Stags Gore the Buffaloes
The 2021 Yorkshire Mens League got under way, on a wet and miserable afternoon in Mirfield.
The weather played an effect on the game with both teams scrambling for possession at times when the ball became like a bar of soap. The Buffaloes had seven players on debut, with five of the seven been under the ages of 18. Martin Loveridge had joined from local rivals Milford and Michael Emmett from Hunslet.
The game was end to end through out its 80 minutes, with both teams being guilty of not respecting possession, and falling foul of the referee and his whistle.
Mirfield opening the scoring in the 12th minute, when hooker Casey Canterbury scooted from the acting half for a converted try. Giving the home side the lead 6-0.
On the half hour the referee had enough and sent the home side centre, Jake Shaw to the sin bin, due to an altercation following a great break by Harry Walker.
Two minutes later and the Buffaloes, on the back of two repeat sets, got the ball out wide to another debutant, Ryan Jones for an unconverted try, reducing the lead to 6-4.
Two minutes from the break and Mirfield crossed for their second try of the game, following a deft kick to the winger who cross unopposed for an unconverted try,extending the lead to 10-4.
Three minutes after the restart, and Mirfield scored again from short range, a scoot from acting half, giving them a converted try, taking the lead to 16-4.
The Buffaloes, were getting frustrated, and on the back of four consecutive penalties, Mirfield crossed for an unconverted try, making the score 20-4.
In the 56th minute, Emmett barged his way over the try line for an unconverted try on the back of two penatlies, reducing the gap to 20-8.
Just after the hour mark, but visible tired buffaloes, fell off a tackle and allowed the home side over again for a converted try, extending the lead again to 26-8.
With nine minutes on the clock, Liam. Lether, took exception to a high tackle and some talk in the tackle, and gave as good as he got, the referee thought otherwise and sent lether to the sinbin for the remained of the game.
1) Codey Downey, 2) Ben Wilkinson,3) Harry Walker,4) Kieran Hudson, 5) Ryan Jones, 6) Martin Loveridge, 7) Bradley Wilson, 8) Curtis Sidebottom, 9) Lochlan Mcgill, 10) Charlie Mcmurray, 11) Thomas Langton, 12) Daniel Baranyi, 13) Aidan Baranyi, Subs (all used); 14) Courage Mkuhlani, 15) George Waterson, 16) Michael Emmett, 17) Liam Lether
Tries: Jones, Emmett