After appealing for a fixture after Mirfield’s players took the opportunity of a cheap trip to Spain for a Stag do, our good friends at MancunianRL came to our aid.
Playing in the North West Men’s League, Mancunians have been struggling for fixtures in the same way we have, with teams dropping by the wayside and they were looking forward to playing their first home game of the season, at the Hough End Centre.
The Buffaloes travelled over with only 15 players, as some players were away and a couple of late drop outs.
Both coaches were grateful for a runout on what was a humid afternoon and with the storm clouds gathering, the referee took the decision to kick off slightly earlier than the advertised 3 pm.
The Buffaloes were on the attack from the off, taking on the brutal Mancunians defence, the players ignoring the fact the game was a friendly.
In the second minute, centre Keiran Hudson broke through the defence and sprinted 50 meters for the opening score converted by Tom White, giving the Buffaloes the lead 0-6.
Five minutes later, Jack Sykes was in for the Buffaloes second try of the afternoon follow a flowing move, White again converting, doubling the lead to 0-12.
The Referee was keen with his whistle, blowing for some strange looking decisions from the sideline. Confusing and frustrating the Buffaloes players and supporters alike.
In the 23rd Minute, Tom Langton broke the home team’s defence for the third time, with a score near the posts. White converted again, giving the Buffaloes a 0-18 lead.
In the 39th Minute, the opening try scorer, Hudson was sent to the sin-binned for alleged foul play. In injury time Mancunians opened their account capitalising on the extra man, with a try to the left of the posts, with Danny Child converting. As the conversion went over the referee blew for half time, giving the half time lead to the Buffaloes 6-18.
After a series of frustrating and baffling decisions the crowd were on the referees back and as he came from the field he came over to the Bramley faithful, telling them that things would only get worse from this point on.
Two minutes into the second half the referees prophecy came to fruition, when Jesse Fay when through a gap in the Buffaloes defence, for a try, with Child Converting narrowing the lead to 12-18.
In the 47th minute, Fay was in again taking advantage of some weak defence, with Child again converting to level the scores a 18 all.
On the hour mark, barnstorming Buffaloes prop, Dave Jennings, went on one of his now trademark barrelling runs swatting off all comers, before passing the ball to the other prop Tim McRae.
On the next play, Centre Hudson was in for his second of the afternoon sprinting away from the despairing defence for a try, with White converting, to give the Buffaloes the lead again 18-24.
with a minute remaining on the clock, Danny Baranyi rounded out the Buffaloes scoring with an unconverted try, making the final score 18-28.
After the referees, harsh words at half time, and the opening try, the game calmed down, and both teams were allowed to play Rugby, without too much interference from the referee.
Both coaches were pleased with the bruising encounter. with the Mancunians hosting a 9’s competition this weekend and the Buffaloes facing local rivals Milford at Kirkstall.
Mancunians: 1) Antoine Andreau, 2) Clement Andreau, 3) Massimo Mani, 4) Dom Bolger, 5) John Ward, 6) Danny Child, 7) Luke Turner, 8) Liam Sharples, 9) Mark Farell, 10) Adam Lacey, 11) Chris Fox, 12) Dave Burr, 13) Jesse Fay, Subs (all used); 14) Jordan Moana, 15) Radul Sutcliffe, 16) Saqib Murtaz, 17) Adam Murtaz
Tries: fay (42, 47)
Goals: Child x 3
Buffaloes: 1) Tom White, 16) Dan Baranyi, 3) Richard Fenty, 14) Keiran Hudson, 2) Joe Mathers, 6) Alex Coop, 7) Brad Wilson, 10) Dave Jennings, 9) Jack Sykes, 15) Tim McRae, 11) Charlie McMurray, 12) Tom Langton, 13) Sam Wilson, Subs (all used) 20) Brooke Flynn, 17) Al Harker
Tries: Hudson (2, 60), Skyes (7), Langton (23), Baranyi (79)
Goals: White x 4