Dees enjoy superb win over leaders Buckby

The visitors exploded out of the blocks and took an early 8-0 lead thanks to a try and penalty.

However, Damien Daize’s side responded through Ashley Warren as he crashed over after some sublime solo work from captain Aaron White-Martinez.

Pete Thompson added the extras, reducing the deficit to just a single point.

Thompson missed a penalty, but made up for that moments later, with a brilliant cross-field kick for Mattie Anderson to claim and then dart over.

Dees were 12-8 in front, but conceded another try on the stroke of half time to trail 13-12 at the change of ends.

In the second period, Dees regained the advantage as Luke Ashton bagged his fourth try in as many games, collecting Kevin Bolands pass to cross the line.

Thompson’s boot did the rest as Dees were now 19-13 in front.

Sensing that they were losing sight of victory, the visitors stepped up the intensity and applied relentless pressure.

Dees were solid in defence but after conceding a series of scrums, Buckby were awarded a penalty try, along with the conversion and were back in-front at 20-19.

With just three minutes left, Dees needed the all-important score in-order to win.

Dees looked to make a quick break but were awarded a penalty for offside, which Thompson calmly slotted and put his side 22-20 ahead with just minutes remaining.

The Bidwell Boys ran down the clock and maintained possession, before kicking the ball into touch to bring an end to the game.

Dees host Biggleswade next weekend in the first round of the Bedfordshire Cup.

Dees: K Boland, M Anderson, L Ashton, C Haig, S Warren, P Thompson, T Mead, W Hewitt, A White-Martinez, T Holliman, R Cope, R Carry, R Thorne, A Warren, G Brinkley.

Replacements: R Harnett, S Wilkins, D Tuffen.