Buzzards 2nd team fielded a team of youth and experience against a physically large Daventry side. Buzzards age range stretching from 17 to 61. The youth made a significant difference to the game raising the tempo and keeping the side on the front foot.
The first 15 minutes of the game were closely contested taking place between the 22m lines but there were always signs that Buzzards youth would get the side behind Daventry’s defence. A few probing attacks out wide on both flanks were halted. In the 15th minute the pace of the backs got behind Daventry and a combination of inter-play of backs and forwards resulted in Ben Dumpleton scoring the opening try, Tom Maynard, making his senior debut converted.
More attacks down the right wing were causing Daventry problems and their large forwards began tiring leaving plenty of space for James Pleass to sprint in from 30m to score, Maynard, converted, score 14 – nil.
A lapse in Buzzards concentration allowed Daventry to score.
As half-time approached the young halfbacks Archie Morgans and Ben Cullen released Terry Wessels who with a lot of defenders to beat and 50m to cover scored under the posts, Maynard converted. Two minutes later Maynard raced in from 50m to score out wide, but he failed to convert his own try. At half-time the score was 26 – 5.
The second half saw Buzzards come under more sustained pressure and after 7 minutes Daventry responded with a converted try, 26 – 12. Six minutes later another converted try, Buzzards looked rattled, but composure was called for and delivered. As the side worked their way back into Daventry’s half the confidence grew and once in the 22m there was no stopping, Harry Cootes bulldozed his way to score under the posts and Maynard delivered the conversion. Three minutes later veteran Steve (Ace) McDade chipped the ball over the Daventry players and Ben Cullen won the race and touched down for Buzzards sixth try of the afternoon and again Maynard converted. With five minutes left to play Buzzards finished off with a captain’s try as big Joe Baker battled his way through Daventry’s defence to score close to the posts and again Tom Maynard converted. Tom’s personal tally for the afternoon, 15 points, is the club’s top points scorer this season, having passed 100 points.
Final score 45 – 26.