AIL Rugby: Buccaneers take deserved victory

Buccaneers 18 Galwegians 9

Buccaneers opened their campaign with a deserved 18-9 victory when they won the Western derby against Galwegians at Moher Road.

Both teams were seriously depleted given the non-availability of their Connacht players and both struggled to impose themselves.

Buccaneers led 7-3 at the break, thanks to an Oisin Grennan converted try after 22 minutes, before Galwegians scrum-half Bryan Shelbourne eventually found the target with his fifth attempt just before the break.

He kicked two more after the restart to edge Galwegians 9-7 ahead.

But Buccaneers struck a telling blow going in to the final quarter when experienced winger Mike Devine crossed for a try.

Fly-half Colm Glynn converted and then wrapped up the issue in stoppage time with a close range penalty after Galwegians failed to make several promising openings count.