Buzzards still in race for promotion

Leighton Buzzard 98- 3 St. Ives

Leighton Buzzard kept their promotion hopes alive in Counties 2 Midlands East South with a commanding 98–3 victory over mid-table St Ives, running in 14 tries in a one-sided but entertaining encounter.

Backed by a large home crowd, many of whom had enjoyed pre-match hospitality, and some who had started the fuelling early, Buzzard wasted no time asserting their dominance. The scoring began just two minutes in when Tom Maynard crossed, setting the tone for an afternoon that would quickly turn into a rout.

Winger Raef Braithwaite proved the standout performer, opening his account three minutes later and going on to deliver a remarkable double hat-trick. Captain James Brett also made a major contribution, not only with a try in the first half but with two conversions that saw him surpass 100 successful kicks for the season.

After just 20 minutes, Leighton Buzzard were 29–0 ahead, had already secured the four-try bonus point, and passed the milestone of 1,000 league points for the campaign. Any hopes of a St Ives response were effectively extinguished before the break, as further tries from Jacob Davies, Ollie Taylor and Braithwaite extended the lead to 46–0 at half-time.

The visitors did manage to get on the scoreboard early in the second half with a penalty following a Buzzards infringement, briefly making it 51–3. However, that proved to be their only reward against a relentless home side.

Brett completed his own hat-trick as Leighton Buzzard maintained control, while the second period saw further tries from Braithwaite, Walsh, Davies, Dove and Taylor. Braithwaite’s sixth try capped an outstanding individual display in a game where Buzzards’ attacking cohesion and clinical finishing overwhelmed a determined St Ives outfit.

The final whistle confirmed a 98–3 victory, securing Buzzards’ hold on second place in the table behind already-crowned champions Oundle. With Stockwood Park also winning and sitting just four points behind, the race for the remaining promotion spot will go down to the final weekend.

Leighton Buzzard now travel to St Neots knowing that victory is essential if they are to complete their push for promotion.