Buzzard U16s beat Biggleswade
U15s close the gap
Biggleswade 12
Leighton Buzzard U15 5
Buzzards travelled to Biggleswade having never beaten the hosts. The game started scrappily with both sides making silly mistakes. The Buzzard scrum of Will Peck, Connor, Tyler, Woody, Big Ben and the electric Harry Wears was once again very impressive. They secured their own ball and applied considerable pressure on the opposition put in.
The back row of Beaumont , Dove, Ollie Guyon, Henry Esdon and James Batchelor were aggressive in the tackle and gave good support to the backs. Unfortunately, late in the first half it was Biggleswade that secured the first score with a good forward drive. The try was well converted and Biggy led 7-0 at the half.
The second half saw Buzzards attack the opposition with excellent breaks by Will Guyon, Billy Mead, Alfie, and Harry Matteson, but Biggleswade last ditch tackling was exceptional. It was against the run of play and after a missed knock on that Biggleswade scored a second dubious try.
Buzzards were unlucky when an injury to the excellent scrum half Josh Price forced more changes.
The centres Danny Latimer and James Ellis defended superbly throughout the game and after Ellis set a ruck, the replacement scrum half AJ Hills broke through the defence and dashed towards the try line.
The Biggleswade fullback once again defended his line but Hills managed to offload the ball to the ever present Raef Braithwaite who scampered over the try line.
Despite more pressure from Buzzards there was no further scoring but Buzzards are closing the gap and will one day beat Biggleswade.
Biggleswade 10
Leighton Buzzard U16 36
After a poor performance against Hemel, Buzzards were determined to show they are capable of much better and it was Biggleswade who were made to suffer.
The early start meant Buzzards were still shaking the sleep from their eyes when Biggleswade opened the scoring wide out and things went from bad to worse when Arran Perry was carried off with an ankle injury.
With no substitute backs, Jamie Cormie was called out of the pack to play at outside half and proceeded to give a commanding display.
With Matthew Amey making ground with some driving runs and Jacob Evans marshalling the defence whenever Biggleswade threatened, the game began to swing Buzzards' way and it came as no surprise when Ashley Walsh surged over for a try well converted by Will Smith.
A Cormie break left Jack Blumsom in space and the winger crossed to make the half time score 12-5. Buzzards' pack was now beginning to take control, the front row of Callum Hunt, Jack Green and Ryan Bailey were pushing Biggleswade off the ball and Keiran Bolton, Jonny Moriarty and Christopher Parker were fighting for any loose ball.
A fine run by Jamie Cormie produced Buzzards' third try. Will Smith converted beforehimself scoring the try of the afternoon as he cut through the Biggleswade defence.
Buzzards were playing some good rugby as Matthew Johnson came into the line to feed Charlie Holmes for try number five.
Scrum half Kilby was varying the play well and replacement Liam Herring was soon involved in the forward exchanges as the Biggleswade pack began to tire.
Will Smith scored his second, which he duly converted before Biggleswade claimed a late consolation score.
Leighton Buzzard Colts 51
Stewarts and Lloyds Corby Colts 3
Buzzards faced Stewarts and Lloyds from Corby, in their second Referees Cup pool round match. The conditions at Wrights meadow were near perfect, with no wind, dry, sunny conditions and the pitch under foot having recovered well from the deluges of the week prior.
Buzzards were dominant from the off and moved the ball effectively in both the forwards and backs. A solid stream of possession from the pack meant that S&L were on the back foot and had to defend hard in order to prevent the Buzzards scoring. Despite some valiant early defence, S&L were cut open with some precise running and handling in the backs, as winger Winterburn flashed over the line, following an excellent line out steal from the Buzzards, close to the S&L line, conversion Evans.
S&L responded well and worked hard to disrupt the Buzzards, but were struggling for any quality possession; any scraps they were able to win, were immediately pounced upon by the Buzzards swarming defence.
Buzzards were penalised at a breakdown 40 meters out and S&L were on the score board at 7-3, after a very well struck penalty kick from a long way out. As it transpired, this was the first and only opportunity S&L had to score, as Buzzards dominance continued.
Buzzards redressed the balance almost immediately, great interplay from the forwards with Holmes and Blake to the fore, resulted in quick ball for the backs, which saw the versatile Esdon, running out today at full back, going over for a deserved score 12-3.
Winterburn added his second moments later, when a solid scrummage saw quick ball worked to centre Whitehouse, whose half brake saw him put the flying winger away into the corner, with the try line beckoning, 17-3.
S&L were looking somewhat shell shocked and were clearly struggling to deal with the robust Buzzard pack and the high octane back line.
Scrum half Wood who had been tormenting the opposition from the off, with his illusive running and quick fire service and was the next to score, when he exploded through the mesmerised S&L defence from 20 metres. S&L were all at "sixes and sevens" and Buzzards clinically stuck again just before the half time whistle, when almost the whole team were involved in a move that saw Winterburn score a marvellous first half hat trick 27-3.
Buzzard bench came into play in the second half, as several replacements were made. Unfortunately for S&L, the quality of this Buzzard squad meant that this was going to be an even tougher second period, as the fresh legs noticeably upped the tempo of the game. Prop Barker was rampaging around the park, punching big holes in the S&L defence, ably supported by Jones and a brief cameo appearance from Lingard, who had been nursing a hamstring injury all week.
Wood scored his second of the day, following more of his trade mark illusive running, as he danced under the posts, conversion Whitehouse 34-3. Keating was the next to pounce, when he was on the end of some slick handling and he outpaced the floundering cover defence from 40 metres, conversion Evans 41-3.
S&L were desperate to stop Buzzards at almost all costs and were guilty of a number of infringements, the referee was left with little choice but to yellow card one S&L offender, but bizarrely sent the victim off for 10 minutes as well! Inexplicably, it was decided that the scrums would now be uncontested, despite the coaching staff from both sides pointing out the error, as a result, the game lost all its tempo and competitive edge.
Following the return of both players, play was fractious, with little or no advantage being played. S&L offended yet again on half way, Wood lofted a precision kick to the left wing, Keating and Adams were both under the ball, with not a defender in sight, the only danger was of a Buzzard collision, but Adams grasp the ball from Keating's hands and touched down in the corner for a try of the very highest calibre, 46-3.
It was now all Buzzards, S&L defended well, but just could not make any ground, as the game was played in their own half. Buzzards however were not to be denied and Wood added his third, for the second hat trick of the day, as he scored yet another scintillating try. 51-3.
An excellent result, against a solid workmanlike side, as Buzzards now look forward to their final pool match away to Peterborough in a few weeks time, a win will see them proceed to the final stage.
Well done to Paul Griffiths, who had made an excellent debt in this game and to Conrad Braithwaite on his debt appearance in the 1st XV in their tough League encounter away at Matlock. Buzzards are eagerly seeking a fixture for next weekend, in order to be best prepared for the home National Colts Cup quarter-final match against professional outfit Moseley Academy the following Saturday, March 20, 3pm. The club will be running a pre-match lunch on the day, all are invited, please contact the club steward directly to make your booking.
Training Tuesdays and Thursdays 7pm to 8.30. New players of all abilities are very welcome. www.buzzardrugby.co.uk
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
