Despite traffic delays for a few of the Bucks they started well, scoring a try after only 3 mins, Luke Mills going over after a great off-load from Sam Powell.
Chester Le Street responded quickly with a try after 10 mins. Within 3 mins the Bucks were back on the scoreboard with an excellent finish by Martin Boatman on the left wing converted by Luke Mallinson.
A decent Chester Le Street move into the Bucks half was then thwarted by Nathan Myers who made a break and took play back to half-way. Myers then finished a clinical piece of play involving both forwards and backs, the try again converted by Mallinson.
Seventeen year old Myers shares many of the skills of brother Aaron at the breakdown, but this led to him attracting unwelcome attention from some of the Chester-le-Street forwards in the second half.
Mills' agility was involved in the next score, tapping back a Chester Le Street lineout, with great hands from the Bucks backline resulting in a try by Brendan Baggs 25 mins into the game (Mallinson conversion).
Mallinson was back on the scoresheet within 5 mins, calmly slotting a Penalty after fantastic work by the Bucks forwards in slowing down a decent move from their opponents.
The final ten mins of the first half involved good phases of play from both sides, however the Bucks ended the half as they started, with a well taken try the culmination of good work between forwards and backs putting in Boatman for his second try of the match.
Mention has to made of Nige Bulmer, who although recovering from a recent injury, being drafted into the team having arrived as a supporter, playing in the second row, a position to which he is not accustomed.
Half-time score Chester Le Street 5, Bucks 34.
The second half started, Chester Le Street having made multiple player changes, particularly in the front row, with Dove, Hamilton and Southern having been instrumental in the rock-solid set play for the Bucks forwards in the first half.
Chester Le Street went on to make numerous substitutions over the next 20 mins. Despite these changes, the bringing on of more senior players did not stem the tide, Michael Foster fly-hacking through and unfortunate not to finish with a score in the first minute of the second half.
The next 10 mins of play produced an evenly matched contest before the unfortunate Myers was sin-binned for an infringement. Another upset to Bucks play was to follow as 5 mins later Brendan (‘The Silver Fox’) Baggs had to retire from the game with a twisted knee, leaving the unfortunate Bucks with only 13 men on the field.
Chester Le Street managed a converted try whilst Myers was absent from play. However, the Bucks ‘Rugby League team, were not to be denied and scored another well worked try after 58 mins, Boatman’s third, before Myers returned to the fold.
The next few minutes involved indiscipline from both sides with the Bucks team feeling that Myers was being unfairly targetted. As a result the game, which had become increasingly fractious, was brought to an early conclusion.
Final score Chester Le Street 12, Bucks 39
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