In only the second week of the rugby season, many Leighton Buzzard RFC Junior Academy players had their first taste of U15 rugby as they travelled away to Dunstablians RFC for a first round East Midlands Cup match.
Buzzards were able to field a strong squad made up of both U15 and U14 players drawn from their Junior Academy structure which had seen lots of fitness work carried out over the summer months. This fitness work was evident within seconds of kick-off as Buzzards set off at a furious pace trying to get the ball into the wide channels as much as possible. Dunstable took a more direct route through the middle but the Buzzard forwards were superb in turning over ball time after time, allowing their pace runners to run hard and direct at the defence.
After only 5 minutes the first Try was scored after some great counter-rucking and swift handling allowing Alfie Tingey to crash over the line.
This was swiftly followed by a superb run down the wing by speedster Ethan Hayter for his try.
Tomas Jeans was unlucky on both occasions not to kick the conversions.
Dunstable by this time had their tails up and kept probing the central channels and if it not for the superb defensive efforts led by the Buzzards back row, the score could quickly have evened up. Some magnificent tackling and counter-play form Dylan Creber eventually lead to him bagging his own Try as a reward.
Dunstable managed to pull a converted Try back just before the break, which came not soon enough to give the youngsters a well-earned breather.
Following some clarification over the new Laws from the Referee at Half-Time the second half kicked off and picked up where the first left off. Solid defence, dogged tackling, swift, confident passing lead to Buzzards adding to their tally with a well-worked Try from their pacey outside centre Rhys Thorne.
Buzzards Number 8 Tom Charter capped an excellent performance with a Try of his own midway through the half following another fantastic counter-ruck. Rhys Thorne finishing off the scoring with his second toward the end of the match to finish the game at a 7 – 30 victory for the Buzzards youngsters to enjoy. The only slight down side to this impressive victory being the injuries to Kai Baines who hurt his neck as he was tackled and Charlie Beaumont who hobbled off with a fractured ankle.
Other than that, everyone left very happy with a job well done.
Buzzards U15’s have a Home fixture next week vs Towcester to now look forward to.