01 May 10
Midlands 2 West Promotion Play Off
Old Saltleians 12 - Old Laurentians 14
Old Laurentians capped a fine season by winning a tense and gripping play off at Old Saltleians to gain promotion to Midlands One, extending their unbeaten run in league rugby to thirteen games in doing so.
This was always going to be a close affair between two sides who completed the regular league season with very similar records in finishing runners up in their respective divisions, Salts enjoying the decided advantage of playing at home. But OL’s travelling support went a long way towards negating that edge as a large contingent made the journey to Water Orton to shout their side home – and succeeded in drinking the home club dry of bitter!
As has been a regular feature of their play this season, OLs came back from a half time deficit to overcome a very good Salts side, chipping away at their lead after the break until, almost inevitably, Simon Bayliss went over for the winning score, try number 36 in a record breaking season for the wing.
OLs went into the match without fly half Denzil Evans, their influential playmaker and leading scorer being forced to sit this one out after picking up an injury the previous week. But they did enjoy the significant bonus of welcoming back their inspirational skipper Carl Adams after more than a month sidelined through injury, the number 8 coming off the bench at half time to play a major part in OLs second half performance.
OLs made a bright start, Richard Parker going close after a few minutes play. But Salts broke out of defence for their scrum half to take a quick tap penalty in OL’s 22 and breach the first line of defence to set up the opportunity for his pack to muscle over for a try after seven minutes, the conversion going over for a 7-0 lead to the home side
But OLs were enjoying a good share of territory and possession and Steve Pike reduced the deficit with a penalty after fifteen minutes. Bayliss, Danny Murch and Ben O’Riordan all went close for OLs as they mounted a series of attacks on Salts line, one assault being halted illegally to result in a yellow card for the home side’s scrum half at the half hour mark.
But Salts were looking dangerous on the counter attack, their back three taking advantage of any wayward Laurentian kicks to run the ball back. Then their pacey left wing Turner set up an attack from deep and although he ran into his own man in the process the referee failed to spot it and the ball was moved right for the opposite wing Taylor to run in a try wide out. The conversion missed and half time arrived with Salts 12-3 up.
Steve Pike was forced to retire from the action at half time with an injury, the change bringing Adams on with Andy Orbinson moving from the back row to fill the gap on the left wing. This left OLs without a regular goal kicker on the pitch, but how well Matt Miller stepped into the breach, the centre kicking a penalty four minutes into the second half to reduce the deficit to 12-6.
The game ebbed and flowed as the half developed, both sides having opportunities, before once more Miller stepped up and coolly slotted his second penalty after twenty minutes, reducing Salts advantage to 12-9. OLs were now very much in the hunt with their tails up, the pack was winning a good share of possession and prop forward Chris le Poidevin was having a storming game, regularly troubling Salts defence with his charging runs.
As the clock ticked down and with little more than ten minutes to go, OLs forwards mounted a great drive and from a scrum just inside the opposition half Parker and Adams combined well and sent Bayliss away down the right. The wing shrugged off a couple of tackles and his pace did the rest as he scorched over for a try half way out. Miller’s conversion attempt drifted just wide, but OLs had the lead for the first time at 14-12.
This signalled a finale of high drama as Salts went back on the offensive in a last attempt to salvage the game. They won a five metre scrum, but OLs forced them back with aggressive defence as they tried to attack the line, Paul Willis leading the charge like a man inspired!
The home side’s efforts became increasingly frenetic as they tried to break down OL’s stubborn defence. As the minutes ebbed away they missed a kickable penalty that would have won the game; then, unaccountably, ran another close range penalty and were swallowed up by OL’s tacklers.
Scrum half Parker and his back row of Gleghorn, Adams and Glenn Todd were harrying and hustling around the fringes, refusing to allow the home side any space or time to set up a drop goal attempt or build any attacks.
And OL’s back line, as they had throughout, kept Salts dangerous backs in check, Iain Wallis at fly half, together with centres Murch and Miller, covering and tackling with unerring efficiency.
After a Salts drop goal attempt sailed wide, the referee blew for time and OLs had won a famous victory that sees them promoted at last after three near misses in recent seasons. Midlands One will present a tough test, but this side is young and improving all the time and has the ability and confidence to trouble the best in the higher league.
Report by Bill Wallis
