Round 12 Bramley Buffaloes vs Hemel Stags
Bramley Buffaloes 56 Hemel Stags 16
Three tries in a devastating ten minute spell mid way through the first half downing the Stags
Bramley took the early initiative on the back of impressive kick returns from Shaun Flynn and Andy McGann after Hemel elected to kick early in the tackle count.
On three minutes, a well judged cross-field kick by Tony Williams was comfortably taken by Flynn who turned inside and crossed from close range, Paul Drake converting from touch, the first of several successful attempts from out wide.
Quick hands and a neat inside pass saw strong running Elliker prove unstoppable from 10 metres for the second home touchdown. Hemel was suffering from losing the ball in the wet conditions that Bramley adapted too better early on., A long cut-out pass by Drake was intercepted by Hemel winger Stuart McIntyre who outpaced the covering defence to score in the corner on 15 minutes.
The game turned decisively around the quarter way mark with Buffaloes’ triple whammy.
Good passing from right to left allowed Paul Coates to scorch in at the left hand corner, five minutes later some poor Stags defence from a scrum saw Flynn scoot between the posts from 20 metres before substitute forward Chris Gardner again showed great strength and determination to cross from close to the line.
Stags’ Dapo Adewole was unfortunately stretchered from the field on 34 minutes after being injured in the tackle and Hemel finished the half strongly and with much more possession and better field position, however as the rain poured down both teams were guilty of squandering possession cheaply.
At the start of the second half .Williams’ pass was ruled forward but there was no mistake when Williams and Drake combined to send Elliker in for his second.
Hemel, principally through halves Blake Kirby and Kane Phillips, made some incisive breaks with clever handling and off loading which began to get them a foothold in the game but another long pass from playmaker-in-chief Williams put John Richardson over in the corner for the Buffaloes who had the more clinical edge.
Mark Coulson scored a deserved try for Hemel on 57 minutes as he evaded several would be tacklers to score between the posts after a weaving run.
Just after the hour another searching McGann break saw him inter-pass with Daniel Caston for a fine score and Graham Harrison brought up the host’s half century after terrific approach play by Coates. Hemel’s Tony McAllister was getting through a ton of work in defence and it proved hard for Bramley to deal with him.
Hemel scored a third try and the try of the match through Tony McAllister on 70 minutes when a clever pass put him through a gap and evading two tacklers turned Bramleys defence inside out to score under the posts. but Buffaloes had the final word when second rower Gareth Thirsk hugged the touchline for a spectacular 40 metre sprint to the line for his side’s tenth try. Hemel competed well in the second half and despite the score line which belies a good battle, gives Hemel hope for the run in to the end of the season.
Tries: McIntyre (15), Coulson (57), McAllister (70)
Goals: Coulson 2
Hemel Man of the Match: Mark Coulson
Hemels Payers Player Award: Tony McAllister
Half time: 30-4
Referee: Neil Underwood