With both teams lacking a fixture, due to postponements and teams dropping out of the NCL, this game was hastily arranged to fill that gap. Its been a few years since we were last at Crows Nest Park in the Rugby Conference National, or National League Three competitions.
Celtic withdrew from the summer competition, before returning in the NCL.
Norland Sharks have most of their players, playing in the winter competition in Hull and they are in the play offs and as a result have had to postpone their first two league games.
The first quarter of the game was spent with both teams feeling each other out, probing and testing looking for the break that would give them the first score of the afternoon, punctuated by the referees whistle and pedantic decisions.
The first break of the game, came to the Buffaloes, in the 22nd minute, when Cameron McLachlan forced his way through the defensive line for the opening score, out wide, which Connor McGill was unable to convert, giving the Buffaloes a 0-4 lead.
The game returned to its previous state with both teams probing and being penalised for a multitude of mistakes and foul play.
In the 37th minute, the Buffaloes gave away another needless penalty, and from the resulting melee, the referee despatched McLachaln and Aiden Baranyi from the Buffaloes and one Celtic player to the sin bin.
Shortly after the play restarted the referee blew for half time, with the Buffaloes having a 0-4 lead.
Five minutes in to the second half, and the Buffaloes double their lead, when centre, Kieran Hudson, scored a dubious looking try, again out wide, where McGill was unable to add the extras. The score was now 0-8.
In the 49th minute, after a period of sustained pressure, Celtic forced their way through the, until then, resilient Buffaloes defence, with the conversion being missed, making the score 4-0.
On 55 minutes Celtic were in again, following a stray buffaloes pass, they raced away to score, but were unable to kick the conversion, levelling the scores at 8 all.
In the 59th minute Celtic took the lead for the first time in the game, following a poor kick on the last tackle, they raced away from the despairing defence, to score next to the posts, for a converted try, giving them the lead 14-8.
In the 66th Nathan Hammond, crashed over the line with four defenders on him and grounded the ball, however the referee was about 20 yards away, decided Hammond was held up.
In the 72nd minute Danny Wareing broke through the defensive line and score a well deserved try, McGill added the extras, levelling the scores again at 14 all.
Three minutes later, Celtic were in again for a converted try, giving them the lead again 20-14.
For the remaining time in the game the Buffaloes pressed forward looking for a chink in the Celtic armour, but it wasn’t to be. And the game ended 20-14 to Dewsbury Celtic.
The Buffaloes Coaching team, were happy with the performance in the main, discipline was the main concern, as in previous seasons. But for the first game of the year, against a team in a higher competition, they were pleased with the effort.
The Buffaloes are in Yorkshire Mens League action this weekend, away at Lindley Swifts, who play at 230 Halifax Rd, Huddersfield, HD3 3QL.
Teams
Bramley Buffaloes: 1) Peter Croft, 2) Stephen Bell, 3) Charlie McMurray, 4) Keiran Hudson, 5) Rob Brown, 6) Ben Blanchard, 7) Cameron McLachlan, 8) Nathan Hammond, 9) Connor McGill, 10) Ben Maynard-Worrincy, 11) Tom Langton, 12) Tom Barraclough, 13) Aiden Baranyi, 13) Garry Butterfield, 15) Craig Brown, 16) Brad Wilson, 17) Danny Wareing, 18) Tom Jenkins, 19) Curtis Sidebottom.
Tries: McLachlan (22), Hudson (45), Wareing (72)
Goals: McGill 1 from 3