After successive home games against Gateshead Storm and Hemel Stags, Bramley Buffaloes were on the road again this week, making the rip over the Pennines to Liverpool Buccaneers.

Against determined opponents the Buffaloes won the game inn convincing fashion 6-41, however influential second row or loose forward was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle and his season now looks over.

Bramley once again made changes to their team with Scott Pendlebury, Danny Johnson and Steven Gill returning to the team in place of Paul Drake, Daniel Lavery and Thomas Webb. Liverpool also made some changes from the team that won a hard fought contest at East Lancashire Lions the previous week.

Bramley kicked off in cloudy conditions with a strong wind blowing across the pitch into the faces of the massed Bramley travelling support. Once again Tony Williams kick found touch as it has in previous weeks to give Bramley early field position. Bramley completed their first set of six tackles with a kick which found Liverpool having to bring the ball off their own line. Liverpool applied the early pressure with the aid of a relieving penalty and some good drives by their forwards; however Bramley once again showed why they yet again have the meanest defence in the league with some resolute goal line defence.

A succession of penalties following minor infringements by the Buccaneers enabled Bramley to move downfield. Tony Williams dabbed a short kick through the onrushing Buccaneers defence and the ever aware Shaun Flynn very nearly got a hand to the ball to touch down but the ball just beat him and went dead. Liverpool replied with a strong run from Daz Forshaw who showed good pace before being well tackled by Paul Coates.

The first points were scored on seven minutes when Andy McGann swooped on a loose ball inside his own half and went 60m to score by the posts with not a finger laid on him, a great opportunist try. Paul Coates converted. Bramley continued to press and a massive downfield kick by Tony Williams was chased by John Richardson who made the tackle on Daryl Lacey deep in his own half. Further pressure from Bramley forced the fist of numerous drop-outs by Liverpool. However from the resulting drop-out the referee penalised Liverpool for being off-side - not something you see very often.

Liverpool's error was compounded moments later when from the tap penalty Graham Harrison passed to the on-rushing John Ellicker who crashed through 2 tackles for yet another try this season, Paul Coates added the conversion. 12-0 to Bramley after 13 minutes. The Buccaneers were showing plenty of physical effort and began to get some momentum, however whenever they got inside the Bramley 20m line they seemed short of creative ideas. Bramley were tackling well and forcing Liverpool down the middle.

With more possession and field position Liverpool posted their only try of the afternoon on 28 minutes. Following another good long range kick by Tony Williams, Liverpool full-back Lacey made some excellent metres to clear his line, evading several tackles in the process. Two quick penalties followed and seemingly almost without going noticed, especially by the Bramley defence, Joel Parker stormed over from 10m to bring Liverpool right back into the game. Ian Stanley converted, 6-12 to Bramley and it was game on but without Liverpool posing any really serious threat to-date. Leading up to half-time there was little between the teams,

Bramley continued to tackle well and look dangerous when attacking, Liverpool had more confidence and were running harder and straighter, but without causing too many concerns. However just before the half-time whistle Scott Pendlebury again showed why he is still such an influential and integral part of the team by collecting a ball close to the Liverpool line , keeping low and going through two despairing tackles to score a deserved try, Paul Coates again converted. Half-time, 6-18 to Bramley.

At half-time Paul Cook told his players to respect possession, not force the pass and play a simple game of good go forward followed by a good kick. No doubt the Liverpool coach was telling his players to keep it tight, complete their sets and try to get thr first score as there was not too much between the teams on the scoreboard.

Best laid plans!!! Within 5 minutes of the restart Bramley had posted 2 converted try"s and effectively killed the game as a contest, much to the delight of the Amber and Black army massed along the touchline by the Bramley team. On 42 minutes Liverpool were still arguing with the referee about a Bramley alleged knock-on whilst Danny Johnson showed excellent pace and good composure to good through a gap on half-way, leave defenders in his wake, draw the full back and pass inside to the supporting Tony Williams who scored under the posts. Paul Coates converted.

Three minutes later after more fluent attacking from Coates, Chris Gardner who has certainly been a revelation since his return to the team, unselfishly off-loaded in the tackle to Mark Butterill who crashed over from close range. Paul Coates added an excellent touch-line conversion.

Liverpool re-grouped and came at Bramley again for the next 10 minutes but still found no way through. John Richardson consistently took the ball up as second or third receiver to take the weight off the forwards. At this point the game lost its shape as some niggle crept into the game, after an altercation in the tackle the referee bizarrely sent Richard Leese to the sin bin on 55 minutes to be followed within 60 seconds by Mark Butterill for something or nothing.

With a 2 man dis-advantage Bramley tackled like demons and Liverpool could still not find a way through. Graham Harrison took the game to Liverpool with some typically robust tackling and strong running from dummy half. Tony Williams showed his worth by cooling slotting over a drop-goal on 64 minutes whilst John Elliker was down receiving treatment to his ankle.

After a lengthily stoppage of nearly 10 minutes, John was carried from the field and an ambulance called. On the re-start Bramley to their credit remained focused, Paul Coates was narrowly wide with a penalty before a Bramley double in the last 5 minutes sealed the result. Firstly on 74 minutes Paul Coates collected the ball and went 40m to score under the posts and then moments later Tony Williams out-paced the defence and went 70m from a scrum to score. Final score 6-41 to Bramley Buffaloes.

The result was however overshadowed by the injury to John who will be a loss to the team and is very popular with supporters. This season he had scored 14 try's in 14 appearances, a great effort at any level. Our best wishes go to John for a speedy recovery. However this now presents an opportunity for someone else to 'step-up' and I am sure the team will respond.

Next game: There is no game next weekend as several Bramley players are representing their country as England Lionhearts take on Wales at East Riding RLC, Hull.
Bramley's next game is at home to free-scoring Huddersfield Underbank Rangers on Saturday, July 26, kick off 2.30pm at the Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley.

Game star: Bramley's forwards were the stars as they did a lot of tackling and took the ball forward collectively which then allowed Tony Williams and the rest of the backs to capitalise.

Game breaker: Two converted try's in the first five minutes of the second half gave Bramley an unassailable lead.

LIVERPOOL BUCCANEERS: 1 Daryl Lacey, 2 Ben Toleman, 3 Daz Forshaw, 4 Ian Stanley, 5 Paul Scott, 6 Mark Forber, 7 Ryan Cunningham, 8 Alex Williams, 9 Mike Forber, 10 Steve Pownall, 11 Luke Murfin, 12 Kieran Lacey, 13 Jon Chamberlain. Subs (all used) 14 Sean Forber, 15 Joel Parker, 16 Kevin Howells, 17 Rich Bryant
Tries: Parker (28)
Goals: Stanley 1/1

BRAMLEY BUFFALOES: 1 Shaun Flynn, 2 Andy McGann, 3 Daniel Caston, 4 Paul Coates, 5 John Richardson, 6 Jon Nicholls, 7 Tony Williams, 8 Richard Leese, 9 Graham Harrison, 10 Mark Butterill, 11 Matt Mullholland, 12 Gareth Thirsk, 13 John Elliker. Subs (all used) 14 Scott Pendlebury, 15 Danny Johnson, 16 Steven Gill, 17 Chris Gardner
Tries: McGann (7), Elliker (13), Pendlebury (39), Williams (42 & 79), Butterill (45), Coates (74)
Goals: Coates 6/8
Drop-Goal: Williams (64)

Sin binned: Leese (55) - Persistent interference, Butterill (56) - Fighting

Half-time: 6-18
Final score: 6-41

Men of the Match:

Liverpool Buccaneers - Steve Pawnall
Bramley Buffaloes - John Richardson