Our latest Yorkshire Mens League game took us down the A1 to Bentley just outside of Doncaster, where we played Bentley ARLFC.
Bentley was coming back from a defeat last weekend against the league leaders, and our opponents next weekend, East Hull. Whereas we were on the back of our first league win of the season.
We had picked up a few injuries in the last couple of weeks and were missing a couple of players through that, but also suffer from a few players dropping out at the last minute. The guys that donned the shirt were outstanding and gave their all. Curtis Sidebottom moved into the unfamiliar position of Standoff and ran his blood to water. And Man of the Match for the Buffaloes, Brad Wilson never stopped trying to find a chink in the home sides defence. Andy Boot, brother of Craig, and Sam Walding made their debuts for the Buffaloes as well.
The Bentley forward pack was large and mobile and kept taking the ball up all game, with some good interchange player. Replacing the forwards on a regular basis, the Buffaloes were at one point down to one available interchange player, through injuries.
The game started poorly for the Buffaloes when they put the kick off out on the full, giving the home team the ball back on the halfway line.
A couple more penalties gave Bentley possession the Buffaloes 20 metre zone, and on two minutes they powered over for the first converted try of the afternoon, giving them the lead, 6-0.
Five minutes later and Bentley were in again following a poor decision from the official, with the try converted, doubling the lead to 12-0.
In the 18th minute and on the back of a period of sustained pressure, the Buffaloes opened their account for the afternoon, when Rob Brown squeezed in by the corner flag, Keiran Hudson was unable to convert the try, making the score, 12-4.
The next 16 minutes were all action, with both teams, trying to break each other down, falling foul of the referee and losing the ball in the tackle. Until the 34th minute when a tiring Buffaloes defence allowed Bentley in for their third try of the afternoon, this time they were unsuccessful with the conversion. Making the scoreline 16-4 to the home side.
This remained the score until halftime.
In the first minute after the interval, Bentley were in again, with a great cut out pass, opening up the Buffaloes defence for a walk in try, which was again converted, making the score 22-4.
The resulting Kick off went out on the Full and Bentley were on the attack again.
In the 47th minute, Bentley scored again, as the defence was tiring, with a converted try, making the score 28-4.
On 59 minutes, Aidan Baranyi broke away from the defenders, drawing the fullback, before passing the ball to Winger Rob Brown, who was brought down into touch, by the cover defence.
In the 66th minute One of the Bentley players took advantage of a slow marker at the play the ball and nipped through the defensive line for another converted try from the home team, extending the lead to 34-4.
In the 75th Minute, the Buffaloes scored their second try of the afternoon, when Tom Langton, crashed over the line from close in. Tom Jenkins, converted the try, making the score 34-10.
With two minutes remaining the Home side were over again, when they managed to catch the buffaloes short out wide and went in for a try out wide, which was again converted, making the final score 40-10.
Bramley are at home next saturday the 19th May, when we face league Leaders East Hull, at The Warells. Kick off at 2:30.
Bentley ARLFC: 1) ALex Bates, 2) Brad Maltby, 3) Jordan Clegg, 4) Johnny Marshall, 5) Callum Hickling, 6) Jonny Woodcock, 7) Jack Craswell, 8) Danny Royle, 9) Scott Smith, 10) Jordan Middleton, 11) Tom Flounders, 12) Ryan Craswell, 13) Jake Starbuck, Subs (all used) 14) Jack Bevers, 15) Dean Colton, 16) Shaun Archer, 17) Rob Baskerville
Buffaloes: 1) Peter Croft, 2) Ben Blanchard, 3) Kieran Hudson, 4) Aidan Baranyu, 5) Rob Brown, 6) Curtis Sidebottom, 7) Brad Wilson, 18) Charlie McMurray, 9) Dan Baranyi, 10) Ben Maynard-Worrincy, 11) Tom Langton, 12) Stephen Bell, 13) Andrew Boot, Subs (all used) 14) Sam Walding, 15) Garry Butterfield, 16) Tom Jenkins, 17) Stuart McKenna.
Tries: Brown (18), Langton (75)
Goals: Hudson 0 from 1, Jenkins, 1 from 1
Man of the Match: Brad Wilson