OLs Reports

31 Jan 09

Midlands 3 West (South)

Old Laurentians 35 - Leamington 13

In a dramatic reversal of the previous week’s lame surrender at Old Coventrians, OLs totally outplayed league leaders Leamington to clinch a valuable two points and put themselves right back into contention in the race for promotion. This outcome had seemed unlikely when OLs were forced to make four late changes, but a fine team display cancelled out any doubts on that score.

OL’s dominant pack had their opposite numbers on the back foot from the first whistle and an outstanding back row of Gary Smith, Glenn Todd and skipper Carl Adams, in commanding form on his return from injury, kept their side going forward for the whole eighty minutes.

Secher opened the scoring for the Spa men with a penalty before Denzil Evans responded in like fashion to level the score. Then OL’s growing momentum was rewarded after twenty two minutes when Adams broke from a scrum, Gary Smith and Dan Volkman making good ground before linking with scrum half Richard Parker, whose pace and power took him over for a try that Evans converted for a 10-3 lead.

After a jinking run by Iain Wallis and more power play by the pack, Evans put over another penalty to push the lead out to 13-3. Leamington were now conceding regular penalties under constant pressure from the home side and Evans added two more for a half time lead of 19-3, a margin that could have been greater had Adams and then Smith not been held just feet from the try line.

Leamington opened the second half strongly and a poorly aligned OL’s midfield defence allowed centre Williams to burst through for a try that Secher converted for 19-10. But straight from the re-start, more OL’s pressure forced a penalty that Evans converted to push the lead back out to 22-10.

After another spell of sustained pressure, Wallis put over a drop goal after twelve minutes for a 25-10 lead before Secher responded with another penalty for the visitors as they tried to fight their way back into the match.

But OL’s regained control for the last fifteen minutes and Evans added a drop goal before Wallis crossed for a try after smart interplay between Adams and Chris Reed, on for Parker, and a decisive break by James Murray. Evans added the goal points for a personal tally of 22 points from a fine kicking display.

Richard Parker and the back row were a constant menace to Leam’s dangerous half backs, totally neutralising their threat and limiting the supply of ball to their pacey three quarters. With the ball in hand, they kept the visitors’ defence fully occupied with some aggressive running, Glenn Todd and Carl Adams turning in outstanding displays.

The backs always looked dangerous, Andy Coleman filling in on the wing very capably to demonstrate yet again his versatility and value to the side. Howard Harris was again called upon for duty in the other wing berth and put in a confident and assured performance. Despite the changes to the original line up, the team was able to name three excellent replacements in Mark Todd, Raj Patel and Chris Reed. Each got on to the pitch to make valuable contributions and ensure that no momentum was lost with their arrival.

Other results on the day added significantly to the value of OL’s great result as all of the other top five teams in the league table were beaten, leaving the club in a strong position. Now third in the table, OLs have two games in hand over both sides above them but are just one point behind second placed Earlsdon and two points off Leamington in top spot.

Report by Bill Wallis

Warwickshire League 1

Leamington 2nds 37 - Old Laurentian 2nds 19

OLs travelled to Moorefields with confidence high after recent performances, to face one of the league’s stronger outfits who had all ready registered a victory in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season.

Leamington started the game strongly, with their forwards dominating the OL’s eight in the set piece, and claimed the first score after five minutes of play. OLs were not going to roll over and came straight back at their hosts with some excellent close quarter handling from forwards and backs alike, giving man of the match Gavin Randell the chance to race over, Danny Orr adding the conversion.

Leamington continued to monopolise possession but fine defensive work from OLs kept them at bay for the next twenty minutes before Leamington managed to claim their second try. OLs came straight back, making the most of the scraps of possession they were getting and after more superb interplay sent skipper Dave Longrigg over for a try, again converted by Orr.

The score would have been a fair reflection for OL’s efforts after forty minutes but on the stroke of half time Leam scored out wide to give them a one point lead 15-14 at the break. The first 10 minutes of the second half were to be OL’s undoing as they got on the wrong side of the referee and allowed Leam to score three unconverted tries, giving themselves a mountain to climb.

To their credit, they never gave up and scrum half Scott Whyment's quick penalty sent Joel Gleghorn over the line to claim his first of the season, which was just reward for his afternoon’s efforts. Leamington then closed out the game scoring twice more, the last being converted.

This was a stern test for OLs against a strong Leamington side which in parts they stood up to well, but with little set piece ball, opportunities were always going to be a rare commodity. Gavin Randell put in a fine performance, always in the thick of the action, and Leigh Fisher took the game to Leam at every opportunity. Danny Orr got the chance to brush up on his defence as time and again he was faced with the first receiver bearing down on him but refused to yield.

Report by Dave Middleton

Warwickshire League 3

Old Laurentian 3rds 29 - Bedworth 3rds 0

With early reports that Bedworth had brought several 'old bruisers' out of retirement, OL's knew that they faced a much sterner test in the forwards than their previous encounter at Bedworth earlier in the season. Fortunately, OLs more than matched their visitors with their biggest third team pack so far this season, the front row alone weighing in at around 60 stone.

With a war of attrition going on between the two sets of forwards mainly in OL's favour, it was not a day to be stood out in the three-quarter line in the near freezing temperature. However, when occasionally called upon they proved to be reliable in their duties, defending well and scoring all five tries in the game.

Jody Roderick used his pace on the wing to record a hat-trick, swift handling with a quality shimmy saw fly half Mark Palmer cross the line and Kev White, playing in the unfamiliar role of scrum half, scored with a cheeky dart into the corner from a lineout. White also added a couple of conversions to round off the scoring.

Report by Kev White