This week saw Brighouse Rangers make their first visit to the Buffaloes in both clubs Current Guises, both established in 1879, and both dropped out of the professional game, albeit for a differing reason.
Before a decent crowd, on an overcast afternoon, the Buffaloes were looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven games, while Brighouse was seeking to build on their excellent win against St. Joseph’s.
The Buffaloes started the game brightest, when in the sixth minute Captain Brad Wilson, crossed for the open try. When he finished a move started by Prop Tom Langton, who laid a drop off ball to Wilson, who in turn fed Nathan Hammond, who broke the defensive line and fed Wilson for the try. Aaron Henry was unsuccessful with the conversion. Giving the Buffaloes the lead 4-0.
In the thirteenth minute, the Buffaloes were in again when centre Kieran Hudson picked up the ball from the scrum base, and crashed over the line for the second try of the day, with Henry again unsuccessful with the conversion, doubling the lead to 8-0.
On 27 minutes, Brighouse opened their account when fullback Karl Frankland, crossed for a try, but he was unsuccessful with the conversion, reducing the lead to 8-4.
Two minutes later, barnstorming Buffaloes Centre, Hammond when on a typical run of his, leaving defenders in his wake, only to be tackled short of the line by come excellent Brighouse cover defence.
On the Next play loose forward, Tom White when through some weak defence, to score a try under the posts with Henry Adding the conversion, making the score 14-4 to the Buffaloes.
Two minutes before the break, Brighouse put themselves back into the game, when winger Anton Ambler crossed for a try, with Frankland, added the conversion, meaning that the Buffaloes went into the half time break with a four-point lead 14-10.
Five minutes after the break, Hammond received the ball on the half way line and stormed through the defenders to score next to the uprights, with Henry Adding the conversion, making score 20-10.
In the 50th Minute, Buffaloes Man of the Match Curtis Sidebottom, went on a weaving 50-metre run, jinxing past floundering defenders, Henry was again on target with the conversion, increasing the lead to 26-10.
On the three-quarter mark, Brighouse went close to scoring a third of the afternoon, but man of the match Ben Ward was held up over the line. Two plays later, centre Andrew Collins crossed for the try on the far touchline, Frankland was again successful with the conversion, reducing the lead to 10 points, 26-16.
In the 66th minute, Sidebottom crossed for his second try of the game, with Henry adding the conversion, making the score 32-16.
Five minutes later, Hammond received the ball in the Buffaloes 20 metre area and sprinted away from the defence and his teammates for his second of the afternoon. Henry again on target, extending the lead to 38-16.
Three minutes from time, Henry broke through the tiring defence and scored under the posts, but his conversion was unsuccessful when he tried to backheel the ball over the post, taking the score to 42-16.
Shortly after the referee blew for time on another successful buffaloes performance. All credit to the Brighouse team who never gave up throughout the game, and will continue to have sucess through the rest of the season.
Next week we are at home again, to the Garforth Tigers, 2:30pm Kick off.
Buffaloes: 1) Aaron Henry, 5) Rob Brown, 4) Kieran Hudson, 10) Nathan Hammond, 13) Dan Baranyi, 16) Connor McGill, 15) Brad Wilson, 11) Tom Langton, 9) Cameron McLachlan, 3) Charlie McMurray, 14) Aiden Baranyi, 12) Curtis Sidebottom, 7) Tom White, Subs (all used); 19) Garry Butterfield, 8) Al Harker, 18) Tom Jenkins, 6) Danny Wareing
Tries: Wilson (6), Hudson (13), White (29), Hammond (45, 71), Sidebottom (50, 66), Henry (77)
Goals: Henry 5 from 8
Rangers: 1) Karl Frankland, 2) Lewis Taylor, 3) Andrew Collins, 4) Samuel Hardcastle, 5) Anton Ambler, 6) Douglas Heseltine, 7) Luke Worsley, 8) Cameron Bailey, 9) Andrew Esmond, 10) Lee Robson, 11) Ben Wrightson, 12) Callum Heseltine, 13) Ben Ward, Subs (all used); 14) Liam Pithan-Smith, 15) Reece Moffat, 16) Harvey Marshall, 17) Louie Sweeney
Tries: Frankland (27), Ambler (38), Collins (61)
Goals: Frankland 2 from 3
Men of the Match
Buffaloes: Curtis Sidebottom
Rangers: Ben Ward