OLs Reports

31 Oct 09

Midlands 2 West (South)
Worcester Wanderers 11 - Old Laurentians 9

Laurentians came very close to relieving Wanderers of their 100% record this season and ending an unbeaten run that stretches back to the beginning of last season. The lead changed hands six times in a game that was finely balanced throughout, Worcester having the final say with a decisive penalty in the dying minutes.

OLs started very positively and for twenty five minutes dominated territory and possession to keep Wanderers pinned in their own half, but couldn’t convert the pressure into points. Richard Parker and Matt Miller went close, Simon Bayliss was looking sharp on the wing and Tom Gleghorn had a close range charge just held. But the ball was spilled or turned over in contact several times, giving the home side the chance to relieve the pressure.

OLs finally took the lead with a Denzil Evans penalty after twenty two minutes, scant reward for their early enterprise. Wanderers worked their way into the game over the second quarter, but neither side could muster a decisive strike until the home team’s big number 5 burst through a lineout in a smartly executed move to touch down on the stroke of half time. The conversion was missed and Wanderers took a 5-3 lead into the break.

After Miller had threatened the home line again, chasing down his own kick, Evans restored OL’s lead with a penalty ten minutes into the second period, only for Worcester to regain the initiative and an 8-6 lead with a penalty of their own five minutes later.

Neither of two evenly matched sides could establish any real superiority in the second half and each missed kickable penalties. Then a relatively innocuous skirmish resulted in red cards for OL’s Adams and a Wanderers centre, a decision deemed somewhat harsh by most onlookers.

As for most of this season, OL’s lineout had been utterly secure through the match until, unaccountably, they started calling short lines and promptly lost possession, and good field positions, on two occasions in this critical phase of the match.

With time running down and just six minutes of the match to go, Evans struck what could have been a decisive blow with a finely judged penalty from 40 metres out, giving OLs a 9-8 lead.

But in the dying minutes indiscipline cost OLs the match when they strayed offside just outside their 22 metre line, Wanderers clinching it with a straightforward kick to secure the hard earned points.

This was the first time that Worcester had come up against a top half side in this season’s league table and the match demonstrated that they won’t necessarily be the runaway champions that their early form had suggested. OLs matched them blow for blow and could have sewn up what was obviously going to be a close affair in the first twenty minutes. The team are now looking forward keenly to the return fixture at Fenley Field on 30^th January.

The scrums were well contested with Garrie Reeve putting in a fine 80 minute stint; and OL’s held the upper hand in the lineout, Paul Willis and Ben O’Riordan reigning supreme. Such was their threat that Worcester opted more than once for scrums at penalty awards when a kick into the corner would have been the obvious ploy.

Richard Parker kept the home scrum half under lock and key and played like an extra flanker in defence as well as keeping the opposition defenders honest with his regular forays around the fringes; and Glenn Todd again showed his fearsome tackling power.

OL’s backs effectively nullified any threat from the Worcester line and Matt Miller and Simon Bayliss were the two most effective runners on the pitch. Denzil Evans looks very much at home in his new role at full back and his presence gives OLs a steadying and reliable influence at the back, as well as offering kicking options.

Report by Bill Wallis

Warwickshire League 1

Old Coventrians 2^nd XV 0 – Old Laurentian 2^nd XV 84

OL’s 2^nd XV travelled to Old Coventrians hoping to maintain their excellent start to the season. The side again had a lovely blend of youth and experience and started the game off in dominant fashion

The forwards, marshalled by skipper and scrum half Ricky Reed, were in dominant mood from the off, supplying ample ball for the talented backline, and the points came along at regular intervals

Despite the game becoming a little one sided, OLs maintained their concentration and with a fine team ethic carried on the scoring right to the end of the game

Two of the OL’s squad completed their first ever senior hat tricks, with Andy Orbinson notching three and Dean Graham running in 4 tries. There were singles for Lawrence Webb, Mike Coburn, Rich Foxon and Grant Inch. Ben Roberts, who had an excellent game, also ran in for three tries and added 7 conversions for a personal haul of 29 points.

The only time the scoring slowed was after the introduction of the Bernai with twenty minutes to go - however after a small period of adjustment, normal service was resumed

Respect must be given to the opposition who never gave up and, unlike some teams OLs have faced recently, played with spirit right to the death. However, all the players in the team must be congratulated for this display of rugby, putting the opposition to the sword. Confidence is high entering into some tough games in the next few weeks.

Report by Dean Cobley