Buxton Thirds 0 Knutsford 40

This was the Thirds "Battle of Maldon",

Mind must be harder, spirit must be bolder,
And heart the greater,as our might grows less
Here lies our leader in the dust , the hero
Cut down in battle. Ever must he mourn
Who thinks to go home from this battle-play.

Despite the scoreline, the Thirds were magnificent in defeat. In appalling weather they produced a performance of pride and courage that as they left the Knutsford clubhouse produced a standing ovation*. Knutsford were made to work and to fight for every point, never, not once, not for a moment did the Thirds flag or let their heads drop. To have been part of the team today was an honour. To name individuals is invidious but you can't have a match report without it. so here goes.

Captain our Captain was outstanding. His rallying cries spurred the tired and weary legs on, and he was a threat and a thorn in the Knutsford side all afternoon. Bearman, Uprichard, and Fussell, battled and battered their opposite front row all afternoon. Dilworth and Rose provided the power behind and as the game wore on Rose began to get about the park a bit and make a nuisance of himself. Dilworth as always gave his all. Allen we have mentioned but he grows in stature every game, and Henderson was the rock. Even his kicking had a certain style to it. Anthony was fearless at open side and with experience will come guile and an awesome prospect (even if he does come from Longnor) and when he tired the old fox Dawson appeared to snap and cause them confusion.

Tom Edge stepped up to the plate and took on the tricky role of scrum half. He grew into it as the game developed and made some feisty breaks to show what he can do. Stratford was calmness personified, an oasis of tranquility within the surging maelstrom around him. He has taken to the strategy and like a Kasparov or an Adams finds innovation in the chaos that it creates.

To the three quarters we salute you. Your defense at times was so solid that it forced Knutsford to make errors, so that we lucky forwards could indulge ourselves in yet another scrum. You never gave up nor did you waver;

He told his troops
To make a shield wall and to hold it fast
Against their foes....Steadfast they stood
as Stratford stirred them on
Bade Seth, Gaz, Geoff and Dan to concentrate on defense.
And at the back, standing firm
In the mud and rain, there was a rock,
A lintel, unflinching in the face of the onslaught,
Ali Packer our brave last line.

Remember all the speeches that we uttered
Often when drinking beer, when we made vows
Upon the benches, heroes in the hall,
About hard strife. Those that had true
Courage shewed it.







*Okay it was applause and they remained seated, but it was heart felt and those guys had been in a game today and they knew it.

Bugger Bugger Bugger!

Buxton Thirds 14 Congleton 17

Buxton were minutes away from a first win of the year when a momentary suspension of common sense ceded the initiative to Congleton and they just won a kick and chase three quarters of the length of the field to ease them ahead for the first time in the match. Buxton tried to come back but they had been running on empty for most of the second half and nasty injury to James Weston brought the game to a wretched conclusion for the Thirds.

Things had began so differently however. In a storming and fractious first half well policed by poacher turned gamekeeper referee Taylor Buxton threw everything at Congleton and deserved their half time lead of 14 –0. Even without the usual dominance upfront they managed to use their possession wisely. While Henderson, Charles and Mike competed in the loose, the wily old heads of Preece and Stratford varied the plays to keep the Congleton defense guessing. The build up for the first try started with a Congleton throw in. Buxton had set up camp in their twenty- two, when Uprichard pounced on the lose ball. He drove to the line and despite the support work from Fussell and Cavanagh was held just short. Congleton managed to scramble the ball into touch and a superb take from Charles and a well controlled drive took Buxton to within one metre of the line. As the drive was halted, Allen drove Mike over for the try and Charles converted. Congleton tried to come back into the game but with Bennison secure under the high ball and the backs producing a solid defensive line they could not find a way through. With the Buxton centres creating holes and Dan Gyte taking the ball at pace it seemed only a matter of time before Buxton scored again. The second try started with a miss move in the centres and Stratford found Gyte with a flat pass at pace. He was halted but the forwards arrived in support and first Allen and Dilworth then Cavanagh drove at the Congleton defense. The move appeared to have been halted when up popped Uprichard to muscle his way over for an excellent score. Charles added two more points and Buxton had a fourteen point cushion. It had been a gruelling first half though played at a whirlwind pace and this was to take its toll on Buxton in the second half. Congleton had been forced to rearrange their front row due to some aggressive scrummaging from Allen and the fresher legs gave Congleton an edge in open play. They launched a series of attacks down the centre of the field and managed to create an overlap on the left hand side. Despite the desperate tackling from the Centres and Bennison Congleton managed to squeeze in at the corner. For some reason they managed to take the conversion from another twenty yards in and what should have been a difficult kick became much easier. More Congleton pressure saw Buxton forced to concede a penalty and the gap narrowed to four points. With five minutes to go the thirds were in attack with options outside and on the inside. Poole replacing Gyte tried a neat little chip over the centres. Had it come off and he re-gathered under the posts and scored the game would have been safe. As it was the Congleton centre caught the chip and seeing the full back up in the line, launched the ball into the acres of space. Charles made a valiant effort to get back but the ball held up just enough for Congleton to touch it down and claim the try. The points gave them a three point lead. Buxton tried to come back and Ritchie, Cavanagh, Uprichard and Fussell all made ground and battled their way through to the Congleton twenty two. As the ball was cleared to touch Weston was injured and the game conceded.

It was a mighty effort by all the thirds. They have raised their game on each of the last three occasions and a win is in their sights. Saturday against Stockport would be a good place to claim it.
A mighty big thank you to Paul Taylor for the excellent display referring display. The Congleton players refused to believe that it was his first time with the whistle and said that he was on of the best they had come across all season.

Apres Rugby

Your intrepid reporter sneeked off before court so cannot report on Man of The Match,(but as a member of the front row union if Mr Uprichard didn't get it then there will be trouble)or for that matter twat of the day. Its got to be either Poolie for that little chip over the top straight into the hands of their centre, or Dilly for confidently diagnosing James W's knee injury as a broken leg. Well he is in the Fire Service! Perhaps a special mention should go to Mr Gyte who possessed of a nice new intellectual looking pair of spectacles and desperate to get involved in a little bit of afters that took place on the touch line under his nose, managed to miss with his intended punch. There is also a malicious and totally unfounded rumour that Mr Fussell punched one of his own men in a ruck (Sorry Geoff). Perhaps Tay for being too bloody fair and for not blowing his whistle for the opening five minutes. Some of us were turning blue.

Thirds 14 Congleton 17.

Referees of the world watch out, Tays about. Sir did a really good job in keeping the waring factions of Buxton Thirds and Congleton apart in a sparky game which we managed to lose. No doubt a deep and detailed analysis was held in court and the guilty named and shamed but to lose 17-14 to a runaway try in the last five minutes of the game was a bit of sh***er to be honest. Good news that James W who sustained a really nasty injury was up and about a couple of hours afterwards. For what its worth Andy Uprichard was outstanding. He showed what a bit of controlled aggression can do (well he is a lawyer afterall) and I thought Captain my Captain did a manful job at the coalface. Welcome to the front row union. Hats off to the girls for holding the defensive line. The backs put in an excellent defensive performance and I have to say that if we had played on a wider pitch I think young Mr Gyte would have scored. (Mind you there would also have been a few seriously knackered forwards) We really are close to giving a team a stuffing. .I know I am unfit but was that first half fast or what? One more thing. Can Mr Dilworth please stop shouting at elderly and injured props from the touchline. If he persists he will have to front up and he knows what that means. Actually one more one more thing. What was Gytie doing dragging the honourable name of the third team spectator into the mud by fighting on the touchline? If he's going to do it at least he could connect with his punches, personally I blame the new glasses that he is wearing.

Close but no cigar

Buxton 15 Sandbach 27

After being on the receiving end of a couple of thrashings over the past few weeks, the Thirds travelled to Sandbach needing to put in a big performance to stop the rot. Though they did not manage a win they produced their best performance for some time and had it not been for three lapses of concentration could well have won the match.

Sandbach started the stronger and dominated the early territorial exchanges, despite the Buxton tight five taking control. The Sandbach no 8 proved to be a thorn in the Buxton side and it was a break by him in midfield that supplied their first try. This seemed to galvanise Buxton and through the effective boot of Stratford battled their way into the Sandbach half. Henderson returning after a long layoff was in outstanding form and with Charles and Dilworth foraging for anything lose, Buxton forced Sandbach onto the back foot. Allen competed for everything and when he wasn’t leading by example he was organising the defence and motivating the team. Keeping the ball close to the forwards Buxton drove up field and with Sandbach unable to hold the drive it was Henderson that came up with the ball to claim the try. With the scores level Buxton began to exert pressure. Bearman, Uprichard and Fussell began to get the upper hand in the scrums and though the lineout was not firing on all cylinders Taylor proved adept at disrupting the Sandbach throw. Buxton were beginning to gain some dominance when a defensive lapse in midfield provided the Sandbach centres with acres of space to run in their second try. Just before half time another lapse exposed some frail defending and Sandbach stretched their lead at a crucial time. Sandbach burst down the flank and poor tackling gifted them another try. The half time score of 15-5 did not reflect the effort that Buxton had put in. Ritchie who gave a hundred percent as always, was rested and Proudlove took over on the wing. Buxton hit back with a solo effort from Bennison, running and weaving his way from fifty metres out. Sandbach extended their lead again despite some valiant defence from Nicholls and Leigh. Buxton hit back though, as Dawson who had been an effective target all afternoon brought the ball back to the forwards and Graham fed Allen who powered his way to just short of the line. The ball was secured and Dilworth was driven over from close range for the try.

Buxton refused to give up even though time was ebbing away. Twice Buxton failed to exploit an overlap and Proudlove was hauled down with the line beckoning. Despite the defeat the thirds can be justly proud of their efforts. They showed great strength of character and if they can take certain key lessons forward they will start winning again.

The team send their best wishes to Leigh who had to leave the field in the opening minutes with a nasty knee injury. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

Club training on Monday and Thursdays at the club at 7.00pm. All welcome.

Bearman, Uprichard, Fussell, Taylor, Allen, Proudlove, (Charles 10m), Dilworth, Henderson, Graham, Stratford, Ritchie, (Proudlove 40m),Dawson, Nicholls, Leigh (Handcock 5m) Bennison

Apres Match

Man of the Match - Master Tactician and aging rock star Mr Stratford

Twat in the Hat - The prop that can't kick and spills his Guinness Mr Bearman.