MATCH REPORT: GUTSY CENTS FALL TO DEFEAT AT BUCKINGHAM

RAMS Centaurs slipped to a 46-15 Counties One Tribute Southern North defeat at Buckingham, but head coach Joe Whatmore believes it was a harsh score-line on his troops.

Having been promoted to Level Seven for the first time this season, it has been a tricky start for the Mighty Cents, with availability and injury limiting their resources.

And it was Buckingham who opened the scoring on Saturday, Will Ashton with the opener following some nice handling among the backs, before Rams got on the board themselves with a Sam Mitchell penalty.

That was as good as it got in the opening 40 minutes, however, Wiggy Gurney grabbing Buckingham’s second try before the visitors lost Chris Kessell (pictured) – a stand-out performer throughout the afternoon despite his sin-bin for an infringement near his line.

Worse was follow before the interval as the hosts wrapped up the bonus-point, Matt Payne defying his role as a prop to cross on the left before Max Boothby dotted down, Tom Gurney with the extras for 22-3.

Yet the Centaurs started the second period well as James Stewart intercepted a ball to run in, Mitchell reducing the deficit back to 12 points.
Buckingham replied, though, two more tries, the latter scored by Wiggy Gurney, making it 32-10.

Again the visitors rallied, however, and having pinned their opponents in their own 22 with a succession of penalties, Jack Rushton capped another impressive display from last year’s Colt with a try.

It was merely a consolation for the Cents, though, with Buckingham pulling away late on with further scores from No. 8 Ben Swabridge, the skipper followed over the whitewash as Ashton doubled his tally with both kicks successful.

Despite a third defeat of the campaign, Joe – who highlighted Kessell and Stewart among the stand-out performers at Buckingham – remains confident things will turn round as he explained: “I don’t think we are far away and in all the games we’ve been competitive.

“Hopefully we will have some more players back this week – Jack Gaylor, Alex Griffiths and others – and if we just take our chances we can do things.”

The Mighty Cents head to Chinnor 3rd XV on Saturday.