05 Sep 09
Friendly
Northampton Old Scouts 12 - Old Laurentians 31
OLs opened their account for the season with a highly promising performance to see off a strong Old Scouts side with something to spare. The game was notable for the return to competitive action of two long term injury absentees and the 1st team debuts of six very promising young players and, despite its unfamiliar look, the side settled into a rhythm and tempo that their opponents struggled to match.
Welcomed back to action after long layoffs were lock Paul Willis and wing Shane Betts, both contributing significantly to the team effort and each claiming a try. OLs’ debutants were wing Ben Roberts, flankers Harley Steele and James Orbinson and props Jack Boulden and Andy Collins, with Howard Harris enjoying his first start at scrum half. All of them looked very much at home in this company and played full and effective parts in OLs’ success.
Ben Wiles set OLs on their way with an early penalty and then converted an Iain Wallis try after a trademark rampaging 30 metre run by skipper Carl Adams set up the position. Despite their territorial supremacy, OLs failed to add to their score before the break and Scouts got one back when their hooker burst through a ruck of players to go over from the 22 for a half time score of 10-5.
OLs dominated the second half, with the pack producing a regular supply of good possession. Willis and Ben O’Riordan controlled the lineouts, the pack as a whole got the upper hand in all phases and Ben Wiles at fly half provided a smooth link to his line on the end of Harris’s excellent service.
After eleven minutes, Grant Inch and Ben Roberts combined cleverly to put Danny Murch away and the centre ran strongly for a fine try from half way, Wiles adding the goal points to stretch the lead to 17-5. Then on 25 minutes, Inch fielded a long kick ahead and skilfully fed the ball out of the tackle to Betts, who left the defence for dead as he sliced through with all his old power to score under the posts from fifty metres out, Wiles improving the try.
Scouts registered a second when their right wing exploited some uncharacteristically poor tackling to go over for a converted try. But OLs had the last word when some deft interplay between backs and forwards sent Paul Willis striding in from the 22 to score, Wiles converting.
OLs start their league campaign at Droitwich this Saturday, boosted by a highly encouraging performance and with several other first team regulars coming into contention for selection.
Report by Bill Wallis
Friendly
Old Laurentian 2nds 11 - Rugby Welsh 29
After a bright start when OLs took the lead over their local rivals with an early converted try, Welsh got a grip on the match and their direct style carried them through to a comfortable success.
OLs didn’t help their cause by squandering too much possession with poor decision making and handling that led to frequent turnovers; and with several key players missing, too many of their team were forced to play in unfamiliar positions.
After Andy Orbinson’s early try for OLs, Welsh hit back with two quick scores of their own, Wade’s reliable boot adding the extra points. As Welsh took control they added two further tries and a Wade penalty. Steve Pike added two further penalties for OLs, which was all the home side could muster in reply as Welsh stretched away to a convincing win.
Report by Eddie Edwards
