Round 3 Hemel Stags vs Bramley Buffaloes:

Hemel 16 Bramley 26

All the points were scored in the opening 42 minutes in a fine match, Bramley emerging victorious after making the most of their chances.

Hemel were hit by injuries but coach Troy Perkins remained upbeat about the way his side approached the task, seeing them build a sixteen point lead.

Controversially, Bramley responded when the Stags were temporarily down to 12 men in the run up to the break and the Buffaloes posted three touchdowns in nine minutes.

Centre Oliver O’Mara opened the scoring for the hosts in the third minute, after some good handling of the ball by influential Blake Kirby, Barry Jon Swindells converting.

A fine move through three pairs of hands ended with Kane Phillips passing to Blake Kirby to send in Caine Wynyard to double the score. B J Swidells adding the extras.

More expansive play saw right winger Stuart McIntyre cross to give Hemel a 16 points leads, but Graham Harrison started the Bramley fight back with their opening try in the 23rd minute.

Danny O’Connor’s surging run made it 16-10 but then Christian Champion was harshly given ten minutes for holding down and Buffaloes ruthlessly exploited the extra man.

Matt Mulholland and Jon Nichols went over inside three minutes, Shaun Flynn’s third conversion making it 22-16 to the visitors at the break.

The only score of the second period was a try by Bramley winger John Richardson but the game ebbed and flowed after that without either side being able to land a decisive knock out blow. Both defences being at their best to deny each other scoring opportunities.

The best chance came with five minutes left when McIntyre was floored by a high shot that denied his second score. The Stags look forward to next Sundays game when the visitors at Pennine Way will be Celtic Colts a feeder team for the Welsh professional club Celtic Crusaders. Kick is at 2.30pm.

 

Tries: O’Mara (3), Wynyard (14), McIntyre (17)
Goals: B.J. Swindells 2
Hemel Man of the Match:Kane Phillips
Hemels Payers Player Award:Barry John Swindells