The hosts put their off-the field issues to one side and fielded a much changed to team to the one that lost the previous week to Warrington Wizards 20-70, unfortunately the result was much the same. Bramley also had at least 8 first team regulars absent due to work and other personal commitments, and their team too, particularly in the backs had an unfamiliar look to it.

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However it did allow 2 players to make their debut for the club, and one in particular looked like he may have a future in the game. Anthony Ward came off the bench to add more forward fire-power whilst coach Paul Cook lined up at 13 but played at scrum half for an hour before taking a well earned breather.

On a bright, sunny afternoon in a swirling wind Bramley kicked off and both teams completed their respective first sets comfortably. On their second set, Cook threw a cut-out pass to second rower Danny O'Connor who went down the Bramley left hand channel and on a 40m run turned the full-back and scored under the posts. Paul Cook converted.

Four minutes later and following a good run from Mark Butterill another Paul Cook induced a dropped ball by the Lions and from the resultant pressure a quick Thomas Webb pass close to the line saw Danny Johnson go over easily in the right hand corner.

For the next 15 minutes it was all Bramley as East Lancashire squandered whatever possession they had, or, as a result of determined Bramley tackling, they were unable to get out of their half. Cook was putting up high spiralling kicks to each winger which were causing all sorts of problems and with ball in hand he was bringing players onto the ball at pace.

There were good runs from Andy McGann, Danny O"Connor, Danny Johnson, John Richardson and Gareth Thirsk as East Lancashire held on tenaciously. Gareth Thirsk was bundled into touch by the corner flag and Thomas Webb was always looking to make metres from dummy half. Eventually on 19 minutes Thomas Webb got over the line from close range after the position had been set by Graham Harrison and a strong run from Matt Mullholland. At 0-14 East Lancashire kicked the ball out on the full from the restart. From the penalty a dash by Webb and quick offload to the supporting Mullholland saw Bramley move to 0-20 lead with another Cook conversion.

It was 26 minutes before the hosts had their first meaningful set of six in the Bramley half. Prompted by loose forward Shaun O'Grady and live-wire scrum half Adam Hesketh they started to exert some pressure on the Bramley line, however a lost ball on the last tackle saw Bramley bring the ball away.

Richard Leese, Mark Butterill and Gareth Thirsk made good metres to clear their line and the backs were always available to share the work around and take the ball up. Shaun Gilmour had a try disallowed as he had a foot over the white-wash after some good approach play. Paul Cook had a kick charged down and the Lions applied more pressure but were unable to find a way through the most miserly defence in theleague.

Following some scrappy play by both teams following lots of drop ball, Bramley got on the scoreboard again on 36 minutes. Shaun Gilmour and Danny O"Connor both had strong drives before substitute Steven Gill took the ball to the Lions 20m before a short inside pass found the alert Cook who went over from 15m.

On the stroke of half-time further good handling down the Bramley left saw Scott Pendlebury released and he outpaced the chasing defence to go 50m for an excellent score. Neither try was converted, and it was 0-28 at half-time.

East Lancashire started the second half more purposefully and only a forward pass stopped Chris Ellison getting the Lions first points. Any thoughts that Bramley may have switched off were quickly dispelled though when Cook this time from 20m out put a shallow diagonal kick through and the on rushing Danny Johnson was quickest to the ball which he gleefully scooped up and scored mid-way between the posts and the corner flag. Cook added a good conversion.

Over the next 15 minutes East Lancashire saw more of the ball and had consistently good field position, however again good tackling kept them at bay. Bramley meanwhile were getting over the advantage line as all the players ran strongly, however a series of poor or ill judged passes combined with some loose carries ensured there was no flow to the game and Bramley were unable to add further points at this time.

Chris Gardner was now off the bench and running with his usual aggression and enthusiasm, off the back of one such run Cook took the ball up and had it stripped. From the quick tap penalty Thomas Webb darted between several defenders to cross for the seventh try of the afternoon, Graham Harrison added the conversion, 0-40.

Coach Paul Cook left the field on 63 minutes to a standing ovation from the travelling Bramley fans, a terrific performance. Six minutes later Scott Pendlebury saw a gap and his delicate kick through was easily collected by John Richardson to score a well deserved try. Graham Harrison added another fine conversion.

In the final 10 minutes Bramley added 2 further converted try's. On 73 minutes after a strong run by Thirsk, a long pass out to the left found Andy McGann who had too much pace for the covering defence and he scored.

Finally on 78 minutes after further pressure Scott Pendlebury scored his second of the afternoon as he turned out of tackles and ghosted through the defence to score under the posts. Chris Gardner denied a try in this game added 2 conversions instead.

A good result for Bramley as they look to keep the pressure on Crusader Colts, particularly pleasing is the effort to keep the opposition scoreless. Good defence will be key now in the games to come.

For East Lancashire at the end of a difficult week they put a committed team out in the pitch and really gave it a go. With an away game at Crusader Cots to come the games do not get any easier, however with this type of spirit a deserved first victory of the season can only be around the corner and hopefully it will come before the end of the season.

EAST LANCASHIRE LIONS:
1,Rob Kershaw, 2, Adam Toole, 3,Ben Williamson, 4, Chris Ellison, 5.Simon Middlehurst, 6.Anthony McNulty, 7.Adam Hesketh, 8.Ryan Terry, 9. Craig Kay, 10. Anthony Wraith, 11. Simon Fleming, 12. Neil Walsh, 20. Sean O'Grady. Subs (All Used) 15.Anthony Fanning, 16. Paul Harrison, 17. Mike Unsworth, 18. Martin Lowe.

BRAMLEY BUFFALOES:

1. Andy McGann, 2.Danny Johnson, 3.Matt Mullholland, 4. Shaun Gilmour, 5.John Richardson , 6.Graham Harrison, 7.Scott Pendlebury, 8.Richard Leese, 9.Tom Webb, 10. Mark Botterill, 11. Danny O'Connor, 12.Gareth Thirsk, 13. Paul Cook, Subs (All Used) 14. Anthony Ward, 15. Daniel Lavery, 16. Steven Gill, 17. Chris Gardner.
Tries; O'Connor (2), Johnson (6 & 46), Webb (19 & 62), Mullholland (21), Cook (36), Pendlebury (39 & 78), Richardson (69), McGann (73)
Goals: Cook 3/5, Harrison 2/3, Gardner 2/3

Men of the Match:

East Lancashire Lions - Sean O'Grady
Bramley Buffaloes - Paul Cook