Season Ends As Buffaloes Gored by the Bulls
The Buffaloes season came to a disappointing end in the Semi Final of the Forty-20 Yorkshire Men’s League, at Eastside Community Sport Ground against Skirlaugh Bulls.
The game was dominated by the official who proceeded to blow the pea out of his whistle for the entirety of the game, with end-to-end action despite the official and his whistle.
Skirlaugh opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Centre, Adam Robinson, nipped through some poor defence to score an unconverted try making the score 4-0.
After a raft of penalties to the home team, the Bulls were in again out wide when winger Alec Foster, danced down the touchline to score, again unconverted giving the Bulls an 8 point lead.
Four minutes later Buffaloes loose forward Jonny Bradley was sin binned for a high tackle. On the 20 minute mark the Buffaloes had their first proper attack of the game, when man of the match Ben Dean dropped an inside pass to winger Liam Copland who sprinted away for a try. Daz Forster stepped up and converted the try, bringing the score to 8-6.
Seven minutes later the Bulls were in again, Stuart Smith scooted away for an unconverted try, increasing the lead back to six points, 12-6.
In the 31st minute captain Dave Parker forced his way over the line from short range for a try in-between the posts, duly converted by Forster, bringing the scores level.
Just on the half time break Bulls were awarded another penalty in a kickable position and scrum half Rob Brown, popped the ball over, to give the Bulls a two-point lead at halftime, 14-12.
Three minutes after the break the Buffaloes took the lead for the first time in the game when Forster broke through the defence and passed to Loose Forward Jonny Bradley. Forster converted the try to give the Buffaloes the lead 14-18.
In the 49th minute, the Bulls were back in front when Prop Luke Thompson went in for a try converted by Brown making the score 20-18.
Three minutes later the Buffaloes were back in front again, when Jerome Malcolm raced away for a try converted by Forster, putting the Buffaloes ahead 20-24.
In the 57th Minute, the referee awarded an eight-point try, after Aaron Blake took out Bulls Centre Stuart Smith after he’d passed the ball, which sent Man of the Match Dave Fletcher free to score a try under the posts. Brown converted the try making the score 26-24.
Before the conversion took place Blake was sin binned for his actions and before the penalty could be taken Buffaloes Scrum Half Dean was also despatched to the Sin Bin for questioning the Referee. Brown kicked the penalty to give the Bulls a four-point lead, 28-24.
In the 69th minute the Bulls were in again, when hooker Billy Grimmer went past the Buffaloes defence to score again converted by Brown, making the score 34-24.
The last ten minutes were frantic as the Buffaloes threw everything at the Bulls to make sure this wasn’t the end of their season however this wasn’t to be, with some resolute defending and a good few penalties going against the Buffaloes.
On the 71st minute Dean fed the ball Forster who broke the Bulls defence to score an unconverted try, reducing the lead to 6 points, 34-28.
Three minutes later, the Buffaloes were in again when Malcolm scored following a 40 metre sprint to the line, again unconverted, bringing the game back to a two point margin, 34-32.
In the 77th minute Bulls winger Sam Forster raced away for an unconverted try, making the score 38-32.
The last three minutes the Buffaloes tried everything they could to bring the game level and golden point extra time but this was not to be.
The Bulls were jubilant at the final whistle and will face West Hull in next weeks final.
Game Breaker – Forsters try in the 77th Minute.
Skirlaugh Bulls: 1) James Tindall, 2) Sam Forster, 3) Stuart Smith, 4) Adam Robinson, 5) Alec Foster, 6) Rob Brown, 7) Rob Blakebrough, 8) Dave Fletcher, 9) Billy Grimmer, 10) Luke Thompson, 11) Ian Russell, 12) Matty Sheard, 13) Jarrod Hodgson, Subs; 14) Bradley Graham, 15) Gareth Storey, 16) Dan Kitchen, 17) Jamie Mackin
Tries: Robinson (4), Foster (12), Smith (27), Thompson (49), Fletcher (57), Grimmer (69), Forster (77)
Goals: Brown x 5
Buffaloes: 1) Rodney Menon, 2) Jerome Malcolm, 3) Aaron Blake, 4) Craig Green, 5) Liam Copland, 6) Steve Suddards, 7) Ben Dean, 8) Callan Smith. 9) Graham Harrison, 10) Dave Parker, 11) Ryan Campbell, 12) Daz Forster, 13) Jonny Bradley, Subs; 14) Danny O’Connor, 15) Andrew Hepworth, 16) Gaz Hudson, 17) Anthony Mills.
Tries: Copland (19), Parker (31), Bradley (43), Malcolm (52, 74), Forster (71)
Goals: Forster x 4
Men Of the Match
Bulls: Dave Fletcher
Buffaloes: Ben Dean