Olney 17 Leighton Buzzard 20
Leighton Buzzard picked up their second win of the season and yet again it was away from home this time at Olney. The game was preceded by a two-minute silence for remembrance day and there was a large home following as a former players’ lunch had been enjoyed by many Olney players from the past.
Olney kicked off the game and showed their intentions early with a fastball from all areas of the pitch forcing Leighton to defend, however, the visitors soon got their hands on the ball and worked their way upfield and into the home sides half where they were rewarded with a penalty in the middle of the pitch. Scrum-half Brett stepped up and put the ball between the posts to give Buzzards a three-point lead. This was followed five minutes later with another penalty which was again converted to extend the lead to six points.
Both teams were playing fast-moving rugby and when Olney were awarded a penalty in the Buzzard’s half they took a quick tap and scored out wide. The missed conversion meant the score was 5-6 and Buzzards were still in the lead.
Five minutes later Buzzards were again deep into the home 22 area when prop Joe Healy forced his way over the line but the referee was on the wrong side of the breakdown and didn’t see the touchdown. However, from the resulting drop out Buzzards has six good phases and put Matt Bloxham over in the corner to extend the lead. A great conversion by Brett from the touchline made it 5-13.
Just before half time, Buzzards were again forcing the game deep into the Olney half. A lineout on the 22m line was a catch and drive to Buzzards who marched all the way to the line but were brought down just short of scoring. A quick tap from the penalty put flanker Mike Robert over to further extend Buzzards’ lead. The conversion by Brett made it 5-20 at halftime.
The second half started with Buzzards again on the attack, after ten minutes Buzzards were awarded a penalty for going off the feet at a breakdown. Brett stepped up but this time slipped as he made contact with the ball and the kick went wide. Leighton kept up the pressure and were awarded a scrum just short of the Olney line but were penalised as the scrum formed. Olney, again playing quick ball worked their way up the pitch from the penalty and then started putting pressure on the visitors. The pressure eventually paid off for the home side with a converted try making it 12-20 and 20 minutes left.
The final quarter of the game was filled with Leighton penalties some more obscure than others but eventually, Olney managed to score again from a kick through in the middle of the field in the dying seconds.
Confusion then reigned as the home side elected not to take the conversion which would narrow the gap even more. As they made that decision the referee then said no further time and Olney were not able to take the conversion despite a change of heart. Final score was 17- 20 and a win for Buzzards.
The result moves buzzards up one place in the league. Next week is a rest week for the league and buzzards then welcome Peterborough to Wright’s Meadow on the 26th November