06 Feb 10
Midlands 2 West (South)
Barkers Butts 17 - Old Laurentians 35
Although OLs took an early lead in this game, they lacked their usual fluency through the first forty minutes and found themselves facing a half time deficit against a competitive and determined Barkers’ team who were well worth their advantage at the break.
But the Fenley Field side stepped up the pace in the second half and played with more conviction and determination, dominating the final session to add four more tries and run out ultimately as comfortable winners.
The early exchanges were of indifferent quality, the play of both sides littered with mistakes, before OLs went ahead after eight minutes with a Denzil Evans penalty. Then, after twelve minutes, Jamie Brightwell ran in a fine try from near half way after quick lineout possession and a miss pass gave him the space he needed to outflank the defence. A superb conversion from Evans lifted the lead to 10-0 and OLs appeared to be on their way to another comfortable win.
But they managed to fritter away possession and position and regularly got on the wrong side of the referee, although the official’s decisions did leave players and spectators on both sides somewhat bemused on occasions. Barkers sensed an opportunity and lifted their game to score two tries, first when a penalty attempt was drifting wide of the posts and hung in the air, a Barkers chaser sneaking in to steal the ball from under the noses of OL’s defenders and touch it down.
Then OLs won possession from a close in Barkers lineout but contrived to cough it up and present the home side’s number 10 with a simple run in. Both tries were converted and the teams turned round at the break with Barkers holding a 14-10 lead.
Eight minutes into the second half, OLs scored the try that regained the lead and marked the turning point in the game. OL’s pack was down to seven after an earlier yellow card for Paul Willis but won a scrum under pressure, deep in their own half. The ball was moved right for Iain Wallis to slice through the Barkers defence with a lovely break and feed Simon Bayliss, the wing running in from fifty metres with his customary pace and verve.
Three minutes later and Richard Parker sent Bayliss away again. This time the wing was tackled but not held, regaining his feet to go over from thirty metres out and hoist the score to 20-14.
Barkers pegged three points back with a penalty, but OLs were now in full stride and dominating possession and territory. First Evans kicked a penalty after Glenn Todd and Carl Adams made deep inroads into the defence. Then Bayliss turned creator and finisher after twenty five minutes, coming off his wing to make a half break in midfield and send Brightwell away. The left wing made good ground before switching the ball back inside for Bayliss to round off a second half hat trick of tries, Evans converting for 28-17.
As the clock ran down, Parker’s surging run breached the defence but an attempted offload went loose. A poor Barkers clearance kick found Ben Wiles in space and the centre ran strongly to go over for the final try, Evans adding the goal points to round off the scoring.
The first half performance fell well below the standard set over the last two months, but there was always enough in it to demonstrate that OLs should pull away and win this one, evidenced by Jamie Brightwell’s great try early on.
A well organised and competitive Barkers pack kept the OL’s eight well occupied throughout, but some key moments were won that tipped the balance. The strength of the OL’s back line was demonstrated by the fact that four of the five tries came directly from set pieces, three of them falling to Simon Bayliss to boost his seasonal total to an incredible 25, of which all but one have come in 1st team games. Simon is seeking the services of an insurance expert in the club as he requires cover against the cost of jugs!
The referee pulled off an unusual, if not unique, feat in upsetting both sets of supporters equally as he set out to display his mastery of the whistle. In the final analysis the effect on the game was probably neutral as both sides had their share of the breaks from his decisions.
Report by Bill Wallis
Warwickshire League 1
Stratford upon Avon 2nd XV 7 – Old Laurentian 2nd XV 26
After the disappointment of last weeks stitch up, OL’s 2nds travelled to Stratford for the return league fixture.
After the impeccably observed minutes silence in respect of the passing of OL’s legend Kevin Jones, it was the hosts who applied the early pressure. However after some solid defence it was OLs on the attack
Pressure was applied to a Stratford lineout on their 22 and the ball was turned over and fed quickly to Will Sinclair, who showed a good turn of pace to outstrip the defence and score the first try of the game, converted try Harry Bryan.
It was OLs on top now, the pack being driven forward by the excellent Howard Harris at scrum half. With the front row of McEwan, Hammond and the Fish in fine form, Joel Gleghorn and evergreen Eddie were delivering good ball from the line out
From another solid scrum just inside the home half the ball was moved to Harry Bryan who broke the line and fed the Toe, entering the line at full pace. Cato took the ball to within 10 metres of the try line and gave a perfect pass to the returning Matt Miller, who scored in the corner.
OLs back line were on fire and from a turnover in their own 22 the ball was moved the full width of the pitch and this time it was young Dom Hammond giving a pass to Miller whose storming run brushed off and outpaced everything the Stratford defence could throw at him before he scored in the corner, the try magnificently converted by Harry Bryan. This was, without doubt, a contender for the try of the season.
The half ended on a bit of a downer with the hosts scoring a fortuitous converted try for a score at the break of 19-7 to OLs.
The second half was more somewhat more sedate, with the home team’s spoiling tactics and the referee seemingly wanting to slow the game down at every opportunity being the dominant factor
To be fair to the hosts, they were having their best spell but stout defence led by OLs back row of Disco, Dave Longrigg and the again excellent James Melvin repelled everything the hosts could throw at them
OLs then lost the try burglar Webb and he was replaced by the new son of Deano, Pete Nealon, who announced his return with a crunching tackle on the Stratford wing, knocking him into next week. Further changes were made with Gav Randall replacing the long kicking 2nd row Gleghorn and sting Ray Smith on for waiter McEwan.
OLs finally delivered the killer blow with 10 minutes remaining, Dan Volkman picked the large and dangerous Stratford 10 and drove him back 10 yards with the ball turned over. The OLs backline again moved the ball quickly to Miller, who notched his hat trick with another outstanding finish.
A solid performance from the 2nds gives the team a platform to finish the season in style. Special mentions to the returning Matt Miller and Harry Bryan, who were both class acts; and to Melv, who gets better week by week
For one member of the OLs team it wasn’t their final act of the day, Joel Gleghorn collecting his first three points of the season for going too quickly on the way home. Apparently the unmarked squad car was as much a surprise as the Bernai playing for the first team.
Report by Dean Cobley
OLs 3rds 5-86 Loughborough Colts
On arriving at Fenley Field on Saturday, the thirds were impressed to see that the opposition had already arrived. Not only were they parked up and off the bus, but their sons were playing a vigorous and skilful game of touch on the first team pitch whilst Dad doubtless enjoyed a pre-match chat in the warmth of the clubhouse.
So impressed were the third team with the youngsters display that several gathered outside to watch, nodding their heads sagely and encouraged for the future of the game at the sight of such enthusiastic exuberance from ones so young.
As kick off approached, the grim reality dawned. There were no Dads.
“Try to keep it under 50 . . .!” was the cry of encouragement from a departing member off to watch the firsts.
From the kick off Loughborough secured the ball, the forwards supplied quick ball which went through the scrum half’s hands and to the 10 who sent out a bullet of a pass to his left about 12 feet in front of any of his team mates. He had completely missed the centres.
“What folly!” Thought the OLs “Instead of being so flash he should have just passed to th . . . “
whoosh!
Something very fast hit the ball. It was black with blond on top. With jaw dropping speed, it took the ball unopposed down field and over the line.
A split second later the threes realised this was not a stealth bomber in a toupee but the Loughborough full back scoring their first points of the afternoon.
Not to worry, there was plenty of time. Under the posts, Captain Middleton impressed on the shell shocked home side the importance of keeping the ball and slowing the game down.
Almost immediately after the re-start, OLs found themselves in possession and, following these orders to the letter, a rolling maul was set up and began to move toward the Loughborough try line. The ball was released at just the right time and Rich Hughes scored a fine try - unconverted by White.
Loughborough were about to get more than they bargained for. I guess somewhere around 60 points more. For that was about the last serious threat that the OLs posed.
Loughborough looked like the All Blacks and, at times, played like them. Those that were not lightning fast were big. Some were fast and big.
Their support play was such that, providing a ball was thrown backwards out of the tackle, it would be caught and another relentless phase would begin. Many tackles were made by the OLs and many missed. Notable tackling performances from Rhys Wade and the ever improving team apprentices, Brimley and Sullivan could only temporarily stem the torrent of black death being visited on the Thirds.
Half time came and went but the slaughter continued.
Shortly after half time and joy of joys, Loughborough began to rotate their replacements. Well, can’t be too careful eh lads?
To their credit and in testament to their character, the home side competed very well in the set piece, winning plenty of line out and several scrums against the head.
When OLs managed to tie them up in the tackle, Loughborough found it hard to compete with them in the tight. But, playing against defence weary opposition, sooner or later, Loughborough always found a way through.
Towards the end of the game, as if to mock the afflicted, front row players were taking the conversions and the wildest of cross field kicks found another pacy, jumping winger who scored at the death.
Can’t wait for the away leg!
Report by Tim Chambers
