Peterborough Lions 22 Leighton Buzzard 26
Leighton Buzzard picked up their first win in the re arranged fixture against Peterborough Lions. Playing on a pitch that was deemed unplayable only a month previously Leighton Buzzard came away with a bonus point win in the only fixture in this league.
The home side started strongly and were soon deep into the Leighton twenty-two area but strong defence and determined tackling kept them from scoring. The home side were awarded a penalty just in front of the Buzzard posts but instead of picking up an easy 3 points they went for the scrum. From the set piece the Lions attacked wide but the backs couldn’t keep hold of the ball and Leighton suddenly had the advantage.
Leighton soon moved the ball downfield and away from their own line when there was a ruck in the Peterborough half, quick ball and a dog leg in the home defence allowed Tom Winch to step through the gap and race for the line scoring just wide of the posts. Brett stepped up and converted making it 0-7 after 10 minutes.
This was followed five minutes later with another try when a catch and drive at the lineout drove the home side back 20m, quick ball from the ensuing ruck put Irwin in to score, again converted by Brett. 0-14 And Buzzards were in control.
Lions were very determined to keep in the fight and were looking for quick offload in the contact which ensured they were on the front foot. One missed tackle allowed the Peterborough winger to score in the corner. With the conversion being missed the score was 5-14. Leighton stayed strong and patient work by the forwards drove them towards the home try line. Good rucking and strong support play put Ryan Eaton over for try number three just before half time. This time the conversion was missed but Buzzards went into the break 5-19 ahead.
The second half started similar to the first half with Lions coming out strong, this time they managed to slip two tackles from the Buzzards defence and score a converted try after only two minutes of the half.
Peterborough Lions suddenly had the upper hand were attacking from all areas of the pitch. Their scrum and lineout started to fire and they soon scored again from a lineout move to make the score 17-19 with twenty-five minutes still to play.
Buzzards just couldn’t get the ball in a good area of the pitch and spent the next ten minutes on the back foot. Lions were showing that they wanted this game and were fighting hard in every area. They managed another score from a lineout to take the lead for the first time in the match .The home support were jubilant at this point with their team leading 22-19.
Buzzards finally managed to string a few good moves together and drove up the pitch when the referee spotted a punch in the ruck and yellow carded the offending Lions player. Leighton then moved into the home twenty-two with only five minutes left. Again patient work and a number of offences by the home side gave Leighton a penalty in front of the posts. Three points from the penalty would only have meant a draw so Buzzards ran the ball and again, patient work from the forwards and good hands allowed Wiggins to stretch over the line for the bonus point try with the last play of the game. The conversion from Brett made the final score Peterborough Lions 22 Leighton Buzzard 26.
Next week Leighton Buzzard go to Newbold in Warwickshire for the next round of the Regional 2 East Midlands league.