Thirds go down heavily to Spartans

Buxton 7 Village Spartans 65

Buxton travelled to Village Spartans on the back of two successive wins and looking to make it three in a row. They came unstuck from the kick off as Spartans exploited their superior pace out wide to run in a try and the Thirds realised that they were in for a long hard afternoon and some backs to the wall defence.

There was little passion in the way that Buxton played. Though they were dominant in the set pieces they could not capitalise on this. Time and time again good set piece ball was turned over by the Spartans who were dangerous on the counter attack, and the game was over as a contest after twenty minutes. Buxton then had their best passage of play either side of half time, getting stuck into the opposition and taking the ball back at them through the forwards. Charles set up an opportunity for Graham offloading out of the tackle but the ball was spilled forward. Dilworth tackled for all he was worth and Poole pulled off some try saving hits. Buxton got some relief as they drove the Spartans scrum back on their twenty-two and Preece exploited the narrowest of gaps threaded his way through to score under the posts. The try was converted. It was a short-lived revival though as Spartans came back and only some brave defending from Allen and Henderson keep them out.

Rose, Uprichard and Fussell exploited their strength upfront and the Spartans front row was forced to go down on numerous occasions and Uprichard found Charles every time as Buxton won all their line out ball.

Graham had one of his trademark breaks but with a three to one overlap outside he chose to come inside and the move withered. Weston Ritchie and Stratford did what they could to stem the tide and Weston had one strong break before the move died for lack of support.

It was the thirds worst performance of the season, with little passion or commitment shown. They were out played by a fitter and on the day better side and it will take a major change in attitude to turn things round.


Buxton were; Rose,Uprichard,Fussell,Barber,Dilworth, Allen, Charles,Henderson,Preece,Poole,Ritchie,Weston,Graham,Harrison, Stratford

Overheard

"Thats the biggest dicking I've ever had" Captain our Captain

Twat in the hat - lots of candidates, Mick Barber came close for getting locked in the club house before we left but in the end it had to be Howard Graham.