The 2023 Youth Touch League (YTL ) finals took place on Sunday last at Greystones RFC.
Buccaneers Girls played DSC Wanderers in the first game. DSCW started the quicker and held a 2-0 lead at the midway point. However, Buccs Girls are a second half team and they upped a gear to pull one back through Orla O'Keeffe. Buccs had the better of the exchanges from then on and created a number of chances but just could not get the equaliser.
In the second contest, Buccaneers Boys played DSCW Boys and this was very much a tit-for-tat encounter. Buccs raced into a 3-1 lead with a hat trick from John Finnan. DSCW pulled it back to 3-3 and from there to the final whistle the teams exchanged scores to leave the score 6-6. Quickie specialist Finnan added two more tries, while Alex Connor also got on the scoresheet.
The game then went an extra-time ‘drop-off’ with both teams reducing to four players for a two minute period. There was intense drama with Philip Finnan scoring in the corner but DSC hit back to equalise. The game then went to sudden death with each side reducing further to only three players. Buccs seemed to have blown it when they were penalised for a forward pass but after a composed and disciplined defensive set, they managed to repel DSCW and regain possession. Cian Copelin then scorched through in the outside channel to touch down for the winning score.
Game three pitted the Buccaneers Mixed team against the home side, East Coast Touch. This was a very similar encounter to the Boy's game with both teams exchanging scores throughout. Katie Rowan got the first score after a great pass by Philip Finnan. Cian Copelin then scored a carbon copy of his earlier try when he sidestepped the wing defender and ran almost the length of the field to score. Further tries from John Finnan (2 ) and Niamh Purtill left the final score 5-5. Another ‘drop-off’ ensued. Niamh Purtill was the hero this time as she outpaced the cover to score in the corner with the last play.
Overall, YTL 2023 has been a superbly hostedtournament as it has given young touch rugby players the chance to play for their club against players of the same age from other clubs. Buccaneers youth players have acquitted themselves extremely well in this competition and six players from the club have been rewarded with selection for the Ireland Junior touch squads for next week’s Atlantic Touch Cup.
Buccaneers - Aoife Purtill, Molly Copelin, Niamh Purtill, Katie Rowan, Orla O'Keefe, Mya Russell, Cian Copelin, Alex Connor, Philip Finnan, John Finnan, Dion Chitanda, Feidhlim Byrne, Anthony Quinn.
