PLYMOUTH Buccaneers Flag American Football team claimed their first win of the season with a 32-31 victory over Hereford Stampede at Merthyr Tydfil.

The win came after the Bucs had nearly earned a draw with host club Merthyr Tydfil Thunder Ducks.

Plymouth had travelled to Wales for third BAFA South Western Conference tournament on the back of a 0-4 start to the season.

The Bucs showed good defence in their opening match against Merthyr, who had beaten Conference leaders Hereford 25-18.

Bucs continually shut down a tricky Merthyr offence and it took a tight pass for Merthyr to take a slim 6-0 lead at the half.

Plymouth started quickly after the break with quarter-back Barry Sellers hitting Adam Lines for a score with the extra point good to put them 7-6 in front.

The Ducks responded with another score to make it 13-7. But Bucs hit back again with Lines grabbing another score to make it 13-13.

The rest of the half turned into a defensive battle and just as it looked like a draw was on the cards a tipped ball bobbled into the end zone with 10 seconds on the clock for a 19-13 Merthyr win.

But game two against Hereford proved decisive for Plymouth.

In a cracking match, the Bucs took a 6-0 lead through Jack Gilbert. Stampede continued to struggle against the Bucs but two darts from the Hereford quarter-back put them 13-6 up at half-time.

The Bucs defence carried on with their tough play in a defensive battle for most of the half until Adam Lines slipped through making the score 14-13 Plymouth.

Again Hereford responded making it 19-14. But back came Plymouth with Sellers finding Lines to give them a 21-19 lead.

An interception by Aaron Fuller gave the Plymouth offence the ball back but were stopped on the drive with Hereford taking advantage to once again take the lead.

A clutch one handed by Sam Smith made the score tight again before another Fuller pick gave Sellers and the Plymouth offence a chance to move the ball again with Smith making the score 32-31 Plymouth.

Clutch defensive plays by Gareth Hawcroft Nathaniel Davis and Iain Sawczyszak sealed a big win for Plymouth.

The Buccaneers next fixtures are at home against the current national champions Birmingham Lions and Coventry Panthers on Saturday, June 4 at the YMCA Kitto Centre. Honicknowle. Kick-off is at 11am.