RUGBY: Third time lucky - and unlucky!
Buzz lose out as Syston match finally goes ahead
Syston 38
Leighton Buzzard 9
At the third attempt Leighton Buzzard managed to make the trip to Syston in Leicestershire.
The weather before and after Christmas had beaten both sides, but despite the cold and misty conditions the match took place at last.
Buzzards were eager for the encounter, so much so that they had to get the Syston club house opened for them long before any home players or supporters had arrived.
Leighton knew this was going to be a tough match, Syston were sitting second in the league and had beaten them on the three previous encounters. That the margin of these defeats was coming down showed the improvements Buzzards were making as a young developing side.
The Syston pack quickly took control of the game and had the Buzzards under pressure at scrum time. This resulted in a push-over try for their prop after eight minutes.
This was followed 10 minutes later by a penalty try after the referee had reset the scrum when the Buzzards defence broken down over the try line.
Despite holding the push short of the line the referee judged that a Leighton player had illegally kicked the ball out of the scrum and awarded a penalty try. The conversion made the score 12-0.
Leighton kept fighting and tried to attack out wide but the home side were quicker to the breakdown and controlled the forward play. This resulted in any possession for the Leighton backs being met by a strong defensive line which was very difficult to break.
At the half hour mark former Leicester Lions scrum-half Warren Coles went over for a try. With the conversion making it 19-0. Leighton kept fighting and were rewarded with two penalties which were converted by Tom Gibbs to make the score 19-6 at half time.
In the second half Leighton kept battling but another try for the Syston number 9 followed by one for another former Lions player, Hewett at 15, sealed the match.
The young Leighton side never gave up and breaks for George Messum, fresh from his East Midlands under 20 game in midweek, along with hooker Andy Jenkins, ensured the home side did not get anywhere near the score of last year.
First appearances by Dan David and Adam Easter were promising and showed some of the upcoming players starting to be developed at the Buzzards.
Veteran utility player Carl Perry made his first appearance after eight weeks off and helped steady the ship with some of his trademark tackling.
Leighton can take some positives out of this match and look forward to another away day next week when they take on Mansfield.
A good result against this team earlier in the season when Leighton won 30-23 should ensure a good game against a team only three points ahead in the league table having played one more game.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
