By Paul Abraham
The trip to Scarborough was, as predicted a thrilling and tight encounter with the Buffaloes coming away with two very hard-earned points.
First half tries from Jamie Donnelly and Cameron McLauchlan saw Bramley go in to the half-time break trailing 8-10 to the impressive Pirates.
The Buffs coaches team-talk worked immediately from the re-start and the dominant Buffs went in to a 20-10 lead through two tries from Keiran Foster Matthews which were both converted by Martin Loveridge.
The Pirates however would not surrender and fought back impressively to shock the Buffaloes and storm into a 22-20 lead.
With play going from end to end Bramley regained the lead as Martin Loveridge stormed over for a try which he duly converted, before Sam Marshall scored which Loveridge again converted.
With the clock running down Scarborough came fighting back and with a converted try brought the teams within four points of each other. The Buffs held firm and with the final play of the game Connor McGill coolly dropped a goal to secure a nail-biting 33-28 victory.
We caught up with winger Ben Blanchard (Sponsored by www.headingonwards.com) after the game to get his thoughts on the hard fought victory over Scarborough.
He said: “Today’s game was a tough one, a big battle throughout the 80 mins, fair play to Scarborough gave us a good game was scrappy in parts but we never gave in.
“The game today is the kind of game we would have let slip through our fingers in the past but we have found that extra grit and determination when it matters this year.”
This week the Buffaloes visit Westgate Common in a match which could have a huge bearing on who finishes as champions at the end of the season.
Despite holidays and suspensions the weakened Buffs are going with confidence with two excellent training sessions completed this week
Meet the players – Kieran Foster-Matthews – Available to be sponsored
Keiran first donned the amber and black of the Buffaloes in July 2017 in a 50-22 home victory against King Cross Park where he celebrated by scoring a try.
Another four appearances followed which included a try in the 32-10 play-off victory versus Hunslet Parkside.
The 2018 season resulted in Kieran scoring five tries in seven matches including against New Earswick All Blacks (won 52-6), East Hull in which he also kicked a goal in a 12-24 home defeat and also scored his first hat-trick for the club in the 50-16 demolition of the Nottingham Outlaws.
Kieran’s 2019 season was a hugely successful one for him. His 10 starts brought him six tries and 22 goals. Tries came against 4-18 loss at Hunslet Parkside, in the 36-10 home win versus Wibsey Warriors, the 32-6 victory at home to arch-rivals Stanningley, a try and six goals in the 33-10 home victory v Cutsyke Rangers, the 12-20 home loss to Siddal and in the thrilling 28-24 home win versus Queensbury.
For various reason Kieran only made four appearances over the next three seasons but burst back onto the scene this season in which to the first of August he had crossed the whitewash 11 tries in 12 starts and two substitute appearance.
The highlights being a hat-trick in the 66-8 away smashing of Leeds Akkies and two tries in each of the following away matches at Crigglestone All Blacks (66-4), Scarborough (33-28) and in the 42-0 home victory versus Upton.
If you would like to sponsor your favourite player, become a club member or join the clubs lottery then please email the club at info@bramleybuffs.com.
Scarborough Pirates! I remember going to see them in their first match in the league, when I think Len Casey was the coach? Their time in the league was short lived, as crowds were not what were expected. i even have the programme. Well done the Buffaloes.