Buxton Third XV 7 Congleton Second XV 47

The thirds opened their league campaign with a bare fifteen and came up against a well-drilled youthful Congleton side full of inventive running and with plenty of subsitutes. The game began with Buxton dominating the opening exchanges. From the kick off Buxton hammered into their opposition. The veteran Gyte knocked back a couple with big hits and a series of drives took Buxton deep into the Congleton 22. Fussell made a powerful run through several defenders and the ball was recycled with first Charles and then Barber having a go. Buxton opted for a scrum instead of a penalty and despite the ball being scrappy they held onto possession and set the ball up again. Gyte using his experience and power crashed over to open the scoring and Charles slotted the extras.

Congleton hit back through some scrappy Buxton defence. An innocuous scrum forty metres out turned into a nightmare for the thirds as the Congleton scrum half spotted a gap and raced through to score. Though they failed with the conversion it was just a taste of things to come. Lack of pre season training and advancing years took their toll, as Congleton lapped up the possession and though sheer pace out wide were able to run in a stack of tries.

As usual there was no lack of effort from the thirds. Captain Allen led by example and he Charles and Barber tackled themselves to a standstill. Bennison was outstanding all afternoon, whether running the ball out of defence or putting in try saving tackles

Buxton had chances. In the dying moments of the first half, Preece spotted a gap and was clean through only to trip, the ball being lost before the support arrived. A half break by Graham was carried on by Weston but with a overlap and Ritchie and Dawson out wide he failed to make the pass and the move died.

The last ten minutes saw Buxton defending their line heroically. They snuffed out wave after wave of attacking moves. Uprichard put in a try saving tackle and Bearman and Dilworth spoiled much of Congleton’s possession on the ground.

The lineout function effectively with Taylor winning some ball, but his untimely injury disrupted things and limited the options. Dawson showed briefly what he could do but had little in the way of possession to build on it. Ritchie never gave up and fitted into the back row in the last few minutes as injuries began to mount.

Though disappointed by the result the thirds should take heart from a brave performance. The defence improved dramatically in the second half and on the little possession that they had they created opportunities and were never afraid to take the ball to the opposition. If they are to turn things round however they need to work some of the basics out on the training field on Mondays and Thursdays 7.00pm at the club.

Buxton Thirds were; Bearman,Uprichard,Fussell,Barber,Dilworth,Gyte,Allen ©,Charles,Preece, Graham, Dawson, Weston, Ritchie, Taylor, Bennison