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Photo slideshow: Buckingham RUFC beat Phoenix 12-5 in the final of the Bucks County Shield on Saturday (05/04)

Daventry's pack looked very big indeed for the semi-final, but in fact the Buckingham forwards played better against them than they had against Phoenix on the Saturday.

Seth Williams took one or two important strikes against the head at crucial times in the game, while Ben Wallis, as well as winning good line-out ball, spoiled a lot of Daventry ball by good reading of the home side's tactics.

Once again Sam Laird and Tom Amos gave powerful displays on the attack and Guy Furby's experience meant that the front row allowed the Buckingham backs cleaner ball than they have had for some weeks. Behind the scrum, Greg Laird had an excellent match as did Henry Colver whose kicking, both from the hand and at goal, was superb. Alex Guntert made several brave runs against much bigger opponents, while Jim Mackway and Phil Cliff played solidly.

With the wind behind them, Bucking-ham launched a series of attacks and indiscipline by the home forwards allowed Colver to kick penalty goals in the seventh and 10th minutes of the game and give Buckingham an early 6-0 lead. Play was from end to end afterwards with Buckingham creating the better chances. A good break by Colver was carried on by Cliff who cut inside at the crucial moment and was brought down only inches from the line.

A huge kick from his own 22 by Colver soon followed taking play to within five metres of the Daventry line and a strong surge by the pack followed. Impatience was the Buckingham failing however, as on both occasions they were penalised for handling on the ground and good chances were thrown away. Eventually, with half-time fast approaching, another good drive by the forwards gave Colver half a chance and he coolly slotted over a dropped goal for a 9-0 interval lead. That kick was to prove crucial indeed at the final whistle.

The second half saw Buckingham driving deep into Daventry territory. Once again, after only four minutes, Daventry were penalised and Colver took the Buckingham lead to 12-0 with another good kick.

However, drama then followed when firstly a player was sinbinned after allegedly throwing a punch during a fracas among the forwards, and secondly, as soon as he returned to the field of play, another Buckingham player was sinbinned for persistent minor infringements.

It meant however, that for 20 minutes Buckingham were playing a man short and it says much for their response to the double setback that they managed to keep their line intact until they had weathered the storm.

Daventry reduced the arrears with a penalty after 30 minutes but the 40 minutes arrived with no further score. Then in the fourth minute of injury time, a dropped pass in their own 22 allowed Daventry to make one last attack, their pack putting in a tremendous surge and they were awarded a push-over try.

The succesful conversion brought the score to 12-10, but Buckingham easily held out for the last few seconds to earn a place in the Lewis Shield final.

For more sports news and results, see this week's Advertiser & Review