Buffaloes stand firm to grind out an impressive win at Dewsbury Moor
Andy & Devon Johnson
After a long off-season following last year’s immensely successful campaign, the Buffaloes returned to action on a grey afternoon threatening rain, facing off against unfamiliar opponents Dewsbury Moor in their pre-season opener.
As is often the case in early fixtures, both sides showed signs of rust in the opening stages, with several knock-ons and penalties disrupting the game’s flow. Dewsbury fielded a physically imposing but less mobile forward pack boasting some seasoned veterans. In contrast, the Buffaloes presented a younger, more dynamic lineup, with Charlie McMurray guiding the forwards and Martin Loveridge returning to steer the backs.
Neither team seriously threatened the try line in the first half. Still, standout performances began to emerge—most notably from Jack Boot, who showed how much he has developed into a complete player through his relentless defensive efforts and sharp support play. His moment of the half came when Dewsbury intercepted a loose pass deep in their territory. With open field ahead and seemingly no one to beat, their fullback looked certain to score—until Jack put on the afterburners and chased him down, bringing him to the ground on the halfway line.
The Buffaloes’ commitment in defence was apparent throughout, with Lewis Gaunt making his presence felt and McMurray and Jacob Oldroyd consistently putting in the hard yards. Their collective effort wore down the older Dewsbury forwards, who, by the 30-minute mark, had retreated to the bench for a much-needed rest.
By the 35th minute, the Buffaloes’ plan to weather the storm and see off Dewsbury’s experienced forwards had been achieved. Dewsbury seemed to have accepted that breaking through the Buffaloes’ resilient defence wouldn’t be easy. Opting for a more cautious approach, Dewsbury kicked for goal from a penalty 20 meters out – slotting the ball between the posts for the only points of the half.
Half Time Buffaloes 0 – 2 Dewsbury Moor
The second half started brightly for the Buffaloes, and in the 45th minute, they got their reward. A slick passage of play between the forwards opened a gap, and Lewis Gaunt seized the opportunity. Cutting back inside from 10 metres out, he powered through the Dewsbury would-be tacklers to dot the ball down under the posts. He coolly slotted the conversion to give the Buffaloes a 6 – 2 lead.
Just ten minutes later, the Buffaloes were on the front foot again. After being held up just short of the line, the ball was worked wide with a looping pass that found debutant winger James Clarke. Calm under pressure, Clarke gathered cleanly and dived over in the corner to extend the lead. The tricky conversion attempt narrowly missed, but the Buffaloes had opened a comfortable 10–2 advantage.
With momentum firmly in their favour, the Buffaloes began to dominate territory and possession. Dewsbury’s attacking efforts began to fade while Martin Loveridge took control, guiding his side around the pitch with some clever kicks on the last tackle. One high bomb proved too much for the Dewsbury fullback, who fumbled it under pressure. Minutes later, he managed to catch the next towering kick, only to lose it in the tackle—much to the amusement of the travelling Buffaloes players and supporters.
The final try came in the 75th minute and was a fitting finish to the game. Jack Boot, already outstanding in defence, was put into space and raced through the Dewsbury line to touch down and cap a standout performance. Lewis Gaunt added the conversion to round off a convincing pre-season win for the visitors.
Buffaloes 16 – Dewsbury 2
Dewsbury Moor; 1) Joshua Scrutton, 3) Felix Ellis, 4) Joseph Berry, 5) Danny Brookes, 6) Dean Arundel, 7) Keon Mack, 8) Andrew Burland, 9) Callum Sharp, 10) Brooklyn Chappell, 11) Adam Barrett, 12) Andrew Cooper, 13) Cameron Clayton, 14) Liam Morley, 15) Joseph Haywood, 17) Morgan Oates
Buffaloes; 1) Kieran McFarlane, 2) James Clark, 3) Kacper Mroz, 4) Bailey Harman, 5) Ben Blanchard, 6) Martin Loveridge, 7) Ethan McFarlane, 8) Jacob Oldroyd, 9) Jack Boot ©, 10) Charlie McMurray, 11) Ben Wilkinson, 12) Billy Butterworth, 13) Lewis Gaunt, Subs (All used); 14) Elliot Carter, 15) Marcus White, 16) Zane Ballantyne, 17) Thomas Mead, 18) Michael Bryan-Joyce, 19) Robb Barnes, 20) Robert Brown
Tries: Gaunt (35), Clarke (45), Boot (75)
Goals: Gaunt x 2
