Buccaneers join forces with Racoon West

Buccaneers Touch Rugby joined forces with western neighbours Racoon West (RW) of Galway on Saturday as they travelled to Stepaside in Dublin for the second round of the ITA Men's Division One League.

The Buccs-RW combination took on DLSP in the opening game of the day. DLSP possess a lot of experience in their ranks with several Ireland internationals. However, the more youthful Buccs-RW were on top from early on and finished with a 6-4 win.

Feidhlim Byrne scored four tries while Nigel Burke and Alan Duggan got the others scores.

There was a step up in class in the second game as Buccs-RW took on Old Wesley. The Donnybrook side are currently preparing to take part in the English National Touch Series next month and their high-intensity “boxing” pattern put the westerners under severe pressure.

Buccs-RW held them out exceptionally well for the first quarter and a try from Paul Gavin from a “32” move gave them some hope. Old Wesley led 4-1 at half-time but the defensive effort that Buccs-RW had put in to hold the Dubliners took its toll in the second half. Old Wesley continued to drive forward relentlessly and put the westerners to the sword, winning 12-2 in the end. Garry Ennett got the other try.

Best for Buccs-RW were top scorer Feidhlim Byrne, Paul Gavin, Nigel Burke and Conor McNamara. The games were refereed by Barbara Oliveira, Isabelle Tierney and Jamie Pearson Evans.

Buccaneers/Racoon West: Will Finnegan, Alan Duggan, Conor McNamara, Garry Ennett, Nigel Burke, Ben Porter, Paul Gavin, Feidhlim Byrne, Anthony Quinn, Denis O'Connor. Coach: Kelsi McGrath.