03 Apr 10
Friendly Lutterworth 2nd XV 5 - Old Laurentian 2nd XV 45
In the absence of Deano, no doubt running affairs in Whitley Bay with his usual efficiency and ensuring that the Bernai was able to enjoy the trip to the full, reporting duties for this game were taken over by a scribe who lacks the master’s touch when it comes to distilling and expressing so eloquently the very heartbeat of a game. But here goes anyway!
On paper it looked like a makeshift 2nd XV that OLs had sent to Lutterworth, but once in action that opinion was dispelled as the team, a heady mix of youth and experience, gelled from the off,. With barely five minutes played, OLs won a lineout close to the host’s line and quick hands gave Troy Owen an opportunity of the sort that he rarely wastes, the right wing crossing in the corner.
A pattern soon developed, the home team willing to attack at every opportunity but not able to retain possession through the phases. This was largely down to OL’s youthful back row of James Orbinson, Harley Steele and Ben Nuttall, the latter putting in a very creditable shift at number 6 for a prop forward! This dynamic trio were always first to the breakdown, frequently turning over opposition ball and ensuring that OLs kept going forward.
Sturdy Lutterworth defence kept their line intact for a further fifteen minutes until quick ball from a scrum 30 metres out reached Raj Patel on the wing with little space in which to operate. But the flanker turned wing for the day displayed great skill and pace to power down the line for a try in the corner, superbly converted by Ben Wiles for a 12-0 lead.
Five minutes later, Wiles fielded a kick deep in his own half and sliced through midfield before some slick interplay between him, Patel and Owen shredded the cover defence for Wiles to finish with a try under the posts, a score that will be up there with the finest the 2nds have scored all season. Wiles converted for 19-0. The Lutterworth re-start failed to travel 10 metres and from the scrum Orbinson picked up and Ted Wallis linked with Wiles down the blind side. The full back demonstrated his innate sales ability (a chip off the old block?) as the last defender bought his outrageous dummy and he powered over under the posts, converting the try for 26-0.
Pete Rigg then displayed the subtler side of his game with a deft kick off the outside of his right boot (well it looked intentional!) and a hurried Lutterworth clearance under pressure went straight to Patel, who once again showed real class as a wing to fly down the touchline for his second try and a half time score of 31-0.
OLs front row of King, Dom Hammond and Amor had been rock solid throughout, Huw Sullivan replacing King at the break to show again what an asset he is developing into for the club. Ricky Lee, who had formed a good half back partnership with the always tidy Ted Wallis at scrum half and kept his line operating smoothly, gave way to Stuart Page with Owen going to full back and Wiles to 10.
Three minutes into the half, Owen fielded a Lutterworth kick and immediately set up a counter attack from his own 22, re-gathering his kick ahead to feed the omnipresent Orbinson who handed on to Steele for the flanker to go over, Wiles converting for 38-0.
OLs continued to dominate possession, Eddie Edwards and Gavin Randall ensuring that the lineout was their exclusive domain, but some over elaborate play in midfield presented Lutterworth’s number 8 with an interception which he gladly took to go over for a try and reduce the deficit to 38-5.
Matt Miller, in the centre, worked hard to keep some shape in the game but OL’s momentum faded until, five minutes from time, Owen again made a lot of ground through midfield. He found the tireless Eddie Edwards on his shoulder and the lock forward finished the move for the final try, another vindication of OL’s youth policy (from twenty five years ago in this case). Wiles converted to hoist a personal tally of 20 points for the game.
Scorers: Raj Patel – 2 tries; Ben Wiles – 2 tries, 5 conversions; Troy Owen – try; Harley Steele – try; Eddie Edwards - try.
Report by Bill Wallis
