The Buffaloes buoyed by the win over New Earswick All Blacks a fortnight ago were ready to take on the challenge against Siddal Academy, who they hadn’t faced since 2014, writes Martyn Cheney.
The Buffaloes were missing a few players from their last outing, notably captain Brad Wilson and forwards Nathan Hammond and Ryan MacDonald. But they had Rob Brown returning on the wing and Tom Schofield and Kane Glynn making their debuts.
The game started brightly for the Buffaloes, and in the fifth minute Rob Brown crossed for the opening score of the afternoon, following two successive penalties, with the second resulting in a quick tap, and Brown crossed unopposed. Connor McGill was unable to add the conversion, giving the Buffaloes the lead 0-4.
On 15 minutes, the debutant, Glynn, swooped on a mistake by the home team and raced 60 metres for the Buffaloes second try of the afternoon, McGill again unable to add the extras, increasing the lead to 0-8.
Eleven minutes later and Siddal opened their scoring account, with a sweeping move that ended up with them scoring an unconverted try by the corner flag, halving the lead to 4-8.
The Buffaloes kick off didn’t go the required ten metres and from the resulting penalty, Siddal, found a massive gap in the defensive line, to score unopposed under the black dot for a converted try, giving them the lead 10-8.
Four minutes from the break and the Buffaloes crossed the line for the third time, when second rower, Xavier Martin, showed some neat footwork to wrong-foot the defence and crossed for the try, McGill this time was on target, giving the Buffaloes the lead, 10-14.
Five minutes into the second half and it looked like the Buffaloes were over when Aidan Baranyi, broke away and raced 60 metres downfield before passing to Kieran Hudson. But before he had the chance to move the ball to the winger, was collected by the defence.
For the next 20 minutes or so the Buffaloes never seemed to have the ball in hand, defending resolutely, but with the constant pressure from the home side, it was inevitable that their line would be breached and it was.
Firstly in the 57th minute, when Siddal attacked down the left-hand side and scored by the corner flag, the conversion was unsuccessful, levelling the scores at 14 all.
The Kickoff, went sailing dead, on the full, and Siddal were back in possession from the halfway line and again attacked down the left-hand side, and scored again in the corner for an unconverted copycat try, giving Siddal the lead 18-14.
in the 65th minute, Siddal were over again for another unconverted try down the left-hand edge, extending their lead to 22-14.
The Buffaloes were chasing the game and the clock, with 15 minutes to go. Trying to push the home side into making mistakes and gain an advantage. When the Buffaloes managed to force, and the game should have played on with advantage to the Buffaloes the referee, blew for a scrum, for whatever reason.
In the 70 minute, Aidan Baranyi, broke free from the defence and raced away, slipping a short pass to loose forward Tom Langton, who charged over the line for a try, with McGill adding the extra two points, making the score 22-20.
The last ten minutes of the game, was end to end, with the home side trying to crush the Buffaloes hopes of a win and the Buffaloes trying to break through and snatch a victory, which a times seemed unlikely.
However, it wasn’t to be. And the Buffaloes hard work went unrewarded, going down by the narrowest of margins.
The Buffaloes are not in action next week, but travel to Batley Boys on the 30th June at 2:30, before coming back to Bramley for the Casino night, full details of both can be found on our website.
Siddal Academy: 1) Callum Holroyd, 2) Rourke Woolley, 3) Richard Lopag, 4) Thomas Bernard, 5) Luka Orlic, 6) Jake Turner, 7) Oliver Lewis, 8) Jacob Ellis, 9) Edward, Ainley, 10) Elliott Thompson, 11) Cole Wilson, 12) Peter Howard, 13) Matthew Turner, Subs (All Used); 14) Jordan Healey, 15) George Thorpe, 16) Liam Whiting, 17) Danny Richardson.
Buffaloes: 1) Peter Croft, 2) Robert Brown, 3) Kieran Hudson, 4) Aidan Baranyi, 5) Harry Kilbride, 6) Connor McGill, 7) Kane Glynn, 8) Ben Maynard-Worrincy, 9) Cameron McLachlan, 10) Charlie McMurray, 11) Curtis Sidebottom, 12) Xavier Martin, 13) Tom Langton, Subs; 14) Ben Blanchard, 15) Dan Baranyi, 16) Craig Brown, 17) Tom Schofield
Tries: Brown (5), Glynn (15), Martin (36), Langton (70)
Goals: McGill 2 from 4.
