Buxton Stags bow out of Vase to '˜complete side' Shrewsbury

The last 16 tie at Silverlands Stadium drew the crowds who were hoping for a cup run to the final at the Home of England Rugby, as the side did in 2016.

But it wasn’t to be this year as the Stags were well-beaten on home turf by a Shrewsbury side who ran riot in Saturday’s showdown.

Stags’ director of rugby Karl de Groot said: “Shrewsbury were without doubt the most complete side we have played in recent seasons, they rarely made a mistake across the 80 minutes and when we made any they closed them out with accuracy.

“Testament really to our progress this season that the game was as keenly contested by both sides as it was, the score really on this occasion didn’t reflect the intensity of play both ways.

“Once we remove the individual lapses we will be a real force, as our general team patterns are improving week by week, assisted by the excellent facilities now available to us at the Silverlands Stadium.

“To say I was pleased on the day with the performance would be an understatement.”

Buxton travel to sixth-placed Kesteven on Saturday (17th November) when they return to Midlands 3 East (North) Division action.