On a cold and overcast Saturday afternoon which threatened a heavy downpour, the Buffaloes travelled the short distance to the home of our good friends Featherstone Lions. Therte we took on Minor Premiers’ Hull Wyke in the Yorkshire Men’s League division two grand final, writes MARTYN CHENEY.
The referee’s whistle was a constant feature throughout the game, the game started poorly for the Buffaloes with the first five minutes of the match full of errors. But then the nerves started to settle, and the Buffaloes’ were on the attack.
In the 11th minute, following a scrum in their 20-metre area, standoff Connor McGill put boot to ball and full back Arron Henry race away, scooping up the ball, beating three defenders to score under the posts to give himself an easy conversion, giving the Buffaloes the lead 0-6.
Seven minutes later the Buffaloes had a good attacking position and a try looked to be in the offing, but the referee stopped play, calling for a forward pass.
On 20 minutes, following a string of penalties that piggybacked the Hull team down the field, the pressure told and they crashed over for their opening try of the afternoon, which was converted, levelling the scores at six all.
In the 24th minute, Kieron Hudson broke away from the defensive line and raced 40 meters, before passing the ball infield to Henry, who looked certain to score, but the referee gave Hull Wyke a penalty for a double movement.
One minute later and frustration took hold of Buffaloes Loose forward, Aiden Baranyi, who was sent to the sin bin.
In the 31st minute, Hooker Cameron McLachlan, crashed over the line from acting half, for the Buffaloes second try of the game, with Henry adding the extras, giving the Buffaloes the lead 6-12.
On 37 minutes, loose forward Baranyi strode through the defensive line and was heading for an individual try. However some excellent cover defence brought him down short of the line.
Two minutes later and Winger Rob Brown stormed through the last gasp defence for an unconverted try, extending the Buffaloes’ lead to 6-16. The referee blew his whistle for half time.
Two minutes into the second half and full back Henry was in for his second for his second of the game, sprinting 50 metres to score under the posts, where he coolly added the conversion, extending the Buffaloes’ lead to 6-22.
In the 45th minute, Hull Wyke, cross the line by the corner flag for an uncovered try, narrowing the lead to 10-22.
On 52 minutes, Henry crossed for his hat-trick following a deft kick from McGill, scooping the ball out of the air and planting the ball firmly over the goal line. Henry added the extras to his try, taking the Buffaloes into an 18-point lead, 10-28.
On the three-quarter mark, McGill coolly added a field goal, taking the lead to 10-29, meaning that Hull Wyke, needed to score four times to snatch the lead from the Buffaloes.
In the 69th minute, Loose forward Baranyi, was sin-binned for the second time in the game, for an alleged high tackle.
Five minutes later and second rower, Curtis Sidebottom was sent off, for what we found out later was an alleged bite.
Taking advantage of their two-man advantage, Hull Wyke score two late tries in the 78th minute and deep into injury time, with the latter been converted, making the score 20-29,
As the conversion crossed the black dot, the referee blew his whistle for full time, and the Buffaloes were crowned as Division two Champions.
All the players had fantastic games. It is difficult to identify one standout performer, although Aaron Henry had a great match, commanding the troops from fullback in defence and scoring 20 of the Buffaloes’ points.
Tom Langton had another sterling performance, popping up everywhere in defence with some big hits. And Brad Wilson directed the players around the field in attack, taking on the defensive line when needed.
2018 looks good, hopefully we will move up a division and we will have a full season of fixtures.
Remember to vote for your player of the season, by following this link.
Hull Wyke: 1) Alec Hardie, 2) Kieran Sparkes, 3) Ben Townend, 4) Tom Goddard, 5) Casey Hutchinson, 6) Lewis White, 7) Stephen Murphy, 8) Rayan Pressick, 9) Owen Jones Barker, 10) Steve Driscoll, 11) Shane Simpson, 12) Dan Runkee, 13) Steve Bass, Subs (all used); 14) Connor Dickinson, 15) Tom Evans, 16) Rob Lilly, 17) Colin Clayton.
Bramley Buffaloes: 1) Aaron Henry, 2) Rob Brown, 10) Nathan Hammond, 4) Kieron Hudson, 5) Kieron Foster-Matthews, 16) Connor McGill, 15) Brad Wilson, 3) Charlie McMurray, 14) Cameron McLachlan, 8) Ben Maynard Worrincy, 11) Tom Langton, 12) Curtis Sidebottom, 13) Aiden Baranyi, Subs (all used); 9) Dan Baranyi, 17) Tom Barraclough, 7) Tom White, 6) Ben Blanchard
Tries: Henry (11, 42, 52) McLachlan (31), Brown (2),
Goals: Henry 4 from 5
Drop Goal: McGill