Carlisle Centurions 20
Bramley Buffaloes 28

What was a little more surprising was just how close the Centurions came to causing the upset of the season.

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The Cumbrians pressed the top side all the way, only succumbing to the Yorkshiremen in the final few minutes of a scrappy yet well-balanced encounter.

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Carlisle started the stronger and rocked the visitors with a try in the first minute of the game. A Buffaloes knock on in the first set gave the home team excellent field position from where veteran centre Martin Stalker found the room to sprint over, twin brother Craig adding the extras with aplomb.

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Centurions continued to press as Bramley struggled to get out of their own half but their defence was equal to the task and chances were few and far between.

On 17 minutes Craig Stalker spurned a golden opportunity to increase Carlisle's lead when he missed a penalty from in front of the posts.
The Buffaloes respite was short-lived as man of the match Steve Moss started a sweeping home attack that was finished by scrum half Wayne Southward, who made the most of a fortunate rebound from his kick on the last to score between the sticks, Martin Stalker gaoling.

Stung into action, Bramley started to exert pressure prompted by halves Paul Drake and Jon Nicholls and made inroads into the home defence.

A last-ditch tackle by Martin Stalker stopped winger Shaun Flynn
opening the visitor's account but it merely delayed the inevitable.

Good work from Steve Gill and Daniel Lavery took the Buffaloes into Carlisle's 20 and the ball was thrown wide to Flynn who jinked his way past Tony Palmer and over the try line, Drake missing the difficult conversion.

The last ten minutes of the half were penalty strewn and on the last play of the opening forty, Craig Brierley scored a penalty, given for dissent, to give the Centurions a ten point interval lead.

After an even opening to the second period when neither team were able to prise a clear cut chance in the face of resolute defence, the Centurions finally found a chink in the Bramley armour.

Solid front row drives from Shaun Richardson and Steve Jackson created good field position for Craig Stalker and the stand off's strength and footwork did the rest, Brierley converting.

Four minutes later Bramley were on the comeback trail as first Lavery found himself in space for the simplest of tries that Drake improved.
Straight from the restart the visitors again pressed and player/coach Mark Butterill crossed, Drake's kick reducing the arrears to four points.

The visitors edged ahead for the first time on the 70 minute mark when a superb pick up and carry by Flynn took the play deep into Centurion territory.

A quick play the ball set up second rower Alex White for a try by the posts and Drake's third successful kick made it 22-20.

Two minutes from time Carlisle had the opportunity to draw level when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts but they opted to run with the ball.

They were made to pay as, with the last set of the game, Buffaloes full back Andy McGann, burrowed over for a deserved try.

Bramley now look forward to the play offs with hopes of their second title, following their success in 2006.

For Carlisle, they can take heart from their improved performances in the latter part of the season which gives them something to build on for 2010.

CENTURIONS: 1 Steve Moss, 2 Tony Palmer, 3 James Sanderson, 4 Martin Stalker, 5 Gavin Davis, 6 Craig Stalker, 7 Wayne Southward, 8 Shaun Richardson, 9 Joe Crowther, 10 Steve Jackson, 11 Andrew Dalton, 12 James Field, 13 Mike Dodd
Subs: 14 Dennis Bibby, 15 Grant Lindsay, 16 Andy Sawyers, 17 Craig Brierley
Tries: M. Stalker (1)., Southward (20), C. Stalker (54)
Goals: C. Stalker, M. Stalker, Brierley 2

BUFFALOES: 1 Andy McGann, 2 Craig Green, 3 Matt Mulholland, 4 John Elliker, 5 Shaun Flynn, 6 Paul Drake, 7 John Nicholls, 8 Richard Leese, 9 Mark Butterill, 10 Steve Gill, 11 Daniel Lavery, 12 Alex White, 13 Simon Speight
Subs: 14 Glen Chapman
Tries: Flynn (28), Lavery (58), Butterill (60), White (71), McGann (80)
Goals: Drake 4

Men of the match:
Centurions – Steve Moss
Buffaloes – Daniel Lavery

Half-time: 14-4
Referee: Gordon Wallace