Chess Valley 2nd 17 v 24 Leighton Buzzard 2nd
by Jon Henkes
On a very wet cold and muddy day in early January Leighton Buzzard second team set out to play at pastures new at Chess Valley rugby club.
Two teams very evenly matched with quick running backs and hard hitting forwards. A real tussle was about to commence!
The game kicked off with a Chess Valley player being clattered into touch as he caught the ball. The shaky Leighton Buzzard lineout unfortunately let Chess Valley into the game and with some hard running they managed to make good ground.
The Buzzard defence was resolute and thunderous and made them fight for every inch that they gained! Again and again they battered into the valiant Buzzards who stood firm for 10 minutes. In the end the onslaught proved too much and the first score went to Chess Valley!
A very atrocious and hard running style of rugby seemed to be the orders from both captains as Leighton buzzard ground their way up the pitch with short lines off an untiring and fierce Leigh Draper.
Buzzard scored the second try of the match through Julian Gallie and Sam Beaumont to convert it to edge in front!
The rucking from both sides was ferocious and dare I say refereed in a very “old school” manner which meant that each ruck was a heavy contest for the ball.
Chess Valley scored a converted try just before the break to give them a 12 – 7 lead, Buzzards had made them fight all the way to gain the lead!
The second half started well for the visiting side as a very well worked line out and backs move lead to some incredible offloading to give Julian his second try of the afternoon this time under the posts giving Sam an easy conversion and Buzzards the lead 12 – 14.
As the rain poured down and both teams continue to clatter into each other with seemingly complete disregard for each other’s and their own safety. The ruck was a real dog fight and whoever was more aggressive won the ball.
A line out and quick penalty with a hard attacking set of pick and drive with a beautiful backs move by the Beaumont brothers gave Leighton their next score through Julian Gallie hat-trick try, his first in senior rugby. The try was converted by Ben Beaumont. The score 12 – 21.
Steve “Ace” McDade came on in the second half and brought trickery and deception to add to the Buzzards hard hitting back line.
Chess Valley fought hard scoring an unconverted try, the score 17 – 21, the result was not assured for the visitors until in the last minute a decision to take the penalty kick over the posts put the game to bed!
A very hard fought and muddy game but incredibly enjoyable and well-mannered after just as rugby should be.
Six wins on the bounce for the Leighton second team! We go again next week!
