Southern Counties North

Buckingham 54

Stow 5

STOW'S forwards created a great platform up front and probably just had the edge in the set piece but too many mistakes led to a comfortable bonus-point win for Buckingham.

From the outset it was clear that the Buckingham backline, especially the back three, were going to pose a big threat.

Stow didn’t help their cause by failing to combat this strength.

The opening score came from a missed penalty touch kick. Buckingham ran the ball back and Stow lost Bradley Wrench to the bin for a high tackle.

Buckingham hit touch and from the lineout spun the ball wide to score. Stow were very much in the game up front but far too much clean possession was kicked away. However, the first time they kept the ball in hand James Holmes eluded several tackles and chipped the full back then won the race for an unconverted try.

Sadly this was as good as it got.

Buckingham’s second try (converted), came from more Stow ball kicked away, then just before the break the visitors lost possession in midfield and from the counter Buckingham had their third.

Stow were only 19-5 down at the break, but the second half became one-way traffic. More lost possession, poor kicking and countless missed tackles led to five further tries, all converted which left Stow well beaten.

But they know this could have been a much closer game if they had retained possession better.

This weekend Stow entertain Gosford All Blacks in a game they really need to win.