The Yamba Buccaneers have gone down 31 -17 to Kyogle Cockies in round three of the Far North Coast Rugby Union competition at Kyogle on Saturday.

It was another case of close but no cigar for the Buccaneers after Kyogle held off a resilient Yamba side who put together their best performance of the season so far.

Club Mascot Captain Bucc said the team had done well in the face of stiff opposition.

“The Kyogle forward pack alone would have weighed more than the entire Buccaneers side, so they were an intimidating team,” Bucc said.

“There were a few times when their big boppers got a roll on and threatened to monster our pint-sized players, but we cut them down with good, solid tackles so they never really dominated up-front like you would have expected them to.

“It was only late when one of their guys danced through us like he was dancing an Irish jig that they really sealed the game.”

Captain Bucc said with no subs and a host of walking wounded, the Yamba team stood tall.

“We only just scraped together a full 15 so to come close to winning was a great achievement,” he said.

“And of that 15 three were playing their first game in years and another two were injured and shouldn’t have played, so what we lacked in stature and numbers we made up for in heart and gave it a red-hot crack all game.”

Brothers Robbie and Terry Hill, Phillip Perata, Luke Jackson and Matt Larsson were among the best players.

Captain Bucc said the game followed a familiar pattern as the first two rounds.

“There’s no doubt we have the talent, it’s just the consistency and cohesion we lack,” he said.

“It’d be nice to have a team that isn’t meeting each other on game day. If we could at least meet each other at training on a Thursday night that would be helpful.

“We’ve had nearly 40 blokes play for us already this season, but with injuries and work commitments we haven’t had everyone available every week. If we could get those numbers regularly, we would be a very dangerous side.

“Plus, we have no props, so if anyone knows any fatties (a term of endearment within a rugby club) that don’t mind putting their heads in dark places, tell them to get in touch with us!”

The Buccaneers play Tenterfield in Yamba on Saturday. Captain Bucc said this could be a classic.

“They are the only other winless side, so one of us will break our duck on the weekend,” he said.

“It would be great to get our first win of the year at home so Canteen Corner can hear all our new players mangle the team song!”

Adrian Miller