lead 12-18. Sligo was awarded yet another penalty that was superbly kicked by Niall Gray from a distance. Final score Buccaneers RFC 12 - Sligo RFC 21.
The very same team are in the Connacht Junior Cup Final in the Sportground, Galway, vs Ballina RFC this coming Sunday the 25th March - Kick off at 3pm.