With Bramley Buffaloes fielding another side weakened by those who didn’t travel for whatever reason, the home side took full advantage of that, and demolished the Buffaloes with a scintillating second-half performance, writes Martyn Cheney.
The Buffaloes were missing eight players from their win last week over Queensbury but welcomed back Peter Croft who missed last week through injury and Brad Wilson from a spell of working away. The 16 lads that travelled to Nottingham gave 100% for the full 80 minutes.
The game started brightly for the Buffaloes as they opened the scoring on the fifth minute, with some great passing, when hooker Jake Barnett managed to get the ball free in a tackle to winger, Brandon Batchelor, who passed the ball on the inside to the supporting Aaron Henry.
Henry raced away from the defenders to score a try, adding the extra two points to his try. The Buffaloes were off to a dream start, leading six nil.
Eight minutes later the home side was in front for the first time, with a move that started deep in their half.
Second rower Ollie Perr broke through the Buffaloes defence, and with the ball flowing through at least four sets of hands before Scrum Half Brad Moss scored a try.
In the act of scoring the try, Moss was fouled, and the referee awarded an 8 point try, Ollie Perry added the conversion and then slotted over the penalty from in front of the sticks. Giving Nottingham the lead 8-6.
The Buffaloes were spurred on by going behind on the scoreboard, capitalising on some dropped ball, culminating in a try for Luke Standing, in the 20th minute, following a move which saw the ball swing from one side of the field to the other. Henry was unsuccessful with the conversion attempt, but the Buffaloes had the lead back 8-10.
Three minutes later and the Buffaloes were in again. They forced a goal line drop out, Nottingham tried to regain possession with a short kick out to the Wing, but Batchelor scooped up the ball and charged over the line for a try out wide. Henry was on Target with conversion, extending the lead, to 8-16.
Just before the half hour, Barnett crashed over the line from Dummy Half, for a try, which Henry Converted, giving the Buffaloes the lead 8- 22.
In the 32nd minute, Nottingham was in for their second try of the game, Nottingham attack down the Buffaloes right-hand side, Jimmy Goodwin broke clear to feed Adam Cunliffe, and the fleet-footed Fullback swept in for the try, With Perry adding the extras, narrowing the lead to 14 points to 22.
Both teams tried to press home an advantage before the break but neither team was able to break the line, and at half time the score was 14-22.
Two minutes after the restart and Buffaloes scrum-half Brad Wilson broke free of the defenders to raced away towards the Nottingham line, but the scrambling defence stopped him, and the chance was gone.
That was the last of the ball the Buffaloes had in their possession for around 25 minutes, as the home side capitalised on the Buffaloes lack of forwards on the bench, their fatigue from playing big minutes and the referees decisions giving the home team a roll.
In the 44th minute, Perry burst onto a short ball to score a try, which he converted himself, narrowing the lead to 20-22.
Four minutes later, Player Coach, George Strachan broke from acting half to cut through down the blindside before releasing Loic Radegonde who swept in for an unconverted try. Giving the home team the lead that they were never to lose, 24-22.
In the 51st minute, prop Charlie McMurray was sin-binned for and unknown offence as the referee was on the point of losing control of the game.
Five minutes later and Nottingham capitalised on the extra man. Attacking the Right-hand channel again, Oliver Dale broke free before passing the ball to Jimmy Goodwin, who scored near the corner flag, Blake Turner took over the kicking duties adding the conversion, taking the lead to 30-22.
Between the try being awarded and the conversion, Henry asked the referee whether the ball had been appropriately grounded and was sent to the sin-bin.
In the 64th minute and with the Buffaloes been a man down, Cunliffe broke free of some tired defenders before chipping the ball over the second phase of defence, gathering up the kick and darting around the Bramley Fullback. Turner added the conversion, extending the lead to 36-22.
On the 72nd minute, James Hood raced 60 metres down the pitch before the scrambling defence brought him down. On the Next play, Strachan broke free of the tired defence, feeding the ball to Goodwin who crossed for his second of the afternoon, Turner was unsuccessful with the conversion. The score now 40-22.
Two minutes later and Goodwin went from scorer to creator, racing 70 metres down the field, before passing to Charlie Clarke, with Turner adding his third conversion of the afternoon, to take the score to 46-22.
With a minute left of standard time, the Buffaloes were awarded a penalty. Barnett took a quick tap penalty and chipped the ball over the line, Henry, caught the ball and grounded the ball in the in-goal area. Henry was on target with the conversion, making the final score, 46-28.
The Buffaloes are at home on Saturday the 18th May, when they face Cutsyke Raiders in the Yorkshire Men’s League, at The Warrels, kick off is at 2:30.
Nottingham Outlaws: 1) Adam Cunliffe, 2) Joseph Goulty, 3) Jack Mcleish, 4) James Goodwin, 5) Harry Binnion, 6) Alex Whittle, 7) Bradley Moss, 8) James Hood, 9) George Strachan, 10) Sam Andrews, 11) Oliver Wilkinson Dale, 12) Oliver Perry, 13) Charles Clarke, Subs (all used); 14) Jamie Muggleton, 15) Blake Turner, 16) Loic Radegonde.
Tries: Moss (13), Cunliffe (32, 64), Perry (44), Radegonde (48), Goodwin (56, 72)
Goals: Perry x 4, Turner x 3
Bramley Buffaloes: 1) Aaron Henry, 8) Brandon Batchelor, 3) Peter Croft, 4) Thomas Jenkins, 2) Luke Standing, 6) Aidan Baranyi, 19) Bradley Wilson, 21) Charlie Mcmurray, 13) Jake Barnett, 10) Sam Walding, 11) Thomas Langton, 9) Daniel Baranyi, 18) George Waterson, Subs (all used); 14) Jack Witton, 5) Jo Oldroyd, 16) Ryan Raby.
Tries: Henry (5,79), Standing (20), Batchelor (23), Barnett (29)
Goals: Henry x 4
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