BUZZARD Colts Win East Midlands Colts 7’s

Buzzards with an early start travelled to Wellingborough, for the traditional end of season finale, namely, the East Midlands Colts seven a side tournament. Buzzards were able to repeat last season’s excellent showing, by turning out three Colts squads, all be it of varying abilities, with a number of very talented U16’s supplementing the senior Academy boys.

The C squad (aka the LardBearingians) were a fearsome squad, assembled exclusively with 10 hand picked forwards (& definitely no backs) they were very fortunate to be skipped by the talented 7’s exponent Buster Yirrell.

The B squad (aka team Fat) belying their name, were a very able squad indeed, with a number of players who would have been in every body else’s A squad. Captain Guy Hunt was certainly secretly aspiring to progress to the latter stages of the competition.

The A squad (aka team Thin) despite a number of injuries to key players, ruling them out of contention, plus other availability issues weakening the squad, they were simply awesome. They were also eager to redress the balance from last year, when they were literally robbed of the title (as an U17 squad in an U19 competition) to a mysteriously disallowed try in the final, which they eventually lost by only 2 points.

LardBearingians

Wellingborough, Dunstable & Olney.

Buzzards set the whole competition rolling v hosts W’boro and were in literally 7’s heaven, when Yirrell’ deep kick off was fielded by Zack Hayes, who crashed through under the posts for an amazing early score. The large assembled crowd of Buzzard players & supporters were in raptures. W’boro however were not phased and worked hard throughout, for a deserved victory.

Next up were old rivals Dunstable, who were comprehensively defeated, following a quick fire brace from livewire Jamie Whyte and a fantastic try from young Seb Calloway, when he zoomed in from 80 meters, showing some real pace and a great eye for a gap.

Olney were clearly the best side in the group and progressed to the semi finals following a comfortable victory in the last game.

Special mention to U16 players Kieran Bolton, Callum Hunt & Seb Calloway who all played very well throughout.

Fat

Kettering, Northampton Old Scouts & Northampton Boys Brigade Old Boys.

Kettering, Plate winners in the previous two seasons, were first up and fielding a large and experienced side. Buzzards were overly tentative early on and conceded a soft converted try, as they struggled for any early rhythm. From that point on Buzzards dominated possession and played some excellent 7’s but Kettering held firm. Buzzards scored a try themselves, following some good interplay and support, unfortunately the conversion was missed and despite all the play, Buzzards ran out of time and lost 5-7

Old Scouts were next up and despite some excellent sevens for the Fats; they were beaten by a side with more pace and guile, despite Buzzards good late come back.

Final opponents were BBOB, who were in with a chance of progressing into the Plate competition, having just lost in the final moments to Scouts & were very unlucky to draw with Kettering, Buzzards were in the driving seat from the off, as they raced to a well deserved 36-5 victory. Illustrating well just what might have been in the “Group of Death”, if they had hit the ground running in the first match, as a consequence, Kettering scraped into the Plate.

Congratulations to Jacob Evans & Charlie Holmes from the U16’s, both having an outstanding tournament.

Thin

Daventry, Stockwood Park & Old Northamptonians

Daventry & Stockwood were ruthlessly despatched in the early games, as Buzzard won at little more than a slow canter.

ON’s last seasons winners were next up, in the Clash of the Titans, with the winner progressing and expected to be hot favourites to take the overall honours. ON’s were in no mood to concede their crown and hit Buzzards with all they had. Buzzards were a little complacent at times, but worked hard & stuck to their sevens patterns.

ON’s played a direct style, well suited to their huge side, their close driving play and a couple of missed tackles by the Buzzards, had them in with a good shout early on. Buzzards didn’t panic and came through for a deserved victory, as their pace and fluidity told in the end.

Fellow group winners Olney were unmercifully despatched in the semi final, by a score in excess of 50 points, in spite of the Buzzards clearly tacking their foot off the gas after only a couple of minutes of the match, in order to be best set for the final.

Buzzards met Northampton Old Scouts in the final and the initial exchanges were fierce. Buzzards made a few uncharacteristic errors and Scouts pounced to deservedly break the deadlock. From that point onwards it was all Buzzards; Scouts defended well but were stretched to hold the Buzzards pace & power. Buzzards rattled up three quick score, Scouts players were literally strewn across the pitch, as they were left chasing shadows. Scouts were struggling and three players were replaced before half time.

Buzzards with a dream bench, rolled on some “Rolls Royce” sevens players and the game was over as a competition, as they scored almost immediately from the restart. Scouts battled hard, determined to make a game of it, but were found wanting at the final hurdle. An excellent victory for the Buzzards against a strong Scouts side who were simply outclassed Well done to the squad of  Tom Overton, Nathan Hood, Chris Wood, George Adams, Tom Hamper, Tom Pratt, Conrad Braithwaite, John McGarvey, George Messum & U16 super star, big Ben Latimer.

Well done all on the day, when Buzzards were yet again a real presence both on and off the pitch. New players of all abilities are very welcome

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