In the latest game in the South West One League Buckingham took on old rivals Bletchley. Played in glorious autumn sunshine in front of more than two hundred spectators Buckingham crashed to their fifth successive defeat after holding a narrow lead at halftime.

The home side started brightly with an early turnover taking them deep into the Bletchley twenty-two. More good handling from Bernard Hawkins and Turvey again had Bletchley back peddling and it was no surprise when Hulston took another good pass to cross for the first try - his conversion giving Buckingham a 7- 0 lead after twelve minutes.

More pressure from Buckingham was rewarded with two more penalties, both squandered, before they themselves were caught offside to put Bletchley on the scoreboard midway through the half.

Soon after naivety in defence cost Buckingham dear when they wandered back towards the try line after another Bletchley penalty only for the visitors to take a quick tap and spin the ball out wide for a soft try.

Buckingham’s riposte was immediate, the ball recycled through the backs from the kickoff for Hulston to chip over the defence and score his second try. Buckingham continued to give away penalties and Bletchley narrowed the gap to one point on the stroke of halftime.

The visitors stepped up the pace in the second half scoring two early tries to put them nine points in front before this exciting game swung the other way as Miller and Bernard combined to put Hulston in space after good work by the pack. Hulston’s conversion narrowing the gap to two points.

That was as good as it got for the home side as the big Bletchley forwards exerted increased pressure the result of which gave them two more tries - aided it must be said by a succession of
penalties in their favour, fourteen in all which didn't help the Buckingham cause.

The hill to success getting steeper every week.

Report by Eric Curtis