The Buffalos’ controlled performance was enough to complete the double over Wyke.
Andy & Devon Johnson
A week before their Buffaloes Cup Final appearance, the Buffaloes coaches hoped for a victory that left their players unscathed. However, after a weekend without a fixture, the Buffaloes appeared a bit rusty in the opening 10 minutes, with three consecutive incomplete sets marked by errant passes and a knock-on, sparing Wyke from early tries.
It was Jack Boot who broke the deadlock with a signature scoot from a play-the-ball situation five meters out, scoring beside the posts. Lewis Gaunt added the conversion, putting the Buffaloes up 6 – 0.
The second try came 10 minutes later after Wyke’s offside tactics frustrated the Buffaloes. Although the referee deemed these actions non-interfering, coach Karl Wilson successfully argued otherwise, highlighting how they limited the Buffaloes’ attacking options. However, Sam Marshall did not let this stop him and capitalised on a smooth feed from Sam Neave to score the second try. Lewis Gaunt’s conversion attempt narrowly missed, bringing the score to 10 – 0.
The Buffaloes shifted into high gear, adding four more tries before half-time. The first came in the 25th minute when Omar Al-Wari glided through to touch down. Gaunt successfully converted, making it 16 – 0.
Five minutes later, almost directly from the Wyke restart, Zane Ballantyne finished a flowing move down the left wing to score wide out, though Gaunt’s conversion attempt fell just wide, bringing the score to 20 – 0.
In the 35th minute, it was the barnstorming prop, Jacob Oldroyd, who proved unstoppable from 25 meters out. Gaunt added the extras, extending the lead to 26 – 0.
On the stroke of half-time, Bryn Perrott weaved inside a baffled Wyke fullback to score the 6th try of the afternoon. Lewis Gaunt’s successful conversion made it 32 – 0 at the break.
Half-time score: Buffaloes 32 – 0
The second half saw the Buffaloes maintain their dominant form and despite the rustiness of the first half, it was now business as usual for the Buffaloes. Within the first minute of the second half, loose forward Lewis Gaunt was able to break free from tackle after tackle on a 30-meter run to score under the posts. He then added the conversion to his own incredible try, bringing the score to 38 – 0.
The relentless Buffaloes’ attack continued with what looked like a beautifully worked try, only for the referee to disallow it due to a forward pass. However, this only delayed the inevitable as Bailey Harmon mesmerised the Wyke defence with his quick footwork to score near the uprights in the 60th minute. Lewis Gaunt slotted the conversion over, making it 44 – 0. Just two minutes later, Omar Al-Wari went in for his second try, ghosting through from 15 meters out. This time, Bryn Perrott added the conversion, pushing the score to 50 – 0.
Against the run of play and following two penalties, Wyke managed a consolation try, making the score 50 – 6.
In the 75th minute, Keiran McFarlane sprinted past the tiring Wyke defenders to score. Gaunt added the conversion, extending the lead to 56 – 6. The final try of the afternoon came in the 80th minute when Zane Ballantyne scored wide on the right. Lewis Gaunt’s impressive conversion from a difficult angle finalised the score at 62 – 6.
Overall, this match prepared the Buffaloes perfectly, with no major injuries ahead of next week’s Cup Final. The Buffaloes take on Illingworth, a side from Division 2, at Fox’s Biscuit Stadium. The game starts at 3pm, and new and old supporters are welcome to cheer the lads on to victory.
Full-time score: Buffaloes 62 – 6
Wyke ARLFC: 1) Calvin Barker, 2) Toby Briggs, 3) Riley Clayton, 4) Joel Denon Slater, 5) Bradley Ellis, 6) Joseph Fynn, 7) Kieran Helliwell, 8) Ashley Hutchinson, 9) Ryan Kershaw, 10) Coby Kittsen, 11) Carl Norman, 12) Jordan Payton, 13) Ben Proctor, Subs (All Used); 14) Luke Robertson, 15) Lamech Superville, 16) Mark Teale, 17) Michael Wormald.
Buffaloes: 1) Omar Al-Rawi, 2) Jamie Donnelly, 3) Samuel Marshall, 4) Bryn Perrott, 5) Zane Ballantyne, 6) Kieran McFarlane, 7) Sam Neave, 8) Jacob Oldroyd, 9) Jack Boot, 10) Cameron McLachlan, 11) Thomas Langton, 12) Bailey Harman, 13) Lewis Gaunt, Subs (All Used); 14) Tony Morrison, 15) Charlie McMurray, 16) Cameron O’Connor, 17) Ben Wilkinson.
Tries; Boot (10), Marshall (23), Al Rawi (25, 62), Ballantyne (30, 80), Oldroyd (34), Perrott (40), Gaunt (41), Harman (60), McFarlane (76)
Goals: Gaunt x 7, Perrott x 2