Buckley adding punch and pace to MSP’s attack

Michael Buckley is quickly growing a reputation as a prolific try scorer and the type of player prone to produce spectacular moments. The Marist St Pat’s Premier team’s wing has scored a try in each of his last five games and has bagged 18 tries in 26 appearances for the Reds as they enter this weekend’s semi-finals as top qualifier.

A fortnight ago against Wainuiomata, Buckley sprinted 85-metres in bucqi Jubilee Cup match-winning moment. Last Saturday against Wellington he leapt into the air, amongst congestion, poached the ball and dashed 40-metres to score. Remarkably, Buckley is a winger by accident. 

"I converted from flanker to wing two years ago. The Premiers were really short of backs and so they asked me if I wanted to have a crack on the wing. I had played some sevens and a little bit of 12 so I was happy to be given any chance I could get," Buckley recalls.

In the 2015 Swindale Shield, Buckley scored a try on debut against Paremata Plimmerton and featured in the next nine games scoring six tries, including a double against Wainuiomata.

Unfortunately Buckley missed the Jubilee Cup final which MSP narrowly lost to Old Boys' University. The defeat has heightened MSP's resolve.

"Our squad is pretty much the same as last year and the feeling is really good. I think we have put more emphasis on defence this year, taking more pride in our line and working harder for each other," Buckley says.

MSP won the Andy Leslie Trophy for topping the round-robin stage of the second round. They are ranked second in defence and have won 14 out of 20 games this season. A 70% success rate in a wildly unpredictable competition is a fair effort.

"Every team has three of four X-factor players that can really hurt you. Being consistent and not making errors is the key to success," Buckley believes.

Buckley's ability to strike on opposition fumbles and miss judgements has been telling. The try against Wainuiomata resulted from a turnover and the Wellington try which was taken from a Peter Sciascia high kick.

"The Wainuiomata game was in the balance when Valentine Meachen stole the ball and released me down the short side. I had to beat a couple of defenders, but I just put my foot down and was lucky to score. The Wellington try was kind of planned. The cross-kick is something we do occasionally; in fact we like to try to mix things up on attack. To pull it off in the wind and the rain was pretty cool," Buckley enthuses.

The Buckley family has a long association with Marist rugby. His father and uncle played for Napier Marist seniors with the latter Dennis representing Hawke's Bay. Michael played football up until the age of 12 before "getting tired of the Hollywood's" and joining several of his mates at the Taradale Rugby Club. In his first season he was selected for the Napier Ross Shield team who won the prestigious age-group rep tourney in 2008.

Buckley played two successful seasons in the First XV at Napier Boys' High School. In 2012 he was a Polson Banner winning captain and attended the National Top Four.

Buckley is studying accounting at Victoria University and his hobbies include wakeboards, action sports and relaxing with friends and family.

bucqi Jubilee Cup semi-finals this Saturday (2.15pm kick-offs):

• Marist St Pat’s v Oriental-Rongotai, Evans Bay Park
• Tawa v Wainuiomata, Lyndhurst Park