Champions and new boys battle it out
Rarely has a game in the fourth tier of summer rugby league attracted so much interest.
Bramley Buffaloes take on Kippax Knights in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference National under the lights next Friday (21st May) at Stanningley (kick-off 8pm) in a match being billed as one of the most exciting clashes in the young history of the game at this intermediate level.
It’s the champions against the league’s new boys, the first ever clash between two ‘Leeds’ sides and the first game under floodlights for Bramley and their army of fans at the excellently appointed Arthur Miller Stadium.
Add to the mix that the Buffaloes have started the season with four straight victories and the ambitious Knights are not far behind with just one defeat and you have all the ingredients for a compelling clash between two title favourites.
Buffaloes coach Mark Butterill is looking forward to the occasion: “When all is said and done this is just another regular season home game but there’s a real buzz amongst the players and fans that next Friday will be a big one!
“Kippax are new to the competition but from all reports you can pretty much guarantee that they’ll be up there challenging for honours come the end of the season. They are, like us, set up for success.
“It’s going to be interesting and a must see for any rugby league fans looking to take in some quality action,” added Mark talking after his side’s unconvincing 18-10 home victory over Nottingham Outlaws.
“I’m angry about how we nearly threw this game away today after a positive first half performance. After the break we really took our foot off the gas and we just can’t afford to do that. The Outlaws nearly made us pay and you suspect it will be a different story against Kippax if we perform like that.
“Tony Williams grabbed two opportunist tries with Richard Hulme’s touchdown giving us an 18-0 lead but at no point did we hit the heights we are capable of in front of an impressive home crowd.
“We all had our hands in our mouths in the last 15 minutes as Nottingham pushed us back but we saw it through. We were lucky!” added Butterill.
Buffaloes Chairman Martyn Cheney is hoping that Rhinos and Bulls fans looking for some early weekend action will pop down and experience the action:
“I think they’ll like what they see,” explained Martyn “and we have a special promotion in place which means Rhinos and Bulls season-ticket holders, indeed any Super League or Championship season-ticket holder, can gain entry for half price, just £2.
“The promotion was extremely well received at our first home game with Nottingham Outlaws with over 50 season-ticket holders taking advantage and we hope a lot more will come down next Friday.
“We are looking for a big crowd in a game being sponsored by Green Motion of Kirkstall and we’ll also be celebrating our close sponsorship links with Unison and the RMT, two national unions that closely reflect our ideals as a community focused co-operative club,” added Martyn.