With high anticipation but less than perfect numbers the Buccs hosted the Mississauga Blues for two matches on Saturday.

Buccs 2 took the field with 15 players but soon found themselves down a man due to injury. Despite a few quick scores against, the Buccs 2 battled back and put up two tries of their own. Under hot sunny skies the half wore on and the hard fought play took its toll on two other players leaving the Buccs 2 down by three men going into the second half. Rallying around each other however the second team did not give up. Despite having a number of tries scored on them due to overlaps the Buccs 2 pressed on played a full hard 40 minutes with seriously diminished numbers. At the final whistle the Buccs 2 had been beaten 42-10, however all who played held their heads high and left the field knowing they had played hard, never gave up, and finished what they started. Strong tackles by the backs, including some monster sized hits by Ryan Abraham, along with great runs by Joshua Han, Nick Fabbricino and Dan ‘Snuggles’ Mossip Balkwill coupled with the ever stalwart captain presence of James Phillips all helped inspire the Buccs 2 to rise to the occasion of playing down three men and never giving up.

The first team Buccs came onto the field ready to redeem themselves after a tough loss to Mississauga in their previous meeting. A quick score by Mississauga had the Buccs 1 down early but after that the Buccs 1 put on the gas and never let up. Quickly scoring themselves to bring the game close the first half slowly began swaying in the Buccs 1 favour with brilliant running and defense in the backs and strong rucking and set plays in the forwards. The second half saw the Buccs 1 truly put the throttle down, playing another 40 minutes of never wavering rugby. Under blazing hot sunny skies 15 players began the game, and the same 15 finished. At the whistle the final score was Mississauga 15, Buccs 34. Congrats to all the players on an excellent game and as well to a number of first time scorers for the Buccs 1. Rookies Gabriel Mamin, Charlie Stratton and Colin Alexander along with veteran Fraser Cook all received the traditional congratulatory pie in the face back at the Fox.

Following the match was our club annual pub crawl along with the YeoLions. With a packed TTC bus the teams took off from the Fox to enjoy a few refreshments at our other sponsor bar, the Detroit Eatery before heading off to another Fox and Fiddle at Yonge and St. Clair. An unscheduled stop in between meant a reduction in bars the team could make it to so the last stop followed down at the London Tap House. To say the mood was jovial, that a few people may have danced, and that the overall level of sobriety was low is an understatement.

Congrats to all team members on a great day, a great win, and some great times.

Our next scheduled game will be a make up game against the York Yeoman on Thursday August 4th. Let’s keep the momentum from Saturday’s win going and all make an effort to come out and work hard at practice.

Stay classy Buccs.