ASDA come to Buffaloes rescue - Bramley Buffaloes

Young rugby players are back in business after burglars raided their fundraising tuckshop.

Thieves stole about £100 of supplies that were being sold to raise money for a rugby festival in May after trashing the clubhouse at Bramley Buffaloes.

But supermarket bosses have replenished the stocks after hearing of their plight.

Club co-chairman Tracy Bowes said: “It’s a huge boost at just the right time.”

The incident happened between the afternoon of Saturday, February 15, and Monday, February 17.

Burglars broke in through the roof of the clubhouse by Moss Bridge Road and trashed the premises before taking sweets, snacks, about £100 in cash and alcohol.

They caused about £2,000 of damage and vandalised equipment while they were inside.

The supplies were being sold to help fund a trip to Butlins in May for the Rhinos Challenge Weekend rugby festival.

Mrs Bowes said: “It’s devastating. We’ve just merged with Rodley Rockets and we’re still finding our feet. It took two days to put the club back to some sort of normality.

“I don’t know how they can sleep at night – we are a children’s club and they have stolen from those children.”

Under-11s Team Manager Tony Rowley, who works for Asda, spoke to his manager at the store on Kirkstall Road in Kirkstall after the incident.

He said: “He was happy to donate things to fill the cupboards again. It means the juniors won’t have to raise more money for the trip.”

An Asda spokesman said: “When we heard what happened we wanted to do our bit to help.

“The Bramley Buffaoles are a staple part of our community and to help the club back on its feet we’ve made a donation which, we hope, will go some way to making up for the items which were stolen.”