Nottingham Outlaws 22 v 22 Boston Buccaneers

Buccaneers battle for a draw.

The Buccaneers were back in league action this weekend in an East Midland derby vs Nottingham Outlaws. Coach Jim Dearing did not have the best start to his game preparations with 9 first team players not available through injury or other commitments. Buccaneers debuts were given to George Stainfield, Nate Stainfield and Mike Duggan. The game also saw the welcome return of ex Sleaford Spartan hooker Ian Walker.

The game started badly for the visitors with the Outlaws using quick ball to great effect catching out the Buccaneers defenders and it wasn't long before the home team registered the first points. Despite some great defending from winger John Hummel and prop Paul Lucas the Outlaws were clinical in their attacks racking up 18 unanswered points.

In a true game of two halves the Buccaneers started the second half with a renewed passion. Loose forward Lewis Wilson, who had been causing problems for the Outlaws all day, seized on a pass from scrum half Brad Nixon to smash his way over the line for the visitors first score. Barely 5 minutes late debutant fullback George Stainfield weaved his way through defenders to score under the posts. It was all one way traffic now with prop Diogo Felicio and centre Liam Croker making the hard yards and hooker Ian 'flash' Walker distributing the ball well to stand off Mike Gray. Not to be outdone by his brother George, Nate Stainfield was next on the scoreboard as he out paced defenders for a great 30 metre individual effort, Tom Balderson kicked the extra points. Everything seemed to be going the Buccaneers's way and with the help of a few penalties they soon found themselves deep in Outlaws territory. A superb passage of play involving all the backs ended with Lewis Wilson who finished well under the posts, Tom Balderson slotted the kick to bring the game all square at 22-22. With both teams desperate for the win mistakes started to creep in with neither team able to make much yardage. With 5 minutes left on the clock the Outlaws were camped on the Buccaneers's 10 meter line. The visitors defence refused to be breached as they repulsed wave after wave of attacks. The game looked set to end as a draw until a last second penalty was awarded to the Outlaws in font of the posts. Up stepped the Outlaws kicker only to push the ball wide of the upright. The Buccaneers can be proud of how, as a scratch team, they overcame a large deficit to record a superb draw. The Buccaneers man of the match was awarded to Lewis Wilson.

Buccaneers: R. Wellington, J. Hummel, D. Fox, L. Croker, G. Stainfield, M. Gray, B. Nixon, M. Coley, I. Walker, P. Lucas, S. Kippax, A. Overton, L. Wilson, T. Balderson, M. Duggan, N. Stainfield, D. Philpott, D. Felicio, R. Cuthbertson,