Sat 29 Feb 2020, 14:15
Long Buckby v Leighton Buzzard
Top of the table get a scare
After another wet week it looked unlikely this game would go ahead but with a VP dinner to look forward to the old faithful were down Station Road to give the pitch a good forking before the game. In truth the pitch surface wasn’t a defining factor and was good underfoot, it was the strong wind down to the bottom corner of the pitch which would make this a game of two halves.
Buckby would play with the wind in the first half and would aim to make it hard for the table toppers to leave their half and resolute defence would see Buckby getting hands on the ball in Buzzard territory. Dan Taylor was dynamic around the rucks breaking the gain line on successive carries. Buckby were pressing and an excellent flat pass from Dan Taylor would find Jack Gibbons on the outside, charging towards the try line stepping hard and getting tackled just 2 metres short of the try line, Buzzard getting away with no rolling away or clear release would get the penalty and chance to clear, but not too far. In the windy conditions the ball was not quite finding hands and Buckby looked the stronger of the two packs and on two occasions shoved the Buzzard pack backward to win scrums against the head. Callum Higham was looking to open the play and get Ed Sitch on the outside but he would get caught isolated and the ball would be turned over. Buzzard would kick 50 metres across the pitch with the wind just to get the touch, that’s how strong the wind was. David Wardle would win the lineout against the throw, which would become a bit of a theme during the game with Dan Taylor and co turning over the Buzzard lineout about 50% of the time. Buckby would look to use Jake O’Kiefe in the wider channel and get a little go forward and the pack worked tirelessly in the fringes. Andy Oliver capitalised on a lack of Buzzard organisation around the ruck spotting a line from deep next to ruck and Sam Dudgeon who pop him straight through on half way, fending a couple of tacklers before getting dragged down around the 22. With Buzzard scrabbling carries from Andy Frankland, Chris Page, Fergus Murray and Dan Taylor would get Buckby within 5 metres. Buzzard were stretched and quick hand across the pitch would see Tim Lewis making the final pass to Andy Oliver to score in the corner. Kicking into the wind Callum Higham landed a perfect kick to make the score 7-0 (20mins). During these phases Craig Eales would pick up a knock and was replaced by Andrew Wilcox. Unfortunately from kick off it would head straight to the new man and with the swirling conditions the ball was spilt and the ball was picked up in an offside position. Buzzard would kick to the corner and secure ball, good defence initially stopped their progress but a change in direction gave them the score which was converted 7-7 (23 mins). From the re-start Callum put a little too much on the kick and with the wind it would sail dead and give Buzzard the chance to start from half way. They would use their big carrying centre to look to break the gain line but he would be well met by Ed Sitch. Further carries from their back row and outside centre would have Buckby scrambling but making it hard for Buzzard to get away. Jake O’Kiefe and Jack Gibbons would prevent the overlap and good line press and tackling in the middle from Fergus Murray and Timmy Dixon caused all sorts of problems causing Buzzard players to drop the ball under pressure. Callum Higham would find a good kick into the corner deep in the Buzzard 22 so Buckby could try and start playing in the right areas. Buckby would soon get the ball back and running a training ground move gave Josh Brown a little space to fend and accelerate from his opposite number and score an excellent try in the right hand corner. Callum Higham would strike the ball well again to make it 14-7 (30 mins). The game would ebb and flow and Buckby didn’t seem to be getting the rub of the green when it came to some decisions and Dan Taylor would be given a team yellow for persistence offenses. Buzzard would take the 3 points to make it 14-10 at half time. It’s a miracle this first half report was written considering Philip Oliver, chief notes taker didn’t make it down until the start of the second half along with Steve Murray and the remainder of the VP’s who were enjoying their day. Unfortunately for them they missed a good half of rugby from Buckby who would now be up against the elements.
HT
Buckby would start the second half still down to 14 men and Buzzard would look to make use of the wind and the additional player on the pitch. Buckby would get caught out after good handing by the Buzzard back row would see them score near the posts 14-17 (43 mins). Buzzard would pin Buckby in the bottom corner with good kicks and Buckby needed to work hard to make any ground to get out. Andy Oliver would make yards down the right hand side and forwards coming in on hard lines would look to knock the Buzzard defence backwards, however on one occasion the referee deemed a high leading arm to an opponent’s head gave him no option but to give straight red. No malice was in the contact but rules are rules. Buckby would play the remaining 35 minutes with 14 men and against the wind. Buzzard would be playing with more of the ball but their mistakes would keep Buckby in the game due to good pressure from the Buckby defence. A well worked training ground move would give the Buzzard winger room on the overlap and score in the corner 14-22 (50 mins). The next 15/20 minutes you would have thought Buzzard were the man down as Callum Higham would try to get the forwards moving around the park with good hard running and support. Fergus Murray and Andy Frankland would draw in the defenders setting a platform for Callum to release Jack Gibbons down the wing making a good 20 metres stepping in to feed Andy Oliver who broke a few tackles before slipping in front of his opposite man but making it to about the 10 metre line. The forwards would take it on from here and rumble towards the try line, Chris Page was held up inches short before Buckby got pinged, giving Buzzard a chance to clear. Buckby would steal the line out and head towards the same corner playing with a penalty advantage they eventually kicked to the corner and they would get a scrum after a knock on from Buzzard. For me this was a defining moment in the game, Ed Sitch join the forward ranks to bolster the pack and Buzzard were penalised twice on their 5 metre line. Buckby were going for it but the referee took action against their front row and gave a Buzzard prop a yellow card. The bad news for Buckby was due to a prior front row injury the scrums had to go uncontested for the remainder of the game. Buckby opted for the line out on the 5 metre line which slipped through Dan Taylors hands and Buzzard would celebrate! With the uncontested scrum it would give Buzzard an easy exit and Andy Oliver would retrieve the ball deep inside his own 22 with a good chase from Buzzard he only managing the clear to the half way line. Buzzard would work their way into the 22 and opted to take a penalty to make it 14-25 (75 mins). After this both teams probed but didn’t look like scoring until the final play of the game. Buzzard looking for the bonus point score and Bucbky needing to get something out of the game, Andy Oliver shot out the line looking for the intercept but the pass would go long and high over to the winger who scored. The gamble didn’t pay off but Buckby put up a fight against top of the league and played with 14 men for over half the game should gain confidence moving into the final quarter of the season.
FT
MOTM – Fergus Murray
