photo by Ian Lovell

Crusaders Colts suffered their first defeat of the Co-operative Conference National season at the hands of third-placed Bramley Buffaloes at Brewery Field.

The Colts started brightly and immediately put pressure on their opponents but had to wait until the eighth minute before taking the lead. Good build-up play resulted in top try-scorer Eliot Kear crossing over the line in the corner for his 14th try of the campaign.

Bramley thought they had levelled things up on 13 minutes when Richard Leese caught Tony Williams’ kick and crossed the line but referee Ian Curzon ruled it out for offside. The home side continued to pressure the Buffaloes and on 17 minutes extended their lead courtesy of a fine Lee Williams try. Geraint Davies intercepted a pass inside his own half and sent former Valley Cougars centre Williams on a 60 metre run to cross over for the Colts’ second try of the afternoon.

Josh Hannam went over in the corner for the Colts’ third try on 20 minutes to make it 14-0 and the home side were looking strong.

But the Leeds side had other ideas and the onslaught on the Colts’ defence began with just 10 minutes remaining of the half. John Elliker’s pass out wide to Matt Mullholland set up the Buffaloes’ centre for their first try of the afternoon while Tony Williams forced his way through the Colts’ back line to score under the posts to bring Bramley back into the game.

And to cap off a fine end to the first-half for the visitors Graham Harrison capitalized on a bad bounce five-metres from the line and raced over to complete a marvellous turnaround and put Bramley ahead for the first time.

Half-time: Crusaders Colts 14 – 16 Bramley Buffaloes

The second-half was a much quieter 40-minute period compared to the first but the Colts exploded out of the blocks to score and re-take the lead with 46 minutes on the clock. Top points scorer Lloyd White showed great strength to take the ball underneath the posts to take his tally to 100 points for the season. White also converted to put his side four points to the good.

But two Shaun Flynn tried in the space of five minutes, aided by one conversion from Paul Drake, saw Bramley race into a 26-20 lead. Flynn used his pace to cross over in the right-hand corner for his first try on 48 minutes and on 53 minutes he scored in the opposite corner to enhance his sides lead to six points.

Paul Drake missed a penalty on the hour but made amends with 10 minutes remaining to make it 28-20 and the points looked to be heading back to Bramley.

The Colts had other ideas, though, as Lee Williams crossed over for a second time with eight minutes remaining to bring the home side back into the contest. They continued to pile the pressure on the Bramley defence but with time running out Tony Williams forced himself over the Colts’ line to put any comeback beyond the Crusaders’ sides reach.

Full-time: Crusaders Colts 24 – 34 Bramley Buffaloes

CRUSADERS COLTS

1. Elliot Kear
2. Greg Callow
3. Ceri Young
4. Lee Williams
5. Josh Hannam
6. Lloyd White
7. Aled James
8. Geraint Davies
9. Tom Burnell
10. Phillipe Garden
11. Ben Flower
12. Mark Wool
13. Chris Vitalini

Subs:

14. Gil Dudson
15. Barrie Phillips
16. Lewis Mills
17. Ashley Griffiths

Tries: Kear (8), Williams (17, 72), Hannam (20), White (46)
Goals: White 2/5

BRAMLEY BUFFALOES

1. Shaun Flynn
2. Andy McGann
3. Daniel Caston
4. Matt Mullholland
5. John Richardson
6. Paul Drake
7. Tony Williams
8. Richard Leese
9. Kevin Till
10. Mark Butterill
11. John Elliker
12. Gareth Thirsk
13. Jon Nicholls

Subs:

14. Scott Pendlebury
15. Graham Harrison
16. Shaun Gilmour
17. Steven Gill

Tries: Mullholland (30), Williams (35, 80), Harrison (40); Flynn (48, 53)
Goals: Drake 5/8

Referee: Ian Curzon
Men of the Match: Colts – Lee Williams, Buffaloes – Shaun Flynn
Half-time: 14-16
Scoring Sequence: 4-0; 10-0; 14-0; 14-6; 14-12; 14-16; 20-16; 20-22; 20-26; 20-28; 24-28; 24-34
Gamestar: Shaun Flynn – The Bramley full-back showed great strength and scored two great tries to put his side ahead in the second-half.
Gamebreaker: Paul Drake’s penalty which put the visitors eight point in front with 10 minutes remaining.

article by Ian Golden
31 May 2008