SOUTHERN Counties North champions Abbey finished the season in fine form to run in four tries in a comfortable 27-12 victory at home to Buckingham.

Head Coach Fungai Mutepfa praised his team for their response and attitude following the disappointment at Bletchley the week before. One consequence of that match was second row man Elko Titcombe de Bie being rested on head safety protocols, and with Chris Shaw still injured, Treacle Knights stepped in to show what a good player he has become.

Elsewhere, Luke Burns returned to the centre with Dylan Baptista moving to the wing, putting Charlie Gingell on the bench. Steve Drake was back at scrum half and Frank Long in the front row.

Joining his brother on the bench was flanker Matt Gingell, and when they came on together at half time, it was clear they got a real buzz from it – brothers Sam and Joe Hallett had started the game, brothers Gingell finished.

Matt not only put in an excellent display, but he celebrated two consecutive playing seasons without significant injury, ailments being a blight of his earlier years.

Abbey came out of the blocks in a rush, stunning Buckingham with their incisive running and almost scoring within the opening minutes.

But the tone had been set. Abbey’s backs were much sharper, the handling and running at speed was impressive, the ball whipped around the field with breadth and ambition, although sometimes leading to mistakes which held back the try tally.

Jim Dye, at outside half, was sharp, making the best of scrum half Drake’s quick pass and possession was well used in the centres, Burns and Tom Waterhouse alternatively finding the gaps and giving the wide runners Arron Ross, Baptista and Gavin Dampies a stage to show their skills.

Up front the pack was strong with hooker Mark Toland taking three against the head, while Knights and Hallett shared line-out duties with aplomb.

Will Woodward, at No. 8, was a real menace with his breaks with Mike Beckly and Joe Hallett, then Matt Gingell scrapping for the loose ball. Tim Brain and Long – despite working hard in the set-piece – still found energy to make contributions in open play.

The Rosehill faithful did not have long to wait for pressure to be turned into points. Woodward started an attack from the base of the scrum, but when stopped the ball was recycled with speed giving Baptista the first of his tries.

Five minutes later Sam Hallett, on one of his trademark charges, created pressure, followed by more speed of hand and foot from the backs putting Baptista over for his second try.

Now was the time to capitalise on the start, but Buckingham rallied and their big kicking fly-half Ed Kinman eventually managed to avoid kicking the ball to Abbey full back Dampies to return with interest.

A touch-finding kick put them deep into Abbey territory, who were over keen to run the ball out of defence. They knocked on to give Buckingham a scrum, leading to lock Matt London touching down with kicker Kinman missing the conversion, his kick bouncing back from the posts.

With Buckingham now holding steady, Abbey had to wait for the half hour before Burns put down beneath the posts, finishing off a move started by Woodward from the base of the scrum. Not just in attacking was Burns impressive, but he was the epitome of coolness under pressure and a worthy recipient of the man-of-the-match award, elected by his teammates.

Despite the movement in the game, referee Collins found cause to penalise either side just once, which went against Abbey for offside, too far for Buckingham to go for the sticks.

The absence of penalties meant Abbey’s prolific kicker Tom Waterhouse had to be content with two lots of extras from the three on offer.

The turn round score of 19-5 did not reflect Abbey’s better play, but although comfortably in control, they added just eight second-half points.

Waterhouse kicked three from a penalty, and Dampies, now at scrum half after Drake had gone off injured, nipped through a crowded maul to touch down, and to bag the bonus point with five minutes to go.

However, Buckingham had the satisfaction of the final try in the last minute – from flanker Henry Sweeney. Kinman converted.