Vase win moves Stags nearer to Twickenham

Buxtons players celebrate their victory.

Stags withstood late pressure to claim the victory, tries from Greg Mellor, Ben Austin and Simon Meek key to their success in front of a sizeable crowd at Sunnyfields.

A full report and photos from the game can be found on HERE.

Buxton’s director of rugby Karl de Groot said: “I’m just so pleased for the lads, they have worked really hard for this result. Our squad preparation this week was first class, with two sessions and a Good Friday work out for the forwards, so sometimes you do get what you deserve and deserve it they certainly did “

“ It wasn’t a great spectacle, the weather put paid to that, but we adapted to the conditions and had to defend for long periods against a big side.

“For those that have watched us this year, I guess they saw a different character to the side, as we are normally very expansive and a good watch but today they saw some a real defensive effort - a ‘yellow brick wall’ as the lads called it afterwards.”

Stags will now play Wetherby on April 9 in the National Junior Vase semi-final for the right to play at Twickenham in the final.

De Groot added: “I don’t think I will need to get the guys up for that one. Wetherby sent eight scouts down to watch us and I’m told they went away fairly confident but they saw nothing of the real Stags on the day, so I’m happy with that. Let’s see how they shape up in a couple of weeks, it should be a cracker.

“I have said to the guys that game is just the icing on the cake, they have already achieved something that no other club in our county, or the wider NLD has done before, so in my eyes they are already the most successful team the club has ever had and can stand proudly on the balcony in few years reliving their efforts, as we all have, but I doubt anyone will surpass this group without some effort.”