Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship Round 2

Photo by Stephen Ignacio

InLine Framing Straits Sharks 24 – 74 IBEX Buccaneers

Using that old cliché, this was a game of two halves. Hardly a cigarette paper separated the two teams in the first half with each trading scores and neither managing to break free. The Sharks were ruthless with their forward drives and got their scores following a series of tap penalties when they got close to the Buccaneers line. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, got their scores by choosing to spin the ball out wide to their speedy backs, with their forwards dominating the set-piece. It was a fascinating first half and the Buccaneers went into the break narrowly leading by 22-19.

I’m never sure what is said in these half time team talks but a different Buccaneers took the field in the second half and within ten minutes had sealed the game with four wonderfully created scores. Despite this, the Sharks continued to battle and there was a slight glimmer of hope when debutant Luke Manley crashed over from another quick penalty to give them their fourth try and with it a bonus point. However, as the game opened up in the last ten minutes the Buccaneers drove home their second-half dominance with three more scores to round off a convincing win and maintain their unbeaten record in the Umee Gibraltar Rugby Championship.

Spirit of the Rock Man of the Match

Man of the Match was awarded to Luke Payas as he controlled the pack and the team well throughout the game and even managing to get two tries to himself.