Longstanding record broken in latest Buzzard victory

It was a special day for captain James Brett as he became the first player to score more than 300 points in a season, breaking the 1st team record that had stood for more than 40 years.

Leighton kicked off downhill in dry and still conditions. An early break by second row pairing Tom Maynard and Callum Creber established the opportunity for Ash Walsh to crash over. James Brett converted to give Buzzards a 7-0 lead after just three minutes. Northampton Casuals responded almost immediately, scoring two minutes later with a try in the corner that cut Leighton’s lead to 7-5.

It was clear from the start that the visitors’ scrum was very powerful and their line out well drilled. Whilst the opposition set-piece was working well and forcing Leighton to concede scrum penalties, Buzzards did look dangerous from their limited possession. In particular the Buzzard back row of Ash Walsh, Jacob Dove and Matt Bloxham were punching holes in the visitors defence.

From the mid-point of the first half, Leighton scored four tries in quick succession. Firstly, Tom Maynard scored under the posts, and shortly afterwards recycled ball found prop Sam Curran, who was incongruously standing on the wing, for him to touch down. Tom Maynard touched down again before completing a 15-minute hat-trick with his third try, following a James Brett quickly taken tap- penalty. With two of these four tries converted by James Brett, Buzzards led 31-5.

The visitors remained competitive and their scrum half, who was an attacking threat all afternoon, scored a good individual try for a half time score of 31- 12.

It took just five minutes of the second half for Buzzards to extend their lead to 36-12, when Jacob Davies drove over from 20 metres breaking through many attempted tackles. Northampton Casuals pack was still performing well and, mid-way through the half had a period of sustained pressure on the Leighton line. Whilst the initial defence held firm, the ball was eventually spread wide for a try in the corner, reducing the lead to 36-19.

Any thoughts of a comeback for the visitors were quickly dismissed as Leighton scored three more tries. Firstly, man of the match Ash Walsh scored from a drive from a line-out initially won by 17 year old debutant Arthur Page. Shortly after Sam Dove touched down and James Brett scored with the final play of the game. With captain Brett converting these three tries, he broke the individual season points scoring record and made the final score 57-19.

Next Friday evening Buzzards travel to Luton in the cup, before returning to league action the following week away at Stockwood Park.