Another bonus point win for free scoring Buzzards as Daventry are downed

Leighton Buzzard’s excellent form continued with their third bonus point victory from the last four games, winning 40-22 at Daventry.

Leading from the first minute, this win was based on a strong first-half performance and, while the home side rallied in the second half, Leighton finished strongly denying their opponents a bonus point.

Buzzards made a tremendous start – kicking off in dry and still conditions, they were immediately on the attack and it took only 45 seconds to open the scoring with Raef Braithwaite touching down in the corner and Leighton had an early 5-0 lead.

Leighton quickly added two further tries in the sixth and 14th minutes – the first with a forward drive with Matt Bloxham touching down, followed by Jacob Dove scoring after an excellent lineout drill.

With James Brett converting both, the Buzzards lead was 19-0.

Daventry hit back with a converted try to make it 19-7, but withing six minutes Leighton scored their fourth and bonus point try when Tom Maynard swooped on a loose ball to break through the defence.

Brett converted to re-establish the 19-point lead at 26-7 which was how it stayed until half-time.

In stark contrast to the first half, Buzzards started the second period poorly and Daventry cut the deficit to 26-10 with a penalty and then quickly added a well-worked converted try to make the score 26-17.

Buzzards' nerves were eased shortly after when no.8 Jacob Murtagh broke from the scrum to make space for George Coote to score, with Brett’s conversion making it 33-17.

With 15 minutes left and after a period of growing pressure Daventry scored their third try in the corner but the difficult conversion was missed leaving the home side trailing 22-33.

But any lingering doubts about the Buzzard victory ended with a fine individual try five minutes from the end by Callum Creber, converted by Brett to seal the result at 40-22.

Daventry did push hard in the final minutes for a fourth try and a bonus point, but it says much for Buzzards' determination that even with the game won their commitment to defence was total as thye moved up to sixth in the league.

Leighton are without a game this weekend, and then host Leicester Forest on November 14.