Thirds go down fighting 31-7 to Heaton Moor

After the lacklustre performance last week, the thirds produced a much grittier and determined display. If they could have kept the momentum going that they had built up in the first half to bring the scores to 12-7 then they could have gone on to win. As it was they ran out of steam and direction and in the end the score line did not reflect the effort that the thirds brought to the game.

Things began ominously however. Playing into a strong wind, some poor defence gifted Heaton Moor a couple of early tries and the flood gates threatened to open. Skipper Allen stiffened the resolve with some well chosen words and the fight back began. The front five laid down the platform, disrupting Moors ball and easily winning their own, but it was in the lineout in the first half that Buxton did damage. In difficult conditions Uprichards throwing was pinpoint accurate, with Dilworth and Charles claiming the lions share. On the Moor throw in Cavanagh at the back cleaned up and launched a series of drives at the heart of the Moor defence. Anything thrown to the front of the lineout was disrupted by Uprichard. With plentiful possession Buxton were able to establish some field position. From a lineout the pack marched Moor back thirty yards. Graham playing out of position used all his years of experience to create some space and Poole found Cliff Edge who pirouetted like a ballerina before executing an a la seconde and gliding gracefully over the line. Charles added the conversion and the thirds were back in the game.

The second half began poorly and the Thirds gifted Moor another simple try. Determined not to lie down they continued to fight. Bearman had his best game in the loose for a while running into defenders whilst man of the match Cavanagh was outstanding, either in defence or in dragging Buxton out of trouble with some powerful running. Weston and Cliff Edge combined well in the centres and Allen showed a touch of class with a neat sidestep and a turn of speed that made twenty metres. Ritchie and Gyte before injury forced him off were solid in defence. Rose and Dilworth made their presence felt in defence and attack, whilst Fussell and Charles cleaned up a lot of loose ball. As the clock ran down and the Thirds tried to run the ball from anywhere a comedy of errors gifted Moor another try and any chance of a fight back was lost. In the final seconds of the game Moor launched a final attack a try seemed certain until Seth pulled off the tackle of the game to stop the score.

At times discipline let the Thirds down and needless penalties were given away which disrupted the momentum, but this was a performance in a different league from the poor effort of last week. There was much to take heart from and if the good things can be sustained for more than twenty minutes then the Thirds will start to win again.

Buxton were – Bearman, Uprichard, Rose, Cavanagh, Fussell, Dilworth, Charles, Allen, Graham, Poole, Ritchie, Cliff Edge, Weston, D Gyte, Seth

Apres Match

Man of the Match James "Big Bird" Cavanagh. Awesome performance

Twat in the Hat Captain my Captain, for telling us that he had won the toss and that we were going to play down the hill and with the wind. Imagine our confusion when we found we were playing up the hill and into the wind. Well bless him he is only a Geographer.

Most ridiculous penalty Mr Graham. For sarcasm. Sarcasm! Howard sarcastic! Don't be ridiculous.

Whilst we are on the subject of referees, a word from the wise. There is not much point walking away from the referee and shouting I can't F***ing hear you. He is ilkely to lose his patience and feel around in his pockets for his little yellow card. Don't expect to get away with it a second time, you know who you are.

Strangest object found in kit bag. We will leave that to Mr Poole to explain. These backs though, its all true what they say. The moral of the tale is not to let the Beer monster wash your kit.