Buckingham 54 Marlborough 42
After the bruising narrow loss to Chippenham the previous Saturday, Buckingham were still able field a near full strength team, testament to the work of the physios during the week. The cool, grey windless afternoon made for an open, fast running game, eagerly anticipated by the Buckingham faithful.

Within 4 minutes of kick off, Buckingham were ahead. A penalty kick to the corner, a line out won by Scarr, quick recycled ball enabled Prime to cross under the sticks, Gurney converting, 7-0 to Buckingham. Marlborough responded quickly via their backline as their No.14 crossed to score, aided by several missed Buckingham tackles, to level the scores. On 15 minutes, it was 7-14. A pick and go by the Marlborough No.3 from10m out, charging his way over for a converted try.

Buckingham replied with an excellent penalty kicked by Gurney to reduce the arrears, but Marlborough were seizing the initiative. Despite valiant defending by Hoey, the other Marlborough prop
bulldozed his way over for another converted try on 28 minutes to make it 10-21.

Buckingham needed to respond before halftime and another penalty kick to the corner, quick recycle from the line out by the forwards enabled Gurney to dive over, but the conversion was missed. A Marlborough transgression under the posts resulting in a yellow card, allowed Gurney to reduce the score to 18-21 at half time.

Within 2 minutes of the break, Buckingham regained the lead. Some great handling by Buckingham’s backs, a kick and drive saw Prime cross for his second. Buckingham were now in the ascendency, with constant pressure in the opposition 22 and the Marlborough pack starting to blow. A pick-up from a 5m scrum saw Prime cross for his third making it 30-21. With the bonus point already secured, Buckingham pressed home their advantage, some excellent back play, a break by Gulliver resulting in Temple crossing, Gurney converting to make it 37-21.

Time for Marlborough to respond, via sustained pressure in the Buckingham half. Despite stoic Buckingham defence, the Marlborough No. 5 crossed to reduce the deficit to 37-28 for Marlborough’s Bonus Point try. Game on. From the kick-off Marlborough knocked forward on the 22 line. From the ensuing scrum some great interplay by Buckingham saw Hulston cross with Gurney converting to make it 44-28.

What happened next was one of the finest tries ever witnessed at Floyd Field. A scrum on halfway, pick up by man of the match Prime, passing over the tackler’s head to Gurney, to Warren, to full back Hoey coming through like an express to cross the whitewash. A sublime move, “Like Watching Brazil”, but Buckingham were still not finished. A Buckingham penalty, kicked to the corner by Gurney to the 5m line, Scarr rising like Moses as the Marlborough defence parted at the line out enabling him to cross unchallenged for Buckingham’s 8th try.

Marlborough responded and the last 5 minutes belonged to them as they scored two more converted tries via their No 15 and hooker to make the final score 54-42 to Buckingham. A truly remarkable game of rugby of 96 points, 14 tries, with both teams contributing to a magnificent contest. However, another win at Fortress Buckingham bodes well for the rest of the season.

Reporter – Tony Hinton