By Paul Abraham
After an excellent pre-season with extra emphasis on fitness and defensive systems the “Buffs” opened the 2024 season with hard-earned 14-0 home victory against New Earswick All Blacks with Buffaloe stalwart Tom Langton scoring the first try of the new season.
A brilliant 31-12 away victory at Dodworth Miners made it two wins from two before the Buffaloes tasted defeat for the first time as they went down to a shock 18-36 loss to the amalgamated Greetland/Elland side.
Due to players’ unavailability the Bramley side lacked many first-teamers while the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the home coach left a sour taste for all concerned with the black and ambers.
The Yorkshire Men’s League Trophy brought a division higher Castleford Panthers to the West Leeds Rugby Union ground and the Bramley side responded to the challenge to record a stunning 40-12 victory and a semi-final date away at another higher division side Moldgreen.
Back to league matters and Bramley romped to impressive home victories against Birstall Victoria (52-6) with Kieran Hudson scoring a hat-trick of tries before demolishing a weak Wyke side 88-0 with the Buffs crossing for 15 tries and Lewis Gaunt kicking 13 conversions from 13 attempts.
The Bramley side went to division two Moldgreen as underdogs and came away with a famous victory to reach the YML Trophy for the second year running as they secured a nail-biting 26-22 victory with five tries shared by Eliah Chitiyo (3) and Sam Marshall (2).
The month of June brought another three comfortable league victories as the rampant Buffaloes posted a 28-10 victory at York Acorn as Omar Al-Rawi crossed for a hat-trick with Chitiyo adding another two tries to his impressive start as a Buffaloe.
It was flying winger Chitiyo who was the star of the 38-0 home win against Upton as he scorched his way to four tries.
A blistering first half performance at New Earswick All Black saw the “Buffs” lead 30-0 at half-time, with the match won the team took their foot off the gas in the second half to finally win 36-8 with another two tries for Chitiyo and a brace for the ever-impressive Zane Ballantyne.
With Bramley being awarded a home victory as Elland were unable to raise a side Bramley then warmed up for their forthcoming final against second division Illingworth by hammering Wyke away by 62 points to six. Ballantyne and Al Rawi scoring two tries each.
The YMS Trophy Final at the Batley Bulldogs stadium saw a titanic struggle before the Bramley boys secured an impressive 22-16 victory after leading 12-10 at half-time. With Sam Neave setting an imperious example and deservedly being named Man of the Match the “Buffs” fully deserved to take the honours and leaving their large vociferous following the opportunity to celebrate late into the night!
With York Acorn failing to fulfil their fixture at the Blue Hill Lane ground, again Bramley were awarded the points, but the club can ill-afford to lose match revenue in this way time and again.
My own personal view is that there should be some sort of compensation payment being made to the host club either from the Yorkshire Mens League itself or the club involved as programme printing and catering costs are not cheap.
After being three weeks since their last outing the Buffaloes went to Upton as the Division Three league-leaders with eight consecutive victories behind them. What followed was by far the worst performance of the season as Upton scored a shock 26-12 victory.
With two league matches remaining Bramley needed to win both games to finish the top of the division on points difference. A slow start at Birstall Victoria saw the Buffs trail 12-0 before going through the gears to lead 16-12 at half-time and then went into overdrive to secure a convincing 56-12 victory with Ballantyne scoring a hat=trick and Jack Boot crossing for a brace of tries.
Everything now rested on the final winner-takes-all home match against top of the table Dodworth Miners. Only a victory would crown the Buffaloes as champions. On a sunny day with a big crowd cheering the hosts on, Bramley made the perfect start by going 10 points up within 10 minutes before both teams pressed for points.
The last five minutes of the half saw Bramley notch a try each side of a Dodworth converted try to lead 18-6 at the break.
The Dodworth team talk certainly paid dividends as incredibly they stormed in to an 20-18 lead with 15 minutes left on the clock.
With the Bramley faithful worrying and biting their nails Bramley then scored the try of the match with Neave scorching away to score. After what felt like a never-ending amount of stoppage time the whistle went and Bramley were deserved champions winning the title on points difference against the Dodworth side.
However, the main winner was the game of rugby league as despite what was at stake both sides played with a level of discipline and sportsmanship that was a credit to both clubs.
With a Grand Final place at stake, Bramley were informed that New Earswick All Blacks would be unable to raise a team and so Bramley received a bye in to the Grand Final to be played at Featherstone Rovers ground. Again the “Buffs” were left out of pocket through no fault of their own, especially when there would be travelling expenses to take into account for the final.
And so, quite rightly the best two teams in the division by a country mile went to Featherstone and in an entertaining match played in a great spirit the Buffaloes just failed in their attempt to do a clean sweep and win the treble.
With Dodworth getting out of the blocks at a faster pace than the “Buffs” they sprinted to an early 14-0 lead.
The Bramley side picked up the pace and Keiran Hudson crossed for a try to see the first half finish with a score of Buffaloes 4 Miners 14. Again, it was the South Yorkshire side who started the half better and a converted try put them into an 20-4 lead.
Tries by Keiran Hudson and Codey Downey brough the “Buffs” back in to the game at 12-20, sadly as the Bramley fans were dreaming of a late, late victory Dodworth scored again to take them into a 26-12 lead. Keiran Hudson completed his hat-trick just before the game ended with a 16-26 defeat for the gallant Black and Ambers.
A League Leaders Title and the YML Trophy to show for all the hard work and efforts during the season and the Buffaloes can look back on a highly successful season.
The treble may have been lost but everyone at the club deserves to be congratulated for a great season and some spectacular tries and matches to remember.