Bramley Buffaloes A team make it three wins in a row against the Leeds Akkies.
Andy & Devon Johnson
It’s strange to report that although we have entered the 4th month of the season, this was Bramley Buffaloes A team’s second home game. The kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes to allow the line markings to be added to the new playing surface, which looked good after its refresh.
It only took the Buffaloes 5 minutes to get on the scoreboard with a lovely darting run by hooker Tony Morrison who went in at the side of the posts. Tom Jenkins stepped up to convert. Score: Buffaloes 6 – 0.
This was a fantastic opening set. But the Akkies were soon back in the game in the 10th minute with a try of their own, scored by their winger. Score: Buffaloes 6 – 4.
For the following ten minutes, neither team seemed to be able to hold possession, with many loose carries and failed passes. After throwing the ball out wide for the winger to go unchallenged for a converted try, the Akkies were the next to score: Buffaloes 6 –10.
As a result, coach Jed brought on two new forwards, the evergreen Andy Boot and new addition Lewis Bromley, who was making his Buffaloes debut. However, he is familiar with his surroundings as the West Leeds captain.
Both players made an immediate impact, with Andy Boot displaying a ‘never say die attitude as he took the ball up and Bromley tearing through the Akkies pack on many occasions.
One of these runs secured the Buffaloes their second try in the 25th minute. Lewis Bromley was fed the ball 10 metres out and went in low and hard through the despairing Akkies forwards to dot the ball down for his first try for the club. The conversion went wide. Score: Buffaloes 10 – 10.
The Akkies came back with a further try in the 30th minute, again using the full width of the field to go round the Buffaloes cover. Score: Buffaloes 10 – 14.
On 35 minutes, Andy Boot went on a raging run to burst through the Akkies defensive line and score close to the posts, reversing the lead. At halftime, the score was Buffaloes 16 – 14 Akkies, thanks to Tony Morrison’s conversion.
The second half started in the same vein as the first with an early Buffaloes try in the 45th minute when Bailey Harmon, who ran strongly throughout the match, went in to score, and Kieran McFarlane converted. Score: Buffaloes 22 – 14.
Credit to the Akkies, however, who came back strongly with two converted tries in the 55th and 65th minutes. The first was down to the stand-off, who had struggled all afternoon to catch the ball. But for once, he held on before dummying his way over the line. Score: Buffaloes 22 – 26.
In the following 10 minutes, the Buffaloes applied great pressure on the Akkies line yet were held up by their strong defence on several occasions. In an attempt to do something new, up stepped Jack Boot, who put in a deft kick that rolled just over the Akkies try line. As he ran forward to score from his own kick, Jack was cynically taken out off the ball, but before the Buffaloes had time to think of a possible penalty try, Bailey Harmon swooped in to ground the ball. Tony Morrison converted this. Score: Buffaloes 28 – 26.
The final addition of points in the 75th minute did come from Jack Boot, who went past the tired Akkies defence to score close to the posts. McFarlane added the conversion. Score: 34 – 26.
Despite the referee adding over 15 minutes of injury time, the score remained Buffaloes 34 – 26 Akkies at full time.
Buffaloes: 1) Jonah Stansfield, 2) Ryan Jones, 3) Liam Lether, 4) Liam Barnsley, 5) Ben Blanchard, 6) Lewis Johnson, 7) Kieran McFarlane, 8) Elliot Carter, 9) Tony Morrison, 10) Billy Butterworth, 11) Jacob Oldroyd, 12) Charlie Raistrick 13) Tom Jenkins ©, Subs (all used); 14) Jack Boot, 15) Bailey Harmon, 17) Jordon Hicken, 21) Andy Boot, 20) Lewis Bromley 16) Connor Booth
Tries: Morrison (5), Bromley (25), Andy Boot (35), Bailey Harmon (45, 70), Jack Boot (75)
Goals: Jenkins (5), Morrison (35 & 70) McFarlane (45 & 75)