Tomorrow, we face top-of-the-table Leighton Buzzard at Wright’s Meadow, having leepfrogged over previously-unbeaten St Ives into third place, after another outstanding display in the driving rain last weekend. It was the first league match in which St Ives did not score four tries, so the 34-0 score was very impressive. Leighton Buzzard have won all seven of their league matches, taking a try bonus in each, and are four points ahead of Stockwood Park. Our record is won six and lost one. On their last league outing, Leighton Buzzard won comfortably away to Northampton Casuals 27-10. We can expect a close match on Saturday, with both clubs trying to maintain their push for promotion.
The clubs last met, in the Bedfordshire Cup, in November 2019, when Leighton Buzzard won 31-10 at London Road. We last met in the league in January 2006, in Midlands 3 East (South) when Leighton Buzzard won at Stockwood Park 30-7. The last time that we beat our traditional derby rivals was in January 2005, when we won 19-17 at Wright’s Meadow. That said, the clubs have only met four times since then.
In all, Stockwood Park and Leighton Buzzard have met 51 times, with the first match being in December 1970 when we won 36-6 away; there have been three drawn matches, with the Park winning on 22 occasions, and Buzzard 26 times. Our record since the turn of the century has not been impressive, with only two wins in thirteen matches. This, of course, counts for nothing, with Stockwood Park looking to continue the momentum that they have built over the last few weeks.
Leighton Buzzard have sold out their former players lunch tomorrow, so there will probably be a big crowd urging them on. Hopefully, the Stockwood Park faithful will be there in good numbers, as usual, to offer support to the boys in red and yellow. I hope to see a good few of you there tomorrow for our derby clash, and to witness another Stockwood Park win.