Bulldogs Lose Opener

Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC made the long trip to the High Peak with a squad that contained half a dozen players making their debuts.

Two quick fire opening scores from the home side seemed to point to a torrid afternoon for Brum, but they rallied superbly and, in scoring terms, outdid the hosts for the remainder of the match.

Buxton were ahead inside five minutes with a converted try. Then Birmingham kicked the restart out “on the full” and from the subsequent penalty, Buxton went downfield again where they posted another converted try to make the score 12-0 in their favour.

Bulldogs now began to find their rhythm, and were duly rewarded when lively prop Mike “Floz” Florrey charged overf from close range for a deserved score.

Spurred on by this, Bulldogs then produced the try of the match: from his own half, full back Nathan Burchell set off on a bewildering sidestepping run that left defenders clutching thin air to touch down by the posts for a try that scrum-half Nick Evans goaled to cut the gap to two points at 10-12.

Just on the break, Buxton came back with an unconverted try.

Brum got just the start they needed to the second half as Leigh Griffin broke clear on the halfway line and outpaced the home defence to score in the corner; Evans added an excellent conversion from the touchline to level the scores at 16-16.

And Evans it was who laid the foundation for the next score. His midfield break saw the ball moved to right winger Dan Retter and the flying Scotsman raced over in the corner to put Brum ahead 20-16.

The next score would be significant and it was Buxton who claimed it, a converted try pitting then 22-20 ahead.

Then right at the death, Buxton posted another converted try to give them an 8-point margin of victory, which was a bit harsh on Bulldogs' efforts. The visitors “new look” side gave a good account of themselves in an entertaining match played in rain and a stiff breeze throughout.

Nathan Burchell was Bulldogs’ man-of the match, with Anthony Hughes and Leigh Griffin in contention.