The Buffaloes took advantage of the free weekend in the league schedule to organise a friendly game with Wallsend Eagles, which in the end turned out to be a feisty affair, but the hit out that both sides needed.
This was the Eagles second game of the season with them giving a run out to players from their first and second team squads. While the Buffaloes gave a game to some of the squad players who have been chomping at Coach Steve Langton for a match.
The Eagles Started the game on the attack and in the third-minute centre Chris McCabe burst through some sleepy Buffaloes Defence out wide for an unconverted try, giving Wallsend the lead 0-4.
Five minutes later the Buffaloes opened their account, when Second Rower, Danny Steel, went on a jinking run through the defence to score to the right of the posts, with Connor McGill converting the try, giving the Buffaloes the lead 6-4.
In the 13th minute, Wallsend were in again, when winger Karl Bloxham, went on a run, leaving the Buffaloes in his wake, for a converted try, giving the Eagles the lead 6-10.
On 17 minutes, debutant, Jack Sykes, scooted from dummy half, for an unconverted try, bringing the scores level at ten all.
Six minutes later, flying winger, Joe Mathers went on a barnstorming run, leaving defenders in his wake, for an unconverted try, giving the Buffaloes the lead again 14-10.
The next 12 minutes saw end to end action, with some hard tackling and thrilling play with both sides trying to force a mistake. This spell was broken when Steve Mead, playing his first game of the season, broke through the defensive line and fed the ball to Brad Wilson for a Try, with McGill converting, extending the lead to 20-10.
On the stroke of half-time, Wallsend were in again, when McCabe, squeezed through the defence for his second try of the afternoon, with the try being converted, making the half time score 20-16.
Two minutes after the break, Mead was on the ball again and strode through the Eagles line for a try, with McGill Converting, making the score 26-16.
In the 53rd minute, standoff McGill was through for his first try of the afternoon, but his attempted conversion bounced off the upright, extending the lead to 30-16.
On the three-quarter mark, impressive fullback Tom White, hustled his way through for a try, with Connor Radcliffe, converting, making the score 36-16.
One minute later, booming Prop, Dave Jennings, continued his excellent run of form, with a barnstorming run, leading to an unconverted try. Bringing the score to 40-16.
In the 64th minute, McGill was over for his second try of the afternoon, cooling converting his try for a 46-16 lead.
on 71 Minutes, Wallsend were over for their last try of the afternoon, when hooker Jimmy Baldwin, went through some tiring defence, for an unconverted try making the score 46-20.
With the last play of the game, Scrum Half Wilson went on a weaving run and found loose forward Aiden Baranyi in support, who score by the corner flag for an unconverted try, making the final score 50-20.
Both sides were happy with the runout and the tight game, with the Buffaloes looking forward to the League Game on Saturday with Greetland All Rounders and Coach Langton having some tough choices to make on Team selection
Buffaloes: 1) Tom White, 2) Joe Mathers, 3) Keiran Hudson, 4) Richard Fenty, 19) Charlie McMurray, 18) Connor McGill, 7) Brad Wilson, 8) Dave Parker, 9) Jack Sykes, 10) Dave Jennings, 11) Tom Langton, 12) Danny Steel, 5) Aiden Baranyi, Subs (all used); 15) Dave Wright, 13) Steve Mead, 14) Connor Radcliffe, 20) Callum Stevenson, 16) Danny Baranyi, 17) Ben Maynard-Warrincy
Tries: Steel (8), Sykes (17), Mathers (23), Wilson B. (35), Mead (42) McGill (53, 64), White (60), Jennings (61), Aiden Baranyi (80)
Goals: McGill (4), Radcliffe (1)
Eagles: 1) Dale Fullwood, 2) Tom Pike, 3) Chris McCabe, 4) Liam Blackburn, 5) Karl Bloxham, 6) Scott Rendles, 7) Tom Wood, 8) Austin Phillips, 9) Jimmy Baldwin, 10) Damien O’Connell, 11) Chris Brock, 12) Sean Wood, 13) Craig Banks, Subs (all used) ; 14) Calum Simpson, 15) Aidan Phillip, 16) Rhys Alison, 17) James Housecroft, 18) Oish Gourley, 19) Dan Atkinson
Tries: McCabe (3, 40), Bloxham (13), Baldwin (71)
Goals: x 2.
Man of the Match
Buffaloes: Jake Sykes
Eagles: Jimmy Baldwin