In a complete contrast to two weeks ago, it was a glorious sunny day at the Europa Sports Park where a crowd of spectators witnessed the return fixtures from the first Round. Unlike week one, however, Saturday’s matches were a much closer affair – to the extent that both the Buccaneers and Europa Stormers had to dig deep to squeeze out a win against tenacious opposition in the form of Rock Scorpions and Straits Sharks.
Sovereign 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. 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.
Ben Jones of Buccaneers was the recipient of the Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match award at Full-Time.
DHL Europa Stormers 36 – 24 InLine Framing Straits Sharks
Having suffered a thumping defeat in the first round, the Sharks were out for revenge, but it was the Stormers who dominated the early territory and possession. Despite repeated penalties, however, they were unable to convert any to points and it was the Sharks that nearly broke the deadlock with great break, only stopped by a desperate scramble defence. But that was only a foray and the Stormers, using Eccleston’s boot and the wind, renewed their siege and eventually broke through as he slipped a tackle and went in under the posts. Good tactical kicking was keeping the Sharks pinned in their own 22 but they were proving to be dangerous on the counter and elusive running from both Isola and Petrie was causing issues. A penalty took them deep into Stormers territory and from the line out and ensuing rucks, Coteral crashed over. The Sharks were beginning to get back into the game and despite their territory and possession, the Stormers only led by 7-5 going into the break.
The Stormers started the second half strongly and within five minutes were on the scoreboard again, thanks to a good scrum and a direct run from Eccleston who broke the gain line before the ball was worked to Winrow to score. But, as with the first half, they struggled to get any clear water and the Sharks hit back with another series of mauls and rucks giving Manley the opportunity to touchdown and bring them back to within two points. And it was the Sharks who took the next points too. Off a line out Platt goes on a charging run, being brought down just short, but from the ruck the Stormers infringe and from a series of charges, Isola crashes over. With the see-saw nature of the second half the Stormers wrestled the lead back with a score from Kilkenny but still couldn’t finish off the Sharks who responded with another try from Blackburn. Going into the last 10 minutes, as the game began to break up, the Sharks led 24-17 but it was the Stormers who finished strongest with Winrow adding his second before Licudi and Eccleston round off the scoring. A hard fought 36-24 victory which perhaps doesn’t truly reflect the closeness of the game, but the Stormers perseverance saw them through with a bonus point win that keeps them hot on the tail of Buccaneers in the battle for top spot in the league.
Jack Eccleston of Europa Stormers was the recipient of the Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match award at Full-Time.
Next up Round Five, the penultimate weekend of this seasons #umeeGRC and if the previous four rounds haven’t convinced you yet, it’s sure to be another entertaining day of rugby at Europa Sports Park. So be sure to mark Saturday 15th May on your calendars and come down to Europa Sports Park to enjoy an exciting run in to the the battle for the league title.
u-mee Gibraltar Rugby Championship 