Monsoon conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm of players and spectators alike as the Buffaloes romped to a 72-0 victory over Carlisle Centurions.
Just short of 500 braved the torrential conditions and saw Bramley run in 14 tries including an incredible length of the field score from full back Shaun Flynn on 15 minutes. The final score was just two points shy of the club’s record ever score notched against Chorley in 1995.
The Buffaloes started off well with Simon Bowker finding a gap to score on 4 minutes and barnstorming scrum half Scott Pendlebury followed suit six minutes later.
The highlight of the game saw Flynn catch an up and under on his own line and proceed to weave his way up the field shirking off a clutch of Carlisle tackles and touch down.
Bowker, Paul Marks and the influential Neil Foulds all added to the score with three conversions from Mark McManus leaving it 30-0 at the break.
The Centurions had no answer to the rampant Buffaloes with props Tim Orr and Chris Gardner denting their first line of defence again and again. The rout continued with Ross Gratton bagging a brace of tries within ten minutes of the restart and Daniel Mitchell shrugging off the attentions of three Carlisle defenders to score on 54 minutes.
Powerful running winger Kieran McDermott found space to score on 63 minutes and four tries in the last ten minutes moved the Buffaloes tantalisingly close to their record ever points haul.
Michael Glenn touched down with Pendlebury, Flynn and Foulds all storming over for their second tries. Five more conversions from McManus kept the scoreboard ticking over but a last minute conversion, that would have equaled the record, drifted agonisingly wide.
Buffaloes coach Phil Hellewell commented: “It would have been great to have got the record score for a Bramley team but the most important feature of the game was that we performed efficiently and effectively and cut the error count to a minimum.
“We looked very sharp going forward and held firm in defence despite Carlisle coming close on a couple of occasions. They kept battling and we kept turning the screw and at times it was great to watch despite the atrocious conditions.
“Neil Foulds was outstanding as was the kicking of Mark McManus but I can’t fault any of the players and I was very impressed with the try from Shaun Flynn. You don’t see many scores like that in any level of rugby league.
“The real key is that we take this form and confidence into our next home game next Saturday against St Albans Centurions who will be a different proposition. We will playing at a much tighter ground at Bramley Phoenix so it will be almost like playing an away game,” added Phil.