Hello and a very warm welcome to all connected with Leighton Buzzard Rugby Club as our 1st XV have their first league match at home against a Wellingborough team fresh from a great win last week. It’s always a pleasure and a fiercely fought contest against Wellingborough, who are a strong club throughout; however, it is a game that is always played in the right spirit.
As ever, I would like to thank all our supporters who turn out regularly to support the teams both here and away. Your support means a great deal for the lads to see you on the sidelines.
I would also like to extend my thanks to our array of volunteers, coaches, players and supporters who make days like this possible. Your commitment keeps our club thriving both on and off the field.
Here’s to a fantastic game of rugby, and best of luck to both teams!
Lee Beaumont
Chairman
Leighton Buzzard RFC
Thank you to our Sponsors
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Leighton Buzzard Match Reports
DETERMINED BUZZARDS SECURE LATE BONUS POINT
VIPERS 41- 28 LEIGHTON BUZZARD
After two successive promotions, Leighton Buzzard began their league season with a difficult away match against Leicester-based Vipers. Despite losing, Buzzards’ performance was encouraging with plenty of skill and commitment and they were rewarded with a bonus-point try with the last play of the game.
Leighton kicked off in warm, dry conditions and playing into a gentle breeze. Buzzards started well with good ball retention, and it was slightly against the run of play when the home side opened the scoring after five minutes. Vipers benefitted from considerable good fortune in scoring their opening try as a speculative fly- hack landed perfectly for their winger to touch down for a 5-0 lead.
Buzzards almost opened their scoring after fifteen minutes, but a long-range James Brett penalty hit the post. Four minutes later captain Brett kicked a penalty following a good break by Tom Maynard to reduce the deficit to 5-3. Almost immediately, Vipers scored a second try – if their first was fortuitous, Buzzards were complicit in their second with a charged-down kick allowing an easy touchdown. The conversion put the home side 12-3 ahead.
Despite the score, the game was evenly contested. Buzzards came close to scoring after twenty-four minutes but were adjudged to have been held up over the line. However, from the resulting goal-line drop-out, Raef Braithwaite cut through the defence and made the scoring pass to debutant George Coote to touch down. James Brett’s conversion made the score 12- 10.
There were four further tries in a ten-minute spell towards the end of the half. Firstly, Vipers centre cut an excellent line to score in the corner. Raef Braithwaite made another try-making break, this time for Tom Maynard to score, and shortly afterwards a clever chip from George Coote was fielded by Jamie West, who did well to score in the corner. This put Buzzards ahead for the first time at 17-20, but the lead lasted just three minutes before a fine individual try from Vipers left winger put the home side 22-20 ahead. James Brett had a chance to retake the lead, but his penalty at the end of the half drifted wide.
Leighton started the second half well, and a Euan Starling penalty put Buzzards back in the lead at 22-23. However, as the half progressed, it was the home side who began to gain momentum as their pack became dominant in the scrum and their backs added pace and width to their game. Vipers added tries in the tenth and sixteenth minutes – the first from a driving maul and the second from good handling in the backs, extending the lead to 34-23.
The match became increasingly tetchy as tempers frayed with the referee seemingly keener to deal with dissent (including a yellow card to Vipers fly-half after twenty-five minutes) than off-the-ball aggression. With fifteen minutes left, Vipers extended their lead to 41-23, leaving a four-try bonus point as Buzzards most realistic target. Twice in the last five minutes, the referee called play back to give Leighton a penalty when advantage would have been beneficial. Credit to the Buzzards team; they put these frustrations behind them and when the opportunity arose in the last minute a well- practiced lineout and driving maul worked to perfection to allow Matt Bloxham to touch down.
With the conversion missed, the final score was 41-28, but with Buzzards gaining a well-deserved bonus point. Leighton can take considerable credit for competing away from home against a very strong Vipers team.
Sunday Roundup
Another massive weekend of rugby across all age groups! Here is how everyone got on:
U14s: A thrilling high-scoring encounter ending in a 38-31 victory against Brackley!
Tries: Oliver (3), Henry (2), Monty
Conversions: Jenson (4)
U16s: Hard-Fought Away Win!
Travelling to Bedford Blues, Buzzards went down to an early try, they bounced back with three unanswered scores to lead 5-19 at halftime.
Despite Bedford pushing back with fresh legs, a tense final-play defensive stand and crucial turnover ruck sealed a 19-26 victory!
Colts: Tring Clash
A tough 5-27 result against Tring, but the final score didn’t reflect a much more even balance of play. After trailing 0-22 at the break, the boys showed great character to draw the second half. Fantastic to get 28 boys game time this week as we keep building and learning with positivity!
ATL Girls Cluster vs Buckingham
The U12, U14, U16, and U18 LB girls representing ATL had an incredible day, winning all 4 games!
Most importantly, there were plenty of smiling faces! For some, it was their first game of contact rugby, for others their first time in an all-girls team.
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Pictured: The LB contingent of the ATL U12s making their cluster debut!)
Fantastic to see hard work in training paying off on the pitch. Well played everyone!
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