05 Dec 09
Midlands 2 West (South)
Bedworth 26 – Old Laurentians 10
If OLs came away scratching their heads and wondering why they had slumped to such a comprehensive defeat at the hands of one of the league’s back markers, they only had themselves to blame as most of the damage was self inflicted.
They found Bedworth’s kicker, centre Alan Foster, in fine form and gave him plenty of opportunities to display his prowess as he kicked goals from all over the pitch to finish with sixteen points to his name.
OLs anticipated a forward based game from their opponents and their expectations were fulfilled. However the Laurentian pack held their own comfortably in all phases of play but the team as a whole failed to translate this into field position and points.
OLs started well, Scott Wiles looking sharp with a couple of half breaks early on, and drew first blood after ten minutes with a fine try from scrum half Richard Parker, who ran in strongly from 45 metres after an Adams pick up at a scrum.
But the game began to swing back towards the home side and they earned due reward from a spell of prolonged pressure when their hooker burst over on thirty minutes, Foster converting for a 7-5 lead which was held until the break..
Bedworth increased their lead twelve minutes into the second half when their blind side flanker crashed over, Foster converting superbly from wide out. Although there were well founded suspicions that the ball had not been properly grounded, there was no doubt that Bedworth had earned the score with another spell of sustained pressure in OL’s 22.
Thereafter Foster kicked four penalties as OLs continued to incur the referee’s displeasure, notably skipper Adams who was yellow carded after some foolish back chat. Foster kicked the resultant penalty, then rubbed salt into the wound by putting one over from the half way line when the referee awarded a penalty on the re-start, leaving OLs floundering at 5 – 20 down.
OLs did mount a rally of sorts, Wiles and Danny Murch both prominent, but Foster kicked another goal from half way after OLs were pinged for holding on when support for the ball carrier was sluggish. Glenn Todd did get over for a consolation try late on to cap another tireless performance by the flanker. But that man Foster had the last word with a 40 metre penalty when OLs were marched back ten metres after more back chat.
Report by Bill Wallis
Warwickshire League 1
Old Laurentian 2nd XV 10 - Nuneaton Old Edwardians 2nd XV 26
OL’s 2nd XV returned to league action on Saturday, up against a Nuneaton Old Eds side who, like OLs, were unbeaten in the league. OLs, with several personnel and positional changes, started very slowly, allowing the visitors a simple try.
OLs were then dealt another blow with the influential John Deenik leaving the field with a severe cut to his hand, allowing new signing Daz Dean to replace him for what was an excellent debut for the club.
However almost immediately OLs let Old Eds in for another try, but with a quarter of an hour gone OLs finally began to get into the game. A turnover ball 35 metres from Old Ed’s line allowed another debutant Harry Bryan to scoop up the loose ball and run in under the posts for a try converted by Ben Roberts.
Despite Old Eds pressurising again, solid defence and commitment allowed OLs to turn around just 13 – 7 down.
OLs again had to reorganise at half time, losing tenacious centre Dean Graham but introducing pace with Jody Roderick and Loz Webb. However a slow start to the second half allowed the visitors an early penalty. This seemed to spur OLs into life and they had their best spell of the game with the pack competing in all phases. However all they had to show for this was a penalty for fly half Bryan.
From this point on the game was dominated by a strong, well drilled Nuneaton side who closed the game out with a converted try and two penalties.
OLs introduced Jason King and there was a long awaited return for front row forward Ollie Cowley in an attempt to pick things up, but ultimately the Nuneaton side had all the answers on the day.
OLs can take great heart from a battling display but credit must go to the visitors who fully deserved their victory. The team still has much to play for and the club can take positives from the game with the display of debutants Dean and Bryan and the return of Ollie Cowley. They now have to pick themselves up for next week’s away trip to Earlsdon and get back to winning ways.
There will be a collection after the game for the RSPCA’s festive campaign
“A Bernai is for Life… - … not just for Christmas”
Report by Dean Cobley
