DISAPPOINTING BUZZARDS SUFFER SECOND-HALF MELT-DOWN
LEIGHTON BUZZARD 3 – 53 TOWCESTRIANS
Leighton Buzzard’s poor form continued with a disappointing performance against mid-table Towcestrians. After a bright start and only a seven point deficit at half–time, the Buzzards fell away poorly and conceded seven second half tries. At the halfway point of the season, Leighton are in thirteenth place and fourteen points short of safety. It will take a dramatic change in fortunes if they are to maintain level six rugby for a sixth successive season.
The game started well for Buzzards – kicking off uphill but with the benefit of the wind, Leighton dominated possession and territory in the early stages. It was no surprise that they took the lead with a James Brett penalty after ten minutes to take the lead 3-0.
After a somewhat lethargic start, the visitors were now controlling possession and threatening the Buzzard line. After sixteen minutes the pressure told and Towcestrians crashed over for their first try. The visitors’ pack was controlling the scrum and it was little surprise when they scored a push-over try after twenty–five minutes. Both conversions were missed to leave Buzzards trailing 3-10. Ten minutes later Leighton flanker Dami Adebayo was shown, what appeared to be a very harsh yellow card, for an offence at the breakdown. However despite this set-back Buzzards held out for a half time score of 3-10.
Within a minute of the second-half starting there was a further harsh yellow card, this time for Towcester. However, this proved no handicap to the visitors who scored two tries whilst down to fourteen men. Firstly, through a break in the centre to score under the posts after seven minutes, and then, three minutes later, to touchdown in the corner. With the first of these two tries converted, the score was 3 -22.
After sixteen minutes, Leighton rather gifted Towcester another try, as in a rare Buzzard attack an over-ambitious pass was intercepted – 3-29. Tries for the visitors continued with a score on the left wing after nineteen minutes, and under the posts eight minutes later, to leave the score 3-41. Perhaps Buzzards were guilty of trying to play too much rugby with a turnover in their own twenty–two providing the opportunity for the sixth try of the half . There remained time for Towcester to score again with the last play of the match, to leave the final score 3-53.
Whilst Towcestrians played well, this was a disapointing performance from Buzzards against a mid-table team. Whilst captain Jack Whitehouse kicked well at times, Harri Sayer tried to offer an attacking threat and forwards Dami Abebayo and Dan Baroux showed commitment, Buzzards rarely looked like adding to their three early points. Leighton need to regroup for the final league game of 2018, away at high-flying Kettering, next Saturday.