Buxton 10 Burnage 38 and a big thank you from your stand in skipper

There was a moment during the first half when they had scored their third try and we were resembling the village of the dammed that I had an overwhelming urge to run away. (Well okay limp pathetically and collapse on the touchline)We had players lying around all over the place, Johnnies leg was gashed open and his knee looked like a balloon, Tay was writhing on the ground (though Lizzie says he does this a lot) Rob had a nasty head wound, Tom had undergone major reconstructive surgery, Ali B was being brave about his hamstrings, (have I mentioned my Groin?) It could have turned into a farce. Instead we do what we know we can do. Put a brave face on it and battle away regardless of what the opposition can throw at us. Only there were moments today when we looked really good and had them flailing around on the back foot, as we off loaded the ball out of contact and supported each other. Some of the tackling was poor but some of it (stand up Chris Ford and Dan Rose) was bone jarring. We are not far off being a descent side. Seriously if we can get to training on a Thursday and put a couple of things together it will make a big difference. Remember last season and how a few simple things turned the season round. So thanks for the past couple of weeks,lets make it a winning return for Chris, and get the season back on track.

For what its worth my MOTM was Geoff. You have a difficult job to do on the wing and you do it better with every game. And you also got wound up and put it to effective use. (Good captaincy?)

By the way don't miss Ali Bearmans lectures on "Why sat nav is crap and all you need to do is follow my directions for getting to and leaving Burnage RUFC" Its riveting stuff especially when you are behind him, oh no your're in front of him now!

How to get to Burnage

Link to directions to Burnage RUFC

Click Here

Saturday's Result

Buxton Thirds 0 Hope Valley A few more than us. If anyone knows the final score let me know please. I am struggling to get a match report in but thanks to all of you who turned out and toiled away in the mud.

Don't forget Training on Thursday.

Back to League action with Burnage away this coming saturday. Will be sending texts out but we will meet at the club at 12.30 sharp.

Cheers
Simon

Training

Not a great turnout (thanks Ali, Dan, Ian and Chris) We have to find that extra ten percent to start winning and we will only find it up at training. We have new moves to work on both for the forwards and the backs, the coaches are keen to help us and the first team players want to see us there. It is appreciated that it is difficult with work commitments but lets make an effort and get up there for the next two Thursdays. It will make a big difference to the results.

Team for Saturday Away to Hope Valley

The following have been selected to represent Buxton Third XV away to Hope Valley on Saturday 15th November 2008 Kick Off 2.30pm.

A Bearman
S Fussell c
D Rose
I Henderson
M Woodward
T Charles
C Chapman
P Taylor
P Preece
N Bennison
G Ritchie
R Burton
H Graham
C Ford
S Gardin
Bro Henderson
G Nichols
L McDonald

We will be meeting at 12.45 up at the Club. We will be leaving promptly as we need a decent warm up.

If for any reason you cannot make it please let Simon know ASAP.

Saturday 15th November 2008

Away to Hope Valley KO 2.30pm Meet Club at 12.45.
If you have not done so already can you let me know if you are available.

Buxton Thirds 0 Marple 19

The adverse weather over the past few weeks finally forced the thirds onto Lilliput. The narrower pitch tends to result in more forward oriented games but on Saturday both sides tried to play with width. Buxton were struggling in certain key positions and the evergreen Graham stepped in to take on the Scrum Half role whilst outside him young Gaz Nichols stepped up to play Fly Half for the first time. He put in an assured performance.

Buxton opted to play up the hill in the first half and they found themelves absorbing plenty of pressure in the opening quarter. Defensively they were up for it and despite much of the possession Marple were unable to find a way through. Buxton launched occasional forays into the Marple half but they struggled to gain their usual advantage in the scrums despite the efforts of Davies. Marples tries came from periods of sustained possession with Buxton basically running out of defenders. Half time 12-0 down and the Thirds still felt that the game was winnable.

Having failed to make any impression using the forwards as a battering ram, Buxton opted for an offloading game. It almost bore fruit as Cavanagh broke through a tackle offloaded to Fussell who found Ford outside him. Ford made some ground and as he was tackled passed inside to Fussell in support who linked with Chapman. From the ruck Rabbitts who had replaced Graham spun the ball out to Nichol and deft passing moved the ball to Ritchie who was bundled into touch.

Gyte launched an attack from full back and carved his way through several tackles, he was brought to ground and the ball turned over. Sensing space behind Marple hoofed the ball up field but Charles showing all his experience had dropped back to cover the eventuallity and launched an attack himself deftly gliding through the defenders before being brought to ground. Henderson continued the move and Austin drove on before Marple managed to snuff out the attack.

Burton showed a useful left boot and put in several racking kicks into the corners. At the lineout Buxton did their best to disrupt Marple ball, and showed a marked improvement on their own throw in.

As the clock ticked down at the final scrum the forwards went AWOL and Marple with turnover ball were able to breach the fractured defense to touch down under the posts to give the score line a flattering appearance.

This was a massive improvement on the previous week but with marginal improvements that can be made on the training ground the Thirds can look forward to winning these games.
Buxton:Davies (McDonald 50mins), Fussell c, Austin, Henderson, Cavanagh, Charles, Dilworth (Richard 30mins) Chapman, Graham (Rabbitts 65mins) Nichols, Ritchie, Burton, Gardin, Ford, (Dawson 50mins) Gyte, Team Coach S Gyte.

Apres Match

No court, everyone ran away apart from five of us.

Injury update

Tom Edge - continues to make good progress and hopes that his finger nail will have grown back in time to allow him to play next week.

Dilly has bad back

Captain my Captain has man flu

Funniest moment of the match - Bird almost falling on killer who was minding his own business with Benno a little bit to close to the touchline. Luckily bird missed killer, otherwise.......

Buxton 0 Marple 19

A last minute try flattered Marple as this was a game that the thirds could have won. But we did not quite have the self belief. Training on Thursday is where we can get it right. Some good individual performances on the back of a good team effort. Gaz Nichols did a fine job at half back, and Chris Ford had an excellent game on the wing (voted MOM by Sir)

A full match report to follow, but it appears that we have no game next week, the next match is in the league away to Burnage on 22 November 2008.

Options for next week are either;

Try and get a friendly (prefered one)
Have a training session up at the club and then watch the England v Australia match KO 1430

Another defeat on the Road the lacklustre thirds

Buxton 3rd XV 5 Stockport 62

Buxton were outclassed by a superior back line and a strong set of forwards and to be honest some sloppy tackling and defensive alignment. From the kick off Stockport caught the Thirds napping and after a series of sweeping moves touch down for their opening try. A second followed shortly afterwards and it looked like a long afternoon was in store for Buxton. However this team never gets downhearted and rallied by Allen they produced an excellent ten minutes of play. Bennison made the first of several effective breaks and the forwards took the attack on and drove deep into Stockport territory. Stockport scrambled the ball clear but Buxton had a throw in ten metres from the Stockport line. Using a well rehearsed move, Cavanagh powered his way to the line and seemingly touched the ball down, only to be ruled held up. Buxton had the put in and secured clean ball. preece fired the ball out and the move appeared to have died out. Chapman secured the ball and the move moved right with the forwards driving as a unit for the line. Preece using his experience darted for
the line and supported by Dilworth got the try. For a fleeting moment it seemed as if the thirds would get back into the game, but defensive lapses and some positional naivety gifted more points to Stockport and the game was ended as a contest by half time. An injury to Preece necessitated some changes to the half backs. Buxton never gave up, Allen charged at the defenders all afternoon and Cavanagh took numbers of defenders to bring him down. Nichols had a half break, Ford showed some strength on the wing and Burton showed some strong running, but the Thirds could not string enough phases together to make any progress. With the last kick of the match Stockport launched a speculative punt upfield, as the ball bobbled about in the in goal area, Pollitt fell awkwardly and damaged his knee while Stockport helped themselves to another try.

Next week at home to Marple.

Bearman, Fussell, Austin, Cavanagh, Henderson, Allen, Dilworth, Chapman, Preece, Bennison, Ritchie, Nichols, Burton, Ford, Gardin, Pollitt, Rose