Finally the cigar

Buxton Thirds 10 Aldwinians 0

Buxton Thirds produced an outstanding defensive display to beat Aldwinians and make a mockery of their position at the bottom of the league, in an intense, bruising and at times ill-tempered final game of the season.

Buxton got off to just the start they needed only three minutes into the game. Bosely made a stunning break from 40 metres out blasting through the midfield tacklers before jinking down the wing and beating the despairing cover tackles to score in the corner. From this Aldwinians came back strongly at the Thirds, but superb organisation defensively kept them at bay. Ritchie and Packer were instrumental in organising and keeping the defensive line. Edge and McGuigan began to work well together. McGuigans probing kicks relieved the pressure and Edge sniped and tackled well around the fringes and the pack was beginning to exert some pressure on the Aldwinian eight sending them backwards and disrupting their ball.

The Buxton lineout functioned well with Charles taking plenty of ball and Cavanagh collecting the scraps. Options were somewhat limited when Dilworth had to retire towards the end of the first half but Barber proved his worth, disrupting the opposition ball.

Buxton’s pack was working overtime in the loose. Rose slowed up possession on the floor and Allen relished the opportunity to take down the big runners. When Buxton had the ball Bosley was outstanding breaking tackles, making the yards and recycling the ball.

Aldwinians created a couple of chances in broken play but first Nicholas and then Jardin made try saving tackles. A missed penalty chance in front of the posts added to Aldwinians woes.

Aldwinians frustration began to boil over in the second half. They fell out amongst themselves and the Thirds exploited this by increasing the defensive pressure and causing mistake after mistake.

Despite being under territorial pressure Buxton managed to work their way out. McGuigan darted through a gap and then sensing space behind the defence put in a perfectly weighted kick. Nicholas had a race to the line against the full back but the young centre won by a yard to touch down for Buxton’s second to give them a 10 – lead.

Aldwinians threw everything into the match and set up camp in the Buxton twenty two for twenty minutes. Despite the vociferous support from their supporters they could not break Buxton down. Wave after wave of attacks were stemmed, Allen, Fussell and Charles to the fore with Henderson, Barber and Rose wrapping up anything out wide and Cavanagh and Uprichard scrapping for everything on the floor. The Thirds gave away a succession of penalties and finally the referee lost patience. Cavanagh was the unfortunate recipient of a yellow card. Aldwinians sensed that with Buxton down to fourteen men this was their chance. But try as they might there was no way through. Buxton held out until Cavanagh returned. Indeed Aldwinians were lucky not to have men carded themselves for some careless use of the boot. Having spent the afternoon going nowhere round the fringes they resorted to moving the ball along the line only to find that the defensive resolve was just as firm out wide as first Handcock and then Lownds made hard hitting tackles.

With Cavanagh restored Aldwinians resolve crumbled and a raking McGuigan kick took Buxton to within sight of the Aldwinans line. From a five-metre scrum Charles picked and drove to the line. He was held short of the line but Fussell continued the move and seemed to have grounded the ball only for it to be deemed to have been held up.

Continuing the pressure quick hands through Nicholas and Bosely put Dawson into space. He beat off one tackler and went over in the corner and spilled the ball as he made contact with the line. Again the try was disallowed. But time was running out and the whistle went to give the Thirds their first win of 2008. It was an outstanding effort by the whole squad and a fitting way to round off what has been at times a difficult season.

Rose (Wood 50m), Uprichard, Fussell, Dilworth (Barber 30m), Cavanagh, Allen, Charles, Henderson, Edge (Packer 45m), McGuiggan, Ritchie (Handcock 60m), Bosely, Nicholas, Jardin (Dawson 45m), Packer (Lownds 45m)

Apres Match

Man of the Match - Gaz though Geoff came a close second
Twat in the Hat - Should have been the Aldwinian supporters

So that's it for another season. A big thank you to Chris Allen for doing a fantastic job as Captain (hopefully he will consider having a second go)We all look forward to his speech at the Club dinner.