Sun 10 Sep 2023, 11:00
On a ridiculoulsy hot day The Bears hosted Bugbrooke for the 1st time at this age group for their opening fixture of the season. It was agreed to play as a "training" game and making an allowance for the heat this was played as 4 lots of 15 mins to give the boys plenty of chances to re-hydrate.
With 2 squads of healthy numbers the 1st 1/4 was a very even contest, both sides testing each other out but with some solid defence from each side this period ended scoreless.
A quick drink and a flurry of replacements the 2nd 1/4 saw Bugbrooke take the lead with darty run from their skillfull and lively 10 who dotted down under the posts and who also added the conversion 0-7.
The game continued to move from end to end but a well worked penalty move deep in the Bugbrooke allowed Duke to show good strength to break through several would be tackles score under the posts, Harry W adding the extra 2 as the 2nd 1/4 ended withe scores locked @ 7-7.
Half Time Bears 7 - 7 Bugbrooke
A change of ends with The Bears now playing down the slope and with a lot more changes they were confident of a successful 1/4 however it didnt take Bugbrooke long to regain the lead as just 3 mins in following a well taken lineout they were able to maul themselves over in the corner for a well worked try, despite a great effort with the conversion attempt, this was missed, just coming off the post. 7-12.
5 mins later it got worse for The Bears as after another good maul the ball was shipped out to the strong running Bugrooke 12 who was able to break through to score, a successful conversion taking to lead to 7-19.
The Bears heads could quite easily have dropped but fair play to them as they regrouped and some good work by the forwarrds enable them to make ground down the middle before the ball was shipped to Duke for him to break through for his 2nd with Archie adding the extras 14-19.
Just 1 min later the kick off was gathered and the ball passed to Duke to run in from just outside the 22 to complete a wonderful hatrick with Will S adding the conversion 21-19 and game on as the end of period 3 was signalled.
So into the final 1/4 and all to play for but yet again it was Bugbrooke who started the brighter and soem good work by their forwards allowed them to work up the field before their 10 passed the ball out to the winger for a well worked try, an excellent conversion added 21-26.
2 mins later and the Bears were down a man after a yellow card for foul language after Alfie cursed his own kick (must be said that all players were warned only a few moments earlier about language so had to be done!)
This seemed to spur The Bears on as just 3 mins later a strong run by Zack (who incidentally had a great game making positive ground all day) allowed him to presnt the ball which was picked up by Ryan who managed to bulldoze his way through a couple of tacklers to score what turned out to be the decisive score. Archie adding the extras 28-26.
With 6 or 7 mins still to go, the game could still have gone either way but despite some nervy moments The Bears were able to close out the game for a hard fought 1st win of the season.
Full Time 28-26
Huge credit to both sets of boys, but what a great way to start our season.
I don't think anyone could complain if the score was the other way round. But we will gratefully take the win!
It was certainly a character building game, what with the heat, but the contact was fierce from both sides. Our boys never gave up and battled to the very end and, with composure and maturity we nicked a 2 point win from a very talented and well drilled side.
Great work, lads!
Congratulations to Zack and Duke who were nominated as MOTM by both Buckingham and Bugbrooke respectively.
A great game of rugby played in the right spirits.
Bugbrooke were a great bunch of boys and coaches and we look forward to playing them again. Good luck for the rest of the season!
