Another glorious day at the Europa Sports Park for the penultimate round of the U-mee GRC but, unfortunately, both games were impacted by the Scorpions and the Sharks having to forfeit their games due to a lack of player numbers. Both games, however, were played out due to the assistance of the opposing teams sharing players and Dave Barley and Phil Nilsen having a run out.
DHL Europa Stormers 20 – 0 Sovereign Scorpions
Despite the outcome having already been decided with the Scorpions forfeiture, and the match being awarded as a 20-0 bonus point win to the Stormers, both teams came together to put on a highly entertaining and competitive game.
The Stormers were quicker out of the blocks and with some lovely interplay from their backs they created a gap for Adamson who scored under the posts. This was followed soon after with another score from full back Olah and there was a view that this may open the flood gates. But the Scorpions dug in and went on the offensive with repeated forays at the Stormers line. Their perseverance paid off with Perera breaking the goal line after a number of short-range drives. This was a period of ascendancy for the Scorpions, and they added to their tally with another score from their talisman Cook. Ironically, it was from another Scorpion attack that the ball went loose and was picked up by Ecclestone who put on the after burners, evaded the cover and passed to Licuidi who touched down under the posts and, with the conversion, the Stormers went into the break 17-14 up.
The second half started in much the same way as the first with the Stormers taking the game to the Scorpions. A speculative kick from Eccleston was followed up by prop Beazley who plucked the ball out of the air, shrugged off tackles and ran in from the 22 to give them their first score of the half. But, just as the first half, they couldn’t dominate possession or territory and the Scorpions hit back inside ten minutes with another score of their own, this time Taylor finishing off the move. Going into the last quarter it was still neck and neck. A quick tap penalty from Eccleston opened up the defence for Horton to score but this was cancelled five minutes later by a try from Bradford for the Scorpions. The last ten minutes, however, proved to be too much for a tiring Scorpions and the Stormers finished off the game with two more scores – a second for Adamson, and then McDonnell finishing off a lovely break.
For the Stormers, this result maintains their position in the League, and they now face the Buccaneers next week in the final game of the season that will determine the outcome of this season’s Championship.
Simon Adamson of DHL Europa Stormers was the recipient of the Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match award at Full-Time.
IBEX Buccaneers 38 – 0 InLine Framing Straits Sharks
There was a was a feisty start from the Sharks, but it was the Buccaneers that took control of the game from early on and it was only their errors that prevented them from getting on the scoreboard sooner. As it was, they had to wait ten minutes before breaking the Sharks defence with the ball worked out to winger Foster, who skipped a tackle and raced in from halfway to open the scoring. Despite the Sharks efforts, their 14 men were struggling, and the Buccaneers were winning the battle up front. Fly half Lewis was sharp and always looked dangerous and a long pass cut out the defence for Neave to score in the corner. Regaining some possession and control, the Sharks traded territory with the Buccaneers but as the clock slipped towards the last ten minutes of the first half, and having lost a man through injury, the Buccaneers struck again and added three more scores before the break, to lead 31-0.
Within ten minutes of the second half, the Buccaneers had added another try, from Loddo but, unfortunately, further injuries took the Sharks below the required numbers to safely compete, and the game was called to a halt with a 38-0 victory for the Buccaneers. As with the earlier match, with a mix of the players, the remaining half hour of the game was played to its conclusion with free running from both sides and the Buccaneers notching up a further half dozen scores to one from the Sharks.
A disappointing way to end what had been a tough encounter but it was good to see the game being played out, albeit in a more friendly nature over the last 30 minutes.
With an unbeaten record, the Buccaneers go into the final game of the season against the Stormers in a ‘winner takes all’ contest that will decide this season’s League Champions.
Nick Pitto of IBEX Buccaneers was the recipient of the Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match award at Full-Time.
u-mee Gibraltar Rugby Championship 