Long Buckby v Vipers 23/3/19
Tries: Dave Allen, Tim Dixon, Alex Valentine, Ben Walton
Cons: Callum Higman x 2
Buckby did enough to win, scoring 4 good tries but errors gave a fired-up Vipers victory.
Two mins in and Dave Allen was in at the corner with Callum adding the extras. Vipers fought back and levelled the score after a couple of fumbles and a misfiring line out gifted the visitors territory.
Buckby regained control and looked likely to cruise ahead after Tim crossed following a clinical line out drive with extra two being added. As it was, the home supporters had to wait 43 minutes for their next score.
A single missed tackle led to a try under the posts and then the Vipers exploited an increasingly passive defence with crisp handling to feed their diminutive right wing who was a handful throughout.
The half ended 14 – 21 and then after the break, two turnovers let the visitors notch up their bonus point try and then consolidate their lead with a penalty as Buckby unwisely chased the game making handling errors. Now 14 – 31 down, calm heads prevailed and the momentum shifted again with Alex Valentine on the end of a deft grubber and then Ben Walton scoring the fourth to make it 24 – 31. They came close once again and looked certain to come out victorious when an off-field altercation seemed to galvanize the visitors who shortly afterwards kicked a penalty with the game ending 24 – 34.
It's still tight at the bottom of the table so expect an exciting if nerve wracking end to the season!
