This was the final League Match of the season and proved to be a successful outing
for Buckingham Rugby with a convincing bonus point win- 24-5 over near neighbours
Milton Keynes.
The game was played in sunny, but very windy conditions, which was not conducive to flowing rugby with many interruptions during the course of the game with ball and players having an uncontrolled afternoon.
This resulted in many knock ons , lineouts and scrums ,where Buckingham had a difficult afternoon against a strong and physical Milton Keynes pack . and the flow of the game with neither side making good use of the ball and unusual mistakes being made and a slugfest of penalities was in the making.
However the breakthrough for the visiting side came from an attacking Milton Keynes and a subsequent knock on by them and a scrum to Buckingham and Adam Bone making a strong run down field supported by Dil Punian and Jim Gurney and connecting with Matt Lester who went over in the corner to score and Tom Gurney converting making it 0-7 to the visitors after 23 minutes of play.
Buckingham Rugby were beginning to make their mark and again Adam Bone and the forwards were in the thick of things delivering the ball for scrum half Tom Gurney to feed a his threequarter line and allow Tom Warren, with a powerful burst down the left flank, to score a fine try in the corner on the half hour.
Buckingham were now leading 12 points to nil. The three’s were beginning to make their mark with good run by Charlie Gulliver and once again Adam Bone was in the thick of things, but unfortunately was injured in the melee and had to go off for treatment and Josh McMullen replaced him.
However Milton Keynes responded just before half time when their lively fly half kicking to make touch deep inside the Buckingham 22 succeeded, due to the defence error of catching the ball with a foot in touch, giving the lineout to the home side and as a mix up in defence their winger went over for a try in the corner, which was unconverted.
Half time eventually arrived after a long first half ,due to many stoppages and hunting for the match ball in the bushes on the far side of the field, with the visitors taking the lead
5 -12.
With second half underway and the wind blowing in their favour, Buckingham made a good use of the ball and a fine attacking run was made by Max Cubit deep into the Milton Keynes half only to be injured in the tackle and had to go off after 3 minutes of play.
After scrappy play by both sides, a great move up field by Buckingham, led by Tom Gurney, was scuppered by a counter attack by the homeside into visitors half, only for them to be penalised and for Tom Gurney to kick deep into their 22 and after 20 minutes his brother Jim crossed the whitewash to score. Tom to convert his try and took Buckingham Rugby into the ascendency 5 -19. A Gurney exclusive!!
Five minutes later Harry Fellingham was shown a yellow card, but the loss seemed to make little difference, as the home forwards appeared to be running out of steam, after their early dominance, as outside centre – Charlie Gulliver glided over for the fourth try and the bonus point was secured 5 -24 . Sadly a serious injury to the Milton Keynes full back Midge Power stopped play and an ambulance was called and on behalf of Buckingham Rugby wish him a speedy recovery.
As a result and the game was transferred to an adjacent pitch for the last 10 minutes of the match.
At the final whistle Buckingham Rugby had won the encounter 24 points to 5 and finished their League campaign with 3 consecutive wins and this will help, as we enter the Papa Johns Competition next Saturday with a home game against Hertfordshire Club - Hitchin .
One other point to mention is Seth Williams played his 350 game for the Club and we congratulate him on this exceptional achievement.
Man of Match: Adam Bone
Reporter : Anthony Flack.