The Missing Match Report??

Buxton 3rd Xv 10pts Didsbury Toc H 24 pts.

THIRDS played hosts to Toc H, in difficult conditions at Sunnyfields. Buxton had made several changes, but despite this, put in a creditable performance against a well organised team, writes Carl Scrimshaw.
Right from the start, it was obvious that Toc H were going to have a torrid time in the scrummage. Every scrum went Buxtons way. Toc were in serious bother, and their faces showed the trouble they were in. Buxton had the best of the early exchanges, with some strong running from P Taylor and his partner B B Cavannah. Their direct approach was an inspiration the rest of the team. S Smedley, returning at loose head, showed that he had worked on his upper body strength during his long lay off, swatting away tacklers who got too close. P Preece was at his best, linking with G Stratford at fly half who kept the visitors guessing with some long range kicking. It was, however, a fortunate bounce which gifted Toc H their first score, after Buxton looked the more likely to register. Toc's second was a well worked score utilising a well worked overlap. Buxtons back were always on the look out for a chance to march up field. J Dawson and G Ritchie were cool in attack and stoic in defence. Buxton raised the tempo and camped on Toc's 22m line. Skipper C Allen piled over the line to score after several phases of interplay. D Poulter and C Scrimshaw provided a superb platform for Preece to exploit. T Charles was imperious in the line out, linking with Hooker, Scrimshaw winning all of his own ball, and a substantial amount of the visitors too. After the break, Toc scored in the corner after finding a gap on the blind side. This galvanised Buxton, who played the rest of the game in full on attack mode. N Bennison was difficult for Toc to pin down. His superb running lines fixed the defenders to the spot. T Edge was playing well, crashing deep into Toc's midfield. The introduction of G Nichols and Seth mixed things up a little, as did the intro
duction of Mike Towell and Matt Slimming. Slimming added a new dimension with some superb place kicking. K Mike Barber started off a move, supported by D Poulter, who drove for the touch line. A desperate series of tackles gifted Buxton several penalties. Marching ever forward, Preece, unselfishly slipped the ball to the awaiting hands of S Smedley; he took his opportunity diving over to bring Buxton into striking distance. More points looked inevitable, but Toc used their experience to run the clock down, frustrating Buxton, who finished the game the better team. Buxton thirds have the makings of a superb outfit; and with a bit more awareness they will be a force to reckon with.
THIRDS: - D Poulter, C Scrimshaw, S Smedley, B B Cavannah, P Taylor, T Charles, M Barber, C Allen ©, M Towell, P Preece, G Stratford, J Dawson, G Ritchie, Seth, G Nichols, N Bennison, M Slimming, T Edge