Back at Floyd Fields after a tough away assignment against Banbury last week, Buckingham renewed their rivalry with Windsor looking to get back to winning ways after a victory against Wimbourne last time out at home. There were a few changes made to the 18 which were selected Euan Prime, Mat Payne, Oli Crompton, Ollie Horton in the starting XV. Along with promotions from the bench for Will Cooper and Charlie Gulliver, Mike Lynch making his first appearance for Buckingham off the bench; Buckingham also had the luxury of selecting the experienced head of Jamie Lee on the bench. Windsor arrival was late and that showed in the early stages as Buckingham were on the front foot, some strong midfield defence from Stu Craker forcing a turnover on halfway and new scrum half Wiggy Gurney breaking around the base of the ruck up to the Windsor 22 metre line. However, some strong defence by Windsor halted Buckingham advances, but Windsor then were penalised allowing fly half Ed Kinman to kick to the corner. Harry Scarr winning the resulting lineout, Buckingham were retaining the ball well on the Windsor 5 metre line. Again Windsor infringed and Kinman again kicked to the corner setting up a maul for Buckingham, in which Mat Payne dotted down to open the scoring. Kinman missing the conversion from out wide making the score 5-0.

Buckingham then put themselves under pressure with a knock on in their own half, which resulted in the first scrum to Windsor. The visitors gaining the upper hand early in the set piece battle. Some strong carries from Emmett and Bailes for the visitors carrying them into Buckingham 22. More pressure was applied as Windsor won a penalty and kicked to the corner which Emmett claimed, however Prime managed to smuggle the ball out of Windsor’s grasp and make a break to the edge of the 22 to relieve the pressure. Buckingham then showed good ball retention and strong carries from the back row and centres further released the pressure. The ball was recycled just inside the Buckingham half and the ball made its way out wide with Tommy Hoey entering the line from fullback and releasing the potent outside backs of Buckingham. With Oli Crompton making the line break and setting up a two on one with the Windsor fullback, a well-timed pass then allowed Charlie Gulliver an easy run in outpacing the covering Windsor defence. The ensuing conversion was a comedy of errors as Buckingham coaches misplaced the kicking tee and Kinman having to take the kick off of the substitutes boot, which he unfortunately missed. The score now 10-0 to Buckingham.

Buckingham didn’t allow Windsor to gain a foot hold in the game as a clearance kick to touch from Gurney took play back towards the half way line. Some ill discipline from Buckingham at the resulting lineout then allowed Windsor to kick up to the Buckingham 22, the Buckingham forwards managed to force a turnover, but Buckingham then went to clear their lines, but the kick was charged down. Windsor then had a sustained period of pressure resulting in two chances that were held up over the line by some staunch Buckingham defence. Buckingham’s defence then drove the strong ball carriers of Windsor back to the edge of the 22. Although Buckingham gave away a penalty and Windsor kicked to the corner a good steal from the Buckingham lineout and Kinman cleared towards halfway. Another turnover and Kinman seemed to have the ball on a string kicking from hand, as he pushed Windsor deep in to their own territory for a lineout. Scarr went up again at the lineout and stole the ball again setting up a promising position; Buckingham were unable to capitalise on the position though and Windsor cleared long.

The Buckingham halfbacks of Kinman and Gurney, were dominating proceedings ably supported by the hard running Buckingham forwards and centres. Ollie Horton then showed his class out wide as he glided through would be tacklers leaving them in his wake. Unfortunately he found himself isolated Windsor winning another penalty, but again Buckingham maintained their aerial dominance and Scarr seemed to know the Windsor calls inside out and again stole the lineout. Buckingham recycled the ball well just inside the Windsor half and Kinman chanced a chip over the defensive line, the Windsor winger fumbled the ball allowing Gurney to show his pace as he hacked the ball on, resulting in him outpacing the Windsor fullback for Buckingham’s third try. Kinman’s conversion was successful and the score was stretched to 17-0 and Buckingham were looking comfortable and in control.

After the kick off Buckingham started to put themselves under pressure, Windsor made the most of this and gathered some much needed momentum approaching half time. A quick tap from Windsor kept the tempo high, after going through a few phases the ball made its way into George’s hand for him to dot down, a successful touchline conversion from Gaylor. Making the score 17-7 Buckingham were only saved by the bounce of the ball as Windsor looked to make further inroads on the score board, unable to do so the score remained 17-7 at halftime.

As the second half kicked off Buckingham were struggling to match the intensity they showed in the first half; this showed when Windsor chanced their arm from their own 22. Some strong work from Drew sent Grant-Adamson clear for an easy try 5 minutes into the second half. This was perhaps the wakeup call Buckingham needed and things slowly clicked back into gear. Buckingham then had an injury to one of the major influencers from the first half (Gurney) could have seen Buckingham fall off the pace, but Hoey stepped up from 15 to 9 and maintained the good work Gurney had started. He kept the ball moving for the dangerous outside backs which had further pace added when Josh Graham entered the fray from the bench.

Some more strong carries from Buckingham turned up the heat on a tiring Windsor defence, this showing when they strayed offside. The ever cool Kinman stepping up striking a kick from the Windsor 10 metre line to take the score out to 20-12. Buckingham then showed some great attacking intent from the 22, Compton again showing no ill effects of not having played many minutes and sparked an attack, Gulliver accelerating onto the ball from Compton. With only the fullback to beat he chipped over the top but some good covering from Windsor stopped the try being scored. Gulliver was eventually able to score his second of the match, the Windsor hooker over throwing a line out, with Hoey gathering the ball and setting Craker off on another run who then linked with Prime in midfield this setting Compton free again who found support in Gulliver with only the fullback to beat again. There was no need for the chip this time as he showed a clean pair of heels and dotted down out wide. Kinman added the extras and took the score to 27-12.

Buckingham then had a lapse in concentration, and another break out from Windsor in their own half saw Crawshaw gallop away from the Buckingham defence to touch down out wide to the left, the Windsor kicker unable to add the extras on this occasion. This could have set the alarm bells ringing for Buckingham, but this was to be Windsor’s last real attack of the game as the Buckingham pack began to control the ball. Buckingham put the pressure back on Windsor, the Buckingham pack showed their superior fitness and the scrum battle had been turning in the home sides favour as the game wore on. Barker showing some excellent control at the back of the scrum, then saw him pick off the base and take 3 Windsor would be tacklers over the line to score the try. Kinman not adding the extras on this occasion the score now 32-19.

Off the kick off Buckingham maintained their dominance and captain Prime cut a line sending him clear through the heart of the Windsor defence, Buckingham unable to get there quickly enough in support and were penalised. But Windsor could not make any headway off a tap and go looking for the bonus point try, some strong tackling in the 80th minute from Buckingham forcing a knock on and with that the referee brought proceedings to a close and Buckingham had triumphed 32-19. Buckingham now sit seventh in the table, with Windsor still looking for their first league points of the season.

Next week will see Buckingham reacquainted with old Southern Counties rivals Beaconsfield, hoping to maintain this good start to the season with another win.

By Matt Hawker