Gosford 2s extend lead at top of the table

It had only been a week since Gosford claimed the top spot of the prestigious BBO4N but there was no resting for the All Blacks as they welcomed second in the league Buckingham 3rd XV (who were only second on points difference). With the team sheet the night before showing 22 gladiators ready to do battle – Gosford 2’s largest game day squad for quite a while, it was overwhelming to see the depth of talent, number of young players coming through as well as Matt Williams aka Mr Sicknote.

The squad would welcome a few of the regular 1st team players into the frame, with Liam Beesley bringing his monster hits into No. 8, Tim Ellis’s orchestration skills would be conducting at Fly Half and Chris Bennet’s powerful running would be ready to break through the green defence. As the two sides took to the field, there was an air of confidence in the all Blacks camp, after claiming the top spot and four consecutive wins, the team were looking to capitalise on their position and extend their unbeaten run.

With Buckingham the team to get proceedings underway, they would kick into the middle of the Gosford forwards, with second row Connor Sadler claiming the aerial ball he would do well against the equally very large Buckingham forwards, getting hit almost instantly, the black’s forwards would drive in to secure the ball. With Richie Robbins getting his hands on the ball for the first time he would pass to the orchestrating Ellis who popped an inside ball the Buckingham bashing Beesley, gaining good ground, Beesley was brought down and the remaining forwards would secure again, for Robbins to pass to Ellis who would hit a beautiful touch bound hit just outside the Buckingham 22.

With the first few phases done, it was clear the pace Ellis would be brining to the game was something the bulky Buckingham pack were not use to as they walked to the lineout, with Gosford competing through Eugene Griffin they would be unlucky to steal, with Buckingham securing their lineout they would ship it to their quick footed Fly Half who had the unfortunate pleasure of being on the end of a Sadler special. The big hit would be enough to bring the Fly Half down in front of the posts, with Buckingham keen to secure the ball, they were deemed to have tried to do so illegally with players diving over the top.

With Gosford using the advantage, Robbins would ship to Ellis, who gave Bennet his first chance of a crash ball, making good ground as he did all game he would be brought down and with this the green Buckingham players slowed the ball down. Going back to the original infringement, Gosford would take the penalty which would be coolly slotted over by Ellis. 3-0 to Gosford.

Buckingham were quick to get things underway, possibly too quick, with the ball not going 10 it would be brought back for a Gosford scrum. With the scrum one of Gosford’s most dominant areas over the season so far it would be cornerstones, Rick Green and Master Tom Bates who would set their authority early. Against clearly the biggest scrum Gosford had faced this season the men in Black would march them back, ball secured it would go back to Robbins, with Ellis the man controlling proceedings again he’d run a switch ball through centre Marc Grant who’d meet his opposite man in a big way. Backrow Griffin and Dan Talbot would be first there to secure the ball. Using the channel, a good line would be ran by Sadler who bounded his way up in his usual Gazelle like fashion, waltzing his way through the Buckingham defence, he’d be brought down and with the Blacks forwards slow to react in securing the ball is was knocked on.

Buckingham scrum called, it was the first real time the green units would have the chance to attack and test the Black defence. Unfortunately, they made the mistake of trying to bulldoze their way through Bennett, who swiftly crumpled his man as quickly as he tried to break. With Buckingham keen to keep using this route 1 tactic they would then meet Rick Green head on, who’d bear tackle his man to the ground. Deciding this method was proving ‘effective’ they tried running the line again but would make the even worse decision to run into Beesley who would deliver a huge hit that would see the first of the Buckingham players limp of the pitch.

Through a few more phases of Buckingham smash they’d get a penalty 20 yards out after the Gosford defence didn’t release the man on the floor. With the sure-footed fly half brining the scores level after 15 minutes the score was level at 3 – 3.

The next big break would come swiftly from the restart, with the Ellis kick timed well, second row Tim Davies would hit his man deep in the Buckingham 22, again through an interchange of rucks Gosford would knock the ball on and Buckingham would be awarded a scrum in their own 22. With the engage called, the Gosford giants walked forward, in a hurry to get the ball out the Buckingham players kicked the ball a bit too enthusiastically, with it coming straight out the back of the scrum blind side flanker Talbot would react quickest, scooping up the loose and running his way over for an unconverted try. 8-3.

With the physical and tempo of the Gosford pack fatigue was already showing in the Buckingham camp. From the restart the Buckingham pack which were keen to chase were now much more sluggish which allowed Sadler to catch the ball uncontested and drive his way forward. With Carl Brooks doing excellent work at the breakdown the ball was secured and would give way for Ellis to march his backs forwards, with the ball wide to Keppie, the young speedster sprinted his way forward before being knocked into touch. The Buckingham lineout was over thrown and was caught by Davies who would break his way forward, caught just inside the Buckingham 22, Gosford would run another tight line through Beesley who would be stopped 15 short, with the back line flooding the blindside, Robbins passed to Talbot who delayed his pass to Strong, who would burst his way over the line to score in the corner, with the try unconverted the half time score was 13-3.

At the break Gosford made several changes, Green would be swapped for Sicknote in the front row, Brooks would make way for Max Z at hooker, Tim Davies would part for Chris Good in the second row and Eugene would make way for James Stepney who would also go into the second row, with Sadler moving to the open side flanker. In the backs, Marc Grant would make way for Danny Rae in the centres, Charlie Loveday would come onto the wing in place of Strongy and Raf would come onto the other wing for Keppie.

With Ellis lining up to get things underway again the All Black forward line-up charged on, with Talbot challenging in the air, he was fingertips away from the perfect start, but knocked the ball on for an instant scrum start on the Buckingham 35 mark. With the fresh legs on in place, the Gosford pack were looking to continue where they had left off, but Buckingham had other ideas. The green army had clearly had other ideas and were rage fuelled to be behind so put their bodies on the line to gain a lead they so desperately wanted.

The intensity was instantly increased and Gosford were for the first time challenged on the scrum, with their Number 8 picking the ball of the base and charging it became clear straight away that the greens intended to run route 1 ball straight away, thankfully Sadler chopped him down before he even got up to speed, but this didn’t hesitate the forwards, with the scrum half lining up another Buckingham forward, this time Chris Good was the main to bring him down, then another Buckingham forward popped the ball, this time it was James Stepney to plough him down, after gaining about 4 inches in 4 phases they released their green back line. Still not learning their lesson they ran into Bennett who marched drove his man back to the halfway line before the player fell to the floor.

The supporting Gosford players were deemed to have dived over the top, so a Buckingham penalty was awarded, kicking to touch they earned themselves a lineout just inside the Gosford 22. It’s here for the next 20 minutes the Buckingham players would make camp, wave after wave of forward ball and time after time someone was at hand to smash them down. Clearly the Buckingham players decided Good was the man to target, but the experienced second row didn’t falter once, bringing down every player that came near him. However, the prolonged attack had taken its toll, with Gosford’s defence now splintered simple penalty errors were coming up everywhere and eventually the Buckingham pack made their way over for an unconverted try. 13 – 8.

Buckingham were keen to continue were they left off and presented themselves in the most convincing fashion yet, whilst what they were doing was not the most flamboyant style of rugby it was proving effective. With the restart taken it was caught by Beesley who by now was causing such havoc for the Buckingham defence it took 4 to bring him down. Through this somehow though, Buckingham were awarded a penalty for not rolling away and so began another 10 minutes of heavy defence.

Buckingham who was now showing heavy signs of wear kept trying route 1 ball and the Gosford players kept hitting them back with Stepney doing his part and putting in some big hits. Through a cleared ball the Buckingham defence hit a 50-yard kick, and this found its way into the arms of Robbins who, turned on his South African speed and quickly closed that ground. Tackled just in the 22, the ball was popped on the ground to the supporting Gilkes, who with the support of Talbot, Stepney and Sicknote (yes, he did run to support), drove the swivel-hipped fullback over the line for an unconverted try. 18 – 8.

Gosford with eyes now on the bonus try would finally get a break when a Buckingham line out went askew, and the players drove into themselves awarding a Gosford free kick, with Ellis playing the territory game, Gosford gained 20 yards and were free from the intense Buckingham attack. With Buckingham getting another line out for the same offence, Ellis did the same again and gained more ground, with next line out now inside the Buckingham half, the green pack finally let their back line have the ball, which worked well…

The Buckingham players who had thrown the proverbial kitchen sink at it in this half were now exhausted and were defeated. Through some rushed hands the ball found its way to the Buckingham wing, who kicked the ball into Raf’s hands who gassed his way over the line to score one of the easiest tries of his Gosford career, with Ellis converting the try the final score was now 25 – 8.

And like that Gosford ground their way to a bonus point victory and remain league leaders and the ones to catch. A big game by all on the field, with special mentions to Liam Beesley for some monster hits, Chris Good for his incredible 100% tackle ratio and Chris Bennett for his battering ram runs. However, man of the match goes to Connor Sadler, the big second row has become a lynch pin in the Gosford pack, the emphatic breaks, work at the breakdown and fluorescent socks have made him a force to be reckoned with (well perhaps not the last one).

The next game will see the All Blacks go to Wheatley in which has always been a hotly contested game, with Gosford keen to keep their streak rolling they will be eagerly waiting gameday!