Buckingham 1st XV - Match center

Reading
Buckingham
Sat 25 Nov 14:30 - South West Division - Southern Counties North Full time

Last play Winner keeps Buck truck rolling 9 out of 9

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Wright score keeps Buckingham at the top of the table

A last play converted try by Phil Wright secured a 34-41 win for Buckingham in a thrilling encounter against a determined Reading side.

A clear blue sky with a light intermittent breeze welcomed Buckingham to Reading and a fixture last contested in the 2014/15 season when both teams were in the League above.

Buckingham kicked off into the sun and put Reading under early pressure. After 5 minutes with Reading unable to exit their half Buckingham moved ball swiftly down the line for Tom Warren to score in the left hand corner. Conversion missed.

Reading responded with a period of good possession their heavier pack working well in the scrum and line out. Good resolute defending by Buckingham ensured their line was not broken and clearances by Nagy and Kinman pushed Reading back. A kick and chase resulted in an opportunity for Buckingham only for it to be knocked forward on the line. The Reading 22 drop out went straight out and from the resulting Buckingham scrum the combative Toby Smith scored Buckingham’s second Try, Kinman added the extras. 20 minutes gone and 12-0 to Buckingham.

Reading’s response was immediate and Buckingham concentration slipped. Reading broke down the right and a number of missed tackles allowed the pacey Reading full back to score, which was converted.

Buckingham woke up and from the kick off with a knock on by Reading. At the scrum Joe Chalmers and Toby Smith working well to secure the ball despite being under pressure released the ball down the line. With neat handling from Joel Coxon, younger brother Craig scored. Conversion successful. 19-7 Buckingham.

Back Reading came again and from a scrum and drive near Buckingham line drove over. 19-12 Buckingham. The forward battle intensified and Reading held Buckingham up in the middle of the pitch. A clever kick down to the left wing and hot pursuit resulted in Reading scoring an unconverted try. 19 -17 Buckingham.

Buckingham needed a response before half time. The electric Max Nagy broke down the right and forced a line out on the Reading 22. Jamie Temple won clean line out ball as he and Jim Barker did all afternoon. The forwards drove in and from the resulting maul Seth Williams drove through to score. Buckingham 24 Reading 17 at half time.

Second Half Stuart Tomkinson replaced Craig Dumbarton and both sides started quietly testing each other out with strong forward play contesting for the ball. Buckingham used the shortened lineout to good effect. Scrum half Chalmers was controlling the game well varying the point of attack. Breaks by both Nagy and Coxon putting Reading under pressure. Ten minutes into the second half the Reading backs flew up in the defensive line leaving space in the right hand corner. A clever dab through from Kinman to the right hand corner allowed Tom Warren to gather and walk over for his second try of the game. 29-17 to Buckingham.

Almost from the restart a chip and catch over the Reading back line by Kinman then fed to the forwards who were in support with some great inter passing released Jamie Lee who bolted into the corner. 34-17 to Buckingham.

Buckingham then seemed to switch off allowing Reading back into the game and went down to 14 men for a yellow card for indiscipline. Three Reading tries all scored by the Full back in the next 20 minutes brought the score back to Buckingham 34-34. Ten minutes of the game left and the momentum and belief was with Reading and the home crowd sensed victory.

Buckingham defended and regrouped and won a penalty in the middle of the Reading half. The clock now red and Buckingham chose to put the ball into the corner. Jim Barker won the line out ball and from the halted maul Nagy was fed on a hard line. A switch of play, a flat skip pass to Phil Wright who barrelled over in the corner to the delight of the Buckingham team and the disappointment of the Reading players and supporters. Kinman added the extras. Final score Reading 34 Buckingham 41.

It had been a very exciting match. The momentum had surged one way and then the other. Reading Forwards and their full back put Buckingham under considerable pressure in a well fought contest. Buckingham never went behind in the match and as a squad of eighteen dug deep to grind out the win.

Roll on the top of the Table clash with second placed Beaconsfield at Floyd Field on the 9th December.

Team selection

Team selection has not been published for this fixture yet.

League round up

Other Southern Counties North results

15
44
Windsor
High Wycombe
22
18

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Standings

# Team Pl Pts
1. Beaconsfield 22 104
2. Windsor 22 90
3. Buckingham 22 88
4. Aylesbury 22 72
5. Thatcham 22 68
6. Wallingford 22 61
7. Reading 22 57

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