PLYMOUTH Buccaneers Flag American Football team stretched their winning run to eight games with victories over Coventry Cougars and Leicester Eagles in BAFA Inter-Conference clashes.

In blazing conditions, they beat host club Coventry 59-26 in their opening match of the day.

They made a great start with Sam Smith scoring the first of his five touch-down receptions.

The Bucs defensive is fast gaining a reputation for tough coverage and they shut down the Cougars offence and extended their lead to14-0 through Iain Sawczyszak.

After more impressive defence, Smith scored again for the Plymouth side to give them a 20-0 lead.

Coventry got two scores on the board before the Bucs responded with two of their own to take a 32-12 half-time lead.

The second half saw both teams move the ball but the Buccaneers fitness and skill saw them win by 33 points.

Their second match against Leicester was not as open but Plymouth were good enough to claim a comfortable 16-0 victory.

In tight defensive battle it took a two-point safety from Jack Gilbert to break the deadlock.

A Sam Smith touch-down made it 9-0 a superb pick six score from Iain Sawczyszak sealed the win.

The Buccaneers now stand second in the BAFA Southwestern Conference with an 8-5 record and on the verge of the club’s first play-off appearance.

Head coach Gareth Hawcoft was full of praise for his young side who never let up in hot conditions and kept the pressure on two good sides.

The Buccaneers final tournament is on July 31 when they travel to Hereford, where the top three sides will face off to become number one seed in the SWC South.