New Era begins in great style

A warm up match away at Melbourne proved to be a close fought encounter from start to finish. On a splendid late summer morning, more suited to cricket or athletics, Burton Bucks kicked off the game playing into a steady breeze. The lads started in a very sharp and positive fashion, much to the appreciation and pleasant surprise of the parents and coaching team – as this was most unlike the team in previous seasons. The first lineout was neatly won and the ball moved smartly through the backs hands to immediately gain territorial advantage! The older Melbourne team struck back and the game entered a phase where both teams were testing each other out for the next 15 minutes or so, although the Bucks retained territorial advantage almost throughout.

After about 25 minutes Burton Bucks began to apply more sustained pressure and pushed Melbourne back into their own 22 metre area. This unfortunately was undone by a couple of strange penalty decisions against them and Melbourne took full advantage and found themselves at the other end of the field in a flash. They took full advantage and an unconverted try resulted (Melbourne 5-0 Bucks).

From the re-start it was clear the Bucks pride was a little wounded but not suppressed and the Bucks once again got back into the Melbourne “22” where they met with similar resistance from the home team. There they stayed until half-time. Justice was done with the last play of the half. Bucks won their own scrum about 15m out and the ball was once again pushed through the backs hands, for Matt Robinson to score in the right hand corner. Elliot Minns struck a wonderful conversion to give the Bucks a slender advantage at half-time (Melbourne 5-7 Bucks).

After half-time there were several changes made in an effort to give everyone match-time and this allowed Melbourne to get into the game much more than they had in the first-half. Unfortunately poor communication in the Bucks defence allowed Melbourne to gather the ball and score under the posts. The successful conversion meant Melbourne went back into the lead (Melbourne 12-7 Bucks).

The spirit of the young Bucks remained fully in-tact and this was highly evident from the re-start, where the kick-off was chased with great enthusiasm - a couple of crunching tackles and some quick thinking resulted in the Bucks getting possession and making good use of the ball, forwards and backs alike, to make significant progress into the Melbourne “22”.

Over the next 10 minutes or so there was a return to the “cancelling out of each other” status. With about 15 minutes gone in the second-half this changed and good work by the Melbourne forwards saw them make steady progress into the Bucks “22”, where once again the Bucks had reason to feel hard-done-by some strange decisions – eventually the pressure told and Melbourne scored an unconverted try in the corner (Melbourne 17-7 Bucks). This seemed to knock the confidence of the lads a little and after 23minutes bucks found themselves further behind following a converted try (Melbourne 24-7 Bucks).

Bearing in mind the very warm sunshine, fitness and injuries started to take their toll and several more changes were enforced. Bucks still, though played with great passion and spirit in the last few minutes of the game. They had another period of sustained pressure in their opponents “22”, which resulted in the final score of the game. Jack Roddick capped a fine debut scoring a wonderful try underneath the posts having received the ball 20m out with a great deal to do! Edward Nicholls (Eddie) added the conversion to make the final score Melbourne 24-14 Bucks.

Man-of-the-match was given very deservedly to Jacob Kitchen, who demonstrated some fine back-row skills and numerous crunching tackles, which he has a reputation for – well done Jacob and well done to the whole squad for a fine display against an older Melbourne side. You all stepped up to the mark. There was very little between the two teams. On this evidence the prospects for the season look healthy!