Bletchley beaten by neighbours Buckingham

The game opened with the ball moving from end to end on numerous occasions before Calum Gillie opened the scoring for Buckingham with a three-point penalty.

From the restart Buckingham went onto win a scrum penalty which took them back within striking distance of the Bletchley line. A fumble at the lineout gave the home side another five metre scrum which they went on to pushover for the first try of the day with Buckingham’s Number 8, Toby Smith, claiming the points. The end-to-end running rugby continued for a further ten minutes before Buckingham’s Joel Coxon broke loose on the halfway line to run around is opposite man and score in the corner.

Undaunted by the 13 point deficit, Bletchley work themselves back into the game quite quickly and despite missing a penalty near the posts they kept the pressure on to score a well worked converted try to take the score to 13-7. Buckingham replied when Toby Smith steals a loose ball and gallops over for Buckingham’s 3rd of the day, the extras converted by Gillie making the score 20-7.

Again Bletchley quickly respond and kick the ball deep up field which sees visitors with the lineout inside the Buckingham five meter line. The ensuing catch and drive by the big Bletchley pack takes them over the line for an unconverted try, score 20-12.

Buckingham then lapse further into self-destruct mode and for the next five minutes giveaway a series of penalties which sees the Bletchley Fly Half work the ball up field until they end up on the Buckingham 5 metre line. Growing with confidence the Bletchley forwards catch from the lineout and bundle their way over the line taking the score to 20-17 at half time.

The second-half started at a somewhat slower pace with Buckingham seemingly intent on giving the game away by conceding penalty after penalty. Making the most of the free ball Bletchley work their way into the Buckingham 22 and within striking distance of the line.

For those watching, it seemed inevitable that Bletchley would secure the lineout and use their muscle to drive over again however that was not to be as the home side snatch the ball back and return it to a midfield position, leaving the home crowd to breath a loud sigh of relief. A stunning lineout from Buckingham, popped down to scrum-half Tom Cook’s sees him take the ball up the blindside and to charge halfway down the pitch to score, Gillie converts, 27-17.

A great break from Toby Smith off the back of the scrum get a Buckingham back into the Bletchley 22. Buckingham maintain this territorial advantage for the next 15 minutes coming close to the Bletchley line on several occasions only to be thwarted by some keen tackling. Finally the consistent pressure from Buckingham ended with Tom Cook slipping a loose tackle and scoring his second with Gillie getting the extras.

With five minutes left and Buckingham down to 14 men, Bletchley scored the final points of the day from rolling maul.