BUFFALOES BREAK WIZARDS SPELL

Bramley Buffaloes produced a superb display in their opening RLCN game of the new season to beat Warrington Wizards 18-36 at Wilderspool on Saturday. Other than the occasional Northern Rail Cup victory, Wilderspool has been something of a graveyard for the Buffaloes in recent years, in fact you need to go back to as far as 7 August 2004 when Bramley last beat Warrington, or as they were then, Woolston Rovers, by 26-20. Only Chris Gardner, Nick Fontaine and coach, Mark Butterill remain today from that team.

On Saturday however Bramley produced an excellent all round display and landed an early blow to Warrington’s hopes of mounting an early challenge to the Minor Premiership. Showing 2 changes to the team that drew the previous week with South London, Simon Speight returned to the club was on the bench as was the very impressive Nathan Anderson. Bramley kicked off and applied early pressure to the Wizards who struggled to get out of their own half. Paul Drake’s kick on 5 minutes was defused by Forshaw on his own line and a kick by the Wizards to relieve pressure went out on the full. Richard Leese and Chris Gardner were both driving the ball in and making good metres as Bramley continued to threaten the Wizards line. John Elliker dropped the ball when close to the line and Chris Gardner was held up on the line by some excellent Wizards tackling. Paul Drake kicked a penalty on 9 minutes after Leese had been held down in the tackle. Warrington Bramley games are usually feisty affairs and this was no different. On 16 minutes after continual messing about in the tackle the Wizards were penalised and John Elliker was sin-binned for retaliation. Despite being a man down Bramley scored their first try on 21 minutes when from a pay-the-ball close to the line Paul Drake dummied to pass right but switched it outside to Adie on the left wing who went over from close range, there was no conversion. Bramley continued to take the game to Warrington who forced to drop out for a second time on 24 minutes following another astute Drake kick and excellent chase. Warrington paid a rare visit to the Bramley line shortly afterwards, however a well marshalled defence forced a knock-on and the attack came to nothing. John Nicholls forced a third drop out and Graham Harrison was held up on the line, Bramley continued to press but could not convert pressure into points which was a slight cause for concern. However 2 penalties from the boot of the ever reliable Paul Drake in the last 4 minutes of the half extended Bramley’s advantage to 0-10 at half-time. A very satisfactory half of rugby for the Buffaloes.

It was clear that Warrington could not play as poorly in the second half as they did in the first; their play was littered with poor handling and a succession of cheap penalties given away. From the re-start they found touch and applied early pressure. Following a rare handling mistake Bramley coughed up the ball and field position and Matt Clarke burrowed over the line on 44 minutes to open the game up. Warren Ayres converted; 6-10 to Bramley. Poor tackling by Bramley from the re-start enabled Warrington to quickly move down field and Scott Davison ran powerfully but unchallenged through a hole in the defence to score out wide 3 minutes later. Ayres missed the conversion; however within 7 minutes of the re-start Bramley’s lead had gone. Dan Caston produced a strong run and was held up on the line as Bramley sought to get to grips with Warrington’s new enthusiasm. Billy Sheen the Wizards live-wire stand-ff was sin binned on 51 minutes for talking back to the referee (who incidentally had an excellent game!). Bramley were unable to make their advantage count as a Craig Green was penalised for a high tackle and Ayres kicked the resultant penalty, 12-10 to Warrington after 55 minutes. Bramley rallied and Green made amends 4 minutes later when following his excellent charge down the left, the ball was fed to the impressive substitute Nathan Anderson, who on debut took 3 players with him as he crashed over the line from 10 metres out to restore the Buffaloes lead. Paul Drake converted. Bramley visibly lifted their intensity at this point where as the Wizards looked fatigued. Warrington gave away back to back penalties, the second of which Drake converted; 12-18 on 64 minutes. Chris Gardner punched another hole in the Wizards defence and off loaded in the tackle to the supporting Graham Harrison who scooted over by the posts to the surprise of the Wizards defenders. Three minutes later Anderson rampaged over for his second try. Almost stopped short he managed to stretch out and get the ball down. The rout was complete two minutes later when following more Bramley pressure Drake superbly turned a pass inside for the John Elliker to score unopposed under the posts. Paul Drake converted all three try’s for an impressive 8/9 and 16 point haul. Alan Reddicliffe scored a consolation try on full-time for Warrington.

At the final whistle the travelling Bramley supporters applauded the players from the pitch after a very impressive team performance. Outstanding displays all through the team, Nathan Anderson caught the eye with his strong running, however special, mention to all the new players who contributed to this performance and appeared to fit in well with the team. A top performance that coach Mark Butterill can be rightly proud of.

Next game: Sunday 19 April 2009
Competition: RLCN
Opponents: Nottingham Outlaws
Venue: Home.
Kick-off: 2.30 pm
More Information: http://www.bramley-rlfc.co.uk/

Game star:Paul Drake was very impressive with his all round kicking game and excellent distribution with ball in hand, creating 2 try’s in the process

Game breaker: Nathan Anderson second try on 71 minutes put Bramley 3 converted try’s in front and Warrington heads were down at this point.

Warrington Wizards: 1.Graham Healey, 2. Darren Forshaw, 3. Stuart Pirrie, 4. Shaun Gilmour, 5. Adam Gorman, 6. Billy Sheen, 7. Warren Ayres, 8. Scott Davidson, 9. Craig Cornelia, 10. Andy Forber, 11. Matt Clarke, 12. Lee Rushton, 13. Alan Reddecliff, Subs (all used); 14. Hayden James, 15. Troy Alison, 16. Scott Cullen, 17. Gareth Barron

Tries: Clarke (44), Davidson (47), Reddecliff (79)

Goals: Ayres 3/4


Bramley Buffaloes: 1. Andy McGann, 2Nick Fontaine, 3. Matt Mullholland, 4. Daniel Caston, 5. Aidy Manley, 6. Paul Drake, 7. Jon Nicholls, 8. Richard Leese, 9. Graham Harrison, 10. Chris Gardner, 11. John Elliker, 12. Jim Shuttleworth, 13. Danny O’Connor. Subs (all used) 14. Craig Green, 15. Simon Speight, 16. Steven Gill, 17. Nathan Anderson

Tries: Manley (21), Anderson (57 & 71), Harrison (68), Elliker (73)

Goals: Drake 8/9

Sin-Binned:
Bramley Buffaloes - Elliker (16) - Retaliation
Warrington Wizards - Sheen (51) – Talking back to the referee

Dismissed: None

Half-time: 0-10

Final score:18-36

Referee: Adam Gill

Men of the Match:

Warrington Wizards: Alan Reddecliff

Bramley Buffaloes: Danny O’Connor

BUFFALOES BREAK WIZARDS SPELL

Bramley Buffaloes produced a superb display in their opening RLCN game of the new season to beat Warrington Wizards 18-36 at Wilderspool on Saturday. Other than the occasional Northern Rail Cup victory, Wilderspool has been something of a graveyard for the Buffaloes in recent years, in fact you need to go back to as far as 7 August 2004 when Bramley last beat Warrington, or as they were then, Woolston Rovers, by 26-20. Only Chris Gardner, Nick Fontaine and coach, Mark Butterill remain today from that team.

On Saturday however Bramley produced an excellent all round display and landed an early blow to Warrington’s hopes of mounting an early challenge to the Minor Premiership. Showing 2 changes to the team that drew the previous week with South London, Simon Speight returned to the club was on the bench as was the very impressive Nathan Anderson. Bramley kicked off and applied early pressure to the Wizards who struggled to get out of their own half. Paul Drake’s kick on 5 minutes was defused by Forshaw on his own line and a kick by the Wizards to relieve pressure went out on the full. Richard Leese and Chris Gardner were both driving the ball in and making good metres as Bramley continued to threaten the Wizards line. John Elliker dropped the ball when close to the line and Chris Gardner was held up on the line by some excellent Wizards tackling. Paul Drake kicked a penalty on 9 minutes after Leese had been held down in the tackle. Warrington Bramley games are usually feisty affairs and this was no different. On 16 minutes after continual messing about in the tackle the Wizards were penalised and John Elliker was sin-binned for retaliation. Despite being a man down Bramley scored their first try on 21 minutes when from a pay-the-ball close to the line Paul Drake dummied to pass right but switched it outside to Adie on the left wing who went over from close range, there was no conversion. Bramley continued to take the game to Warrington who forced to drop out for a second time on 24 minutes following another astute Drake kick and excellent chase. Warrington paid a rare visit to the Bramley line shortly afterwards, however a well marshalled defence forced a knock-on and the attack came to nothing. John Nicholls forced a third drop out and Graham Harrison was held up on the line, Bramley continued to press but could not convert pressure into points which was a slight cause for concern. However 2 penalties from the boot of the ever reliable Paul Drake in the last 4 minutes of the half extended Bramley’s advantage to 0-10 at half-time. A very satisfactory half of rugby for the Buffaloes.

It was clear that Warrington could not play as poorly in the second half as they did in the first; their play was littered with poor handling and a succession of cheap penalties given away. From the re-start they found touch and applied early pressure. Following a rare handling mistake Bramley coughed up the ball and field position and Matt Clarke burrowed over the line on 44 minutes to open the game up. Warren Ayres converted; 6-10 to Bramley. Poor tackling by Bramley from the re-start enabled Warrington to quickly move down field and Scott Davison ran powerfully but unchallenged through a hole in the defence to score out wide 3 minutes later. Ayres missed the conversion; however within 7 minutes of the re-start Bramley’s lead had gone. Dan Caston produced a strong run and was held up on the line as Bramley sought to get to grips with Warrington’s new enthusiasm. Billy Sheen the Wizards live-wire stand-ff was sin binned on 51 minutes for talking back to the referee (who incidentally had an excellent game!). Bramley were unable to make their advantage count as a Craig Green was penalised for a high tackle and Ayres kicked the resultant penalty, 12-10 to Warrington after 55 minutes. Bramley rallied and Green made amends 4 minutes later when following his excellent charge down the left, the ball was fed to the impressive substitute Nathan Anderson, who on debut took 3 players with him as he crashed over the line from 10 metres out to restore the Buffaloes lead. Paul Drake converted. Bramley visibly lifted their intensity at this point where as the Wizards looked fatigued. Warrington gave away back to back penalties, the second of which Drake converted; 12-18 on 64 minutes. Chris Gardner punched another hole in the Wizards defence and off loaded in the tackle to the supporting Graham Harrison who scooted over by the posts to the surprise of the Wizards defenders. Three minutes later Anderson rampaged over for his second try. Almost stopped short he managed to stretch out and get the ball down. The rout was complete two minutes later when following more Bramley pressure Drake superbly turned a pass inside for the John Elliker to score unopposed under the posts. Paul Drake converted all three try’s for an impressive 8/9 and 16 point haul. Alan Reddicliffe scored a consolation try on full-time for Warrington.

At the final whistle the travelling Bramley supporters applauded the players from the pitch after a very impressive team performance. Outstanding displays all through the team, Nathan Anderson caught the eye with his strong running, however special, mention to all the new players who contributed to this performance and appeared to fit in well with the team. A top performance that coach Mark Butterill can be rightly proud of.

Next game: Sunday 19 April 2009
Competition: RLCN
Opponents: Nottingham Outlaws
Venue: Home.
Kick-off: 2.30 pm
More Information: http://www.bramley-rlfc.co.uk/

Game star:Paul Drake was very impressive with his all round kicking game and excellent distribution with ball in hand, creating 2 try’s in the process

Game breaker: Nathan Anderson second try on 71 minutes put Bramley 3 converted try’s in front and Warrington heads were down at this point.

Warrington Wizards: 1.Graham Healey, 2. Darren Forshaw, 3. Stuart Pirrie, 4. Shaun Gilmour, 5. Adam Gorman, 6. Billy Sheen, 7. Warren Ayres, 8. Scott Davidson, 9. Craig Cornelia, 10. Andy Forber, 11. Matt Clarke, 12. Lee Rushton, 13. Alan Reddecliff, Subs (all used); 14. Hayden James, 15. Troy Alison, 16. Scott Cullen, 17. Gareth Barron

Tries: Clarke (44), Davidson (47), Reddecliff (79)

Goals: Ayres 3/4


Bramley Buffaloes: 1. Andy McGann, 2Nick Fontaine, 3. Matt Mullholland, 4. Daniel Caston, 5. Aidy Manley, 6. Paul Drake, 7. Jon Nicholls, 8. Richard Leese, 9. Graham Harrison, 10. Chris Gardner, 11. John Elliker, 12. Jim Shuttleworth, 13. Danny O’Connor. Subs (all used) 14. Craig Green, 15. Simon Speight, 16. Steven Gill, 17. Nathan Anderson

Tries: Manley (21), Anderson (57 & 71), Harrison (68), Elliker (73)

Goals: Drake 8/9

Sin-Binned:
Bramley Buffaloes - Elliker (16) - Retaliation
Warrington Wizards - Sheen (51) – Talking back to the referee

Dismissed: None

Half-time: 0-10

Final score:18-36

Referee: Adam Gill

Men of the Match:

Warrington Wizards: Alan Reddecliff

Bramley Buffaloes: Danny O’Connor