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.