The Buffaloes kicked off their 2022 season with a doubleheader on the hills of Huddersfield against the Newsome Panthers.
There was a watery winter sun, but it was Bitterly cold up at Bower Hall, and that may have played a part when the home side made a mistake from the Kick-Off, and the buffaloes were on the attack. The young Buffaloes put pressure on the home team’s goal line when the referee called ‘Six Again’ with the extra tackles in the bag. The Buffaloes pressed on and shipped the ball out to the right-wing, and Connor Booth crashed over for his first try of the year. Kacper Mroz cooly slotted over the conversion from out wide, giving the Buffaloes a 0-6 lead.
In the tenth minute, the home side capitalised on some weak defence to open their account with a converted try to level the scores at six all.
On the quarter mark, the home side crashed over the line under the black dot for their second conversion, giving them the lead, 12-6.
Four minutes later, the Buffaloes scored the second try when Martin Loveridge showed some excellent footwork to deceive the defenders to score next to the posts. Mroz added the conversion, levelling the scores at 12 all.
Newsome crossed for their third try of the afternoon on the half-hour, with the conversion missing the mark, giving them the lead, 16-12.
With five minutes to go until halftime, Mroz made a break, created a gap and put Tony Morrison through a gaping hole to score a try. Mroz added the conversion, giving the Buffaloes the lead at halftime 16-18.
Four minutes into the second half, the Buffaloes made a mistake coming out of their 20-metre area. The home side capitalised on it and barged their way over the line for a converted try giving them the lead again, 22-18.
In the 55th minute, the Buffaloes capitalised on two back to back penalties, as Ben Blanchard squeezed in by the corner flag for an unconverted try, levelling the scores at 22 all.
On the Hour, the Buffaloes were awarded a penalty in a kickable position, and Mroz stepped up to kick the penalty goal, putting the Buffaloes in the lead 22-24.
On 65 minutes, Connor Booth broke free of the defensive line and crossed for his second try of the afternoon, extending the lead to 22-28.
The home side crossed for another try with five minutes on the clock, with the conversion sailing wide of the mark. Narrowing the Buffaloes lead to 26-28.
The last five minutes were frantic as the home side used all available tricks to beat the Buffaloes resolute defence.
The Buffaloes held on to the two points lead, giving them their first victory of 2022.
Newsome Panthers ‘A’ – 1) Cole Martyn, 2) Harvey Hughes, 3) Matt Simpkins, 4) Peter MBweisse, 5) Cian Gleadall, 6) Alfie Reed, 7) Steven Roberts, 8) Keiron Joseph, 9) Joe Sanderson, 10) Chris Calvert, 11) Alex Hirst, 12) Luke Thornton, 13) Cameron Augustine, Subs (All Used); 14) Craig Gleadall, 15) Ashley Newburn, 16) Tyler Boswell, 17) Connor Matherson, 18) Connor Preston, 19) Jack Davies.
Buffaloes ‘A’: 1) Jonah Stansfield, 2) Ryan Jones, 3) Callum Pratt, 4) Connor Booth, 5) Ben Blanchard, 6) Kacper Mroz, 7) Martin Loveridge, 8) Jordan Wegg, 9) Jack Boot, 10) Jordan Barr, 11) Ben Wilkinson, 12) Billy Butterworth, 13) Bailey Harman, Subs (All Used); 14 ) Tony Morrison, 15 ) Jacob Oldroyd, 16 ) Kieran McFarlane, 17 ) Charlie McMurray, 18) Jamie Donnelly
Tries: Booth (4, 65), Loveridge (24), Morrison (35), Blanchard (55)
Goals: Mroz x 4