Sat 12 Oct 2019, 15:00
The Alliance Cup came at a good time for Long Bucbky on the back of a good win last weekend. They would look to build from that win and build confidence moving forwards against a team from a lower tier.
Buckby would receive the ball playing up the slope, starting well they made good yards through the forwards. Sam Doran’s was released down the blindside beating three defenders before offloading to Andy Oliver fending off the first man and charging towards the try line, the scrambling BBOB defence would drag him down only a meter short but JP Watters would pick up the ball from the ruck and powered his way over the line from close range 5-0.
BBOB Carried well through their centres and back row gaining some ground in the midfield, good tackles from Andy Wilcox and Jake O’Kiefe would keep them at bay. A Buckby infringement gave BBOB kickable penalty 5-3. This period saw the best of BBOB for the whole game and worst from Buckby. An uncharacteristic error from Andy Oliver would give BBOB the chance to hack through towards the try line only for Harvey Draper come to Buckbys rescue and chance to clear the lines. BBOB would lose the resulting lineout for not throwing in straight only for Buckby to hand the ball straight back with a feed in the scrum and good field position. Small errors were not punished today but when playing better opposition in the league they would.
Ryan Clarke would get Bucbky out of their half with a good kick followed up by a good run and kick to the corner from Harvey Draper, a mistake from their winger would give Buckby field position. The Bucbky maul would rumble towards the try line only to be held up. The resulting scrum which was very impressive throughout saw new man Tom Parratt scrumaging exceptionally well in his first start. The forwards would push BBOB over the line for Ben Walton to touch the ball down, Ryan Clarke would convert 12-3.
Ben Stoneman came on for Harvey Draper after a collision jarred his knee to give little Ben his first team debut after impressing in the development games and training. Chasing down a neat chip over the top Ben Stoneman couldn’t quite gather the bouncing ball when it looked like he would be clean through. Buckby’s front 5 would push BBOB off their own ball and Andy Oliver looking to carry more of the ball would make ground with excellent support play from Sam Dudgeon and Dan Taylor helped to get closer to the try line, Fred Saunders would get held up over the try line. From the scrum it looked like a carbon copy of the previous try but Ben Walton was adjudged to have made a double movement, even the BBOB coaching staff said it was a harsh decision.
Buckby were piling on the pressure and the BBOB defence was holding strong, some might have thought with all the missed opportunities it might not be Buckby’s day. Every time BBOB got out they were pinned right back into their 22. Strong runs from Jake O’Kiefe, JP Watters and Fred Saunders in the loose would give good front foot ball. The line outs led by Dan Taylor were also marching forwards when Buckby were getting penalty decisions and kicking to the corners. In the last minute of the first half Buckby were once again scrummaging toward the try line and this time Ben Walton made no mistake to score his second 17-3. Half Time
The score just before half time seem to take the heart out of the BBOB team and they wouldn’t look like scoring again with the majority of the final 40 minutes getting played in their half and Bucbky looking to throw the ball about and make a statement. Half gaps were opening up and Sam Dudgeon running the supporting lines off the shoulders of Andy Oliver and Jake Toesland would on those 2 occasions not quite gather the ball with the try line beckoning. 5 minutes into the second half good hands from Jake Toesland would find Andy Wilcox on the touchline to run in for the try which was converted by Ryan Clarke 24-3.
Jake O’Kiefe had a fine game at inside centre and smashed through two defenders getting his trade mark leg drive going to go through the collision and opened up, running hard at the BBOB full back who made the tackle but Buckby were one the front foot. Jake Toesland and Dan Taylor both carried before Sam Dudgeon was finally rewarded for his excellent support play to get one in the bread basket and grab a piece of meat, Ryan Clarke converted 31-3.
Young Ben Stoneman would receive the ball and make a good run down the touchline opting to chip and chase his own kick, he tackled the retreating full back over the try line with a tap tackle giving Buckby a 5 meter scrum. Ben holding his shoulder looked like he wouldn’t be able to play on but our physio Lauren Barker who was busy as usual would fix him up so he could continue. A nice back move would see Jake Toesland feed Ben Stoneman through a gap with the try line begging, only for Ben to lose his footing and see the ball go forwards on the ground. From the resulting 5 meter scrum on the BBOB feed, the ball went straight through the tunnel and Sam dudgeon would pick up and score under the posts unopposed, converted by Jake O’Kiefe 38-3.
From the kick off Dan Taylor would rise the highest catching the ball before setting off down the pitch on a 40 metre gallop. Looking for support he would find Ben Walton and Jake Toesland who would unleash Harvey Draper down the wing to score in the corner 43-3.
Andy Oliver would find himself stepping into the outside half position with Ryan Clarke going off with a thigh injury. A little show and go would find him running straight through the BBOB midfield on a 40 to 50 metre break looking for the support runners outside he threw the flat pass which went straight into touch. Bucbky were looking to run everything. Harry Ellison was making good yards around the fringes and in the midfield enjoying his role at 8 when coming onto the pitch. Both Ashwell brothers were on the pitch and Joe found himself been very industrious at the breakdowns ensuring Buckby had quick ball and James enjoyed some big carries in the midfield. Dan Taylor was getting his hand on the ball and made another good break popping it off to Sam Dudgeon to score his Hat trick 48-3.
From the kick off Buckby were looking to exit and a cross field kick would be caught on the bounce by Ben Stoneman who would run in to score in the corner for his maiden first team try 53-3. Buckby were moving the ball and making yards with Sam Doren’s once again slicing through the BBOB defence looking to get on the score sheet chopped down by the final defender but giving Buckby front foot ball. A no look pass from Andy Oliver to James Ashwell on a good line looked like he would get his first for the club but was pulled down a metre short and with the try line beckoning the referee stopped the game for a infringement at a previous ruck which would see Dave Roberts who have thrown well at the line outs giving 10 minutes. The game from this point got a bit scrappy and BBOB put the ball out of play to end the contest 53-3. Man of the match performances came from the two newest players to the first team fold, Tom Parrott for his exception scrummaging which was a dominate factor throughout the game and for Ben Stoneman who got himself around the park making good runs and capping it all off with a try.
This was good game for the spectator and saw the free flowing rugby we like to watch but you can only think although the score line was vast against a team from the lower tier, Buckby need to be more clinical and finish more of their chances. However the Green Army march on and will look to make it three in a row when they travel to S and L in Corby. Photos from Jo Foster once again is always nice to look over the day after for both the players and supporters alike.
Tries: JP Watters, Ben Walton x2, Andy Wilcox, Sam Dudgeon x 3 Harvey Draper and Ben Stoneman.
Conversions: Ryan Clarke x 3 Jake O’Kiefe x 1
MOTM: Ben Stoneman + Tom Parrott
