Round 7 Hemel Stags vs Bramley Buffaloes:

Hemel Stags 18-22 Bramley Buffaloes

With a third of the season gone, Bramley maintained their unbeaten run and moved four points clear of their nearest challengers with a crucial win in the Hertfordshire sun.

The pace and defensive ferocity which defied the conditions was unrelenting, with the large and colourful crowd – bolstered by a big black and amber travelling contingent – living on their nerves until the last, especially with the final quarter remaining scoreless.

Both sides were virtually at full strength and primed from the kick off for a committed and intense start that saw no quarter given.

Buffaloes had the first clear cut opportunity, prop Richard Leese re-called for a forward pass but they were ahead in the seventh minute.

A cross field kick on the fifth tackle was batted inside by Nicky Fontaine and Gavin Buckley collected to go over out wide, Paul Drake adding the conversion.

Within five minutes the Stags were level, capitalising as the penalties mounted against the visitors and they were pinged in front of their own posts.

Scott Clendenning-Fenton smartly took a quick tap while the visiting defence was still re-arranging and giant replacement prop Joseph Compton-Meyer crashed over by the posts for Barry John Swindells to add the simple conversion.

With the visitor’s indiscipline proving to be their downfall, some spectacularly lined up hits just missing their mark, Hemel again profited.

On the back of a penalty for a punch, the Buffaloes defence lined up home centre Jared Searson but he spun out of their attempt and raced clear to score, Swindells making it 12-6.


Above: Searson going over the whitewash

The trend was reversed just after the quarter way mark and Bramley made the most of a penalty award, Jon Nicholls’ superb long pass freeing Buckley who needed no second invitation to crash over, Drake’s goal again bringing parity.

Stags second rower Michael Crosby was just held up over the line and Bramley were reduced to 12 men when Daniel Caston was sin binned for one collective high tackle too many.

Five minutes before the break Hemel took the chance of two points on offer after another misdemeanour to edge in front but just as the whistle was about to sound for half time, the visitors struck decisively.


Above: Hemel Stags attack the Bramley line

Drake hoisted a towering bomb and as the home defence hesitated, he stole in to grab the awkward bounce and converted to give his side a four point cushion.

That was doubled three minutes after the break when a grubber into the Hemel in goal was fatally left by Swindells as he sought to shepherd it out, Fontaine ghosting in for what proved to be a crucial score.

Hemel desperately sought to stop the game slipping away, Brendan Williams producing a 40/20 to put them back on the front foot but George Stevens was just held out by some desperate Yorkshire defence.

The mounting pressure told on the hour, Searson just sneaking inside the corner flag for his second touchdown but too far out for the extras to be added.

Although that was the end of the scoring it was not of the incident, Compton-Meyer leaving the field with blood streaming from a face wound but conceding a penalty as the Stags laid siege to the Bramley half.

A Drake 40/20 temporarily eased the pressure and in the end Hemel just could not breach the Buffaloes line for the clinching score.

The nearest either side came to more points was a late attempted drop goal by the visitors but it just fell sort – unlike the near-constant excitement.

STAGS
Barry -JohnSwindells, Stuart McIntyre, Jared Searson, Brad Glenn, Ashley Fyson, Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Brendan Williams, Dean Campbell, Alex Brown, James Howitt, Michael Crosby, Tim Stevens, John Weber
Subs: Joseph Compton-Meyer, George Stevens, Eddie M’Baraga, Chris Pomfrett


Tries: Compton-Meyer (12), Searson (17, 60)
Goals: Swindells 3
Hemel Man of the Match: Michael Crosby
Hemels Payers Player Award:
Half time: 14-18
Referee: Darren Hayes