07 Nov 09
Midlands 2 West (South)
Old Laurentians 28 – Silhillians 10
Silhillians arrived at Fenley Field on Saturday with an unbeaten record in the league this season, but left without it after a fine all round performance by OLs saw them cruise through to an ultimately comfortable victory.
Sils have always been a tough nut to crack and this season have added more pace and variety to their game, their back line, with centre Doherty running strongly, testing OL’s defence more than once. Although OLs started brightly, Ben Wiles going close early on, it was Sils who drew first blood when Gray kicked a penalty for an 11th minute lead.
Wiles kicked an equalising penalty on 19 minutes after a wave of Laurentian attacks had been held. But five minutes later Silhillians hit back after the ball had been moved sharply left from a quickly taken penalty, Powell created the opening and fly half Gray finished well for a try under the posts, adding the goal points himself for a 10-3 lead to the visitors.
OLs responded with a try directly from a scrum on Sils ten metre line when a copy book passing move, with full back Scott Wiles up in the line, delivered the ball to Simon Bayliss on the right, the winger making a lot of ground before switching the ball back inside to Iain Wallis who went over wide out. The conversion faded wide to leave Sils holding a 10-8.lead after thirty minutes play.
After Glenn Todd just failed to make the line after a long kick and chase, Sils mounted one of several sharp counterattacks from deep and were pressing in OL’s 22 when they lost the ball, the ever alert Dave Longrigg snapping it up to send Scott Wiles away on a long and elusive run. The full back found Iain Wallis up in support on half way and the centre cut inside to score his second try, Ben Wiles converting to give OL’s a 15-10 lead at half time.
The second half was largely one way traffic with Sils being pinned back in their own half for much of it. OL’s pack was delivering good possession from all phases of play and their backs were moving the ball well, Bayliss looking dangerous on the right wing and Grant Inch just being held after a penetrating and pacey run down the other flank.
After eighteen minutes play, a penetrating run by Steve Pike led to a try for scrum half Richard Parker and a 20-10 lead after the conversion was missed. Parker again tested the visitors’ defence with a long break, his attempted chip over the last defender just being retrieved and scrambled away. More OL’s pressure, and a steal of a Sils lineout ball, led to a penalty by Ben Wiles for a 23-10 lead after half an hour.
Silhillians were rarely crossing the halfway line now and when they did threaten OL’s line, their lineout was disrupted and they found themselves defending 50 metres back. Ben Wiles used quick possession to run at the defence, off loaded the ball well to Parker and the scrum half’ again broke through to find Pike on his shoulder, the number 8 bursting through at pace for a try to round off the scoring.
A good win against dangerous opponents, one that OLs needed urgently to stay in touch with the leading group in the league. Richard Parker had another great game at the base of the scrum, always asking questions of the opposition back row and deservedly getting his name on the score sheet. Named man of the match was number 8 Steve Pike, like Parker a try maker as well as scorer. And the Todd brothers got through their usual massive workload, always in the game and always competing.
One question being posed on Saturday was whether three pairs of brothers had ever turned out in a 1st XV game for OLs before – namely Todd, Wallis and Wiles. Mike Lewis will be scouring his memory and the archives!
Report by Bill Wallis
Warwickshire League 1
Old Laurentian 2nd XV 22 – Broadstreet 2nd XV 22
On a perfect day for rugby, Fenley Field hosted the top of the table clash with Broadstreet 2nd XV. With both sides unbeaten the expectation from each was high going into this game. But it was the toughest test by far to be faced by the 2nds this season, the visitors playing their 1st team rugby three leagues above OLs, in National 2.
The visitors scored an early penalty, but it was the hosts who came out of the blocks quickest, the front row of Hammond, McEwan and Le Poidevin looking solid in the early scrums.
After five minutes of OL’s pressure and with a two man overlap, the Broadstreet winger intercepted a pass on his own line and ran the length of the field to score a converted try.
This rocked the home side and the visitors quickly scored another try out wide giving them a 15-0 lead.
Despite the score line it was OLs who were in command and from a driving line out at halfway, OLs put together four phases of play with Volkman and Hayes carrying the ball hard before it was released to the backs, Dean Graham stepping and forcing his way over the line for a try converted by Ben Roberts.
Immediately after it was OLs again on the attack and by now their back row of Foxon, Dennick and Coleman had a stranglehold on the game, pressurising Broadstreet into regular mistakes.
The hosts then disrupted a lineout in the visitors 22 and Jabba thundered through to score in the corner.
From the kick off it was again OLs putting the phases together, but a surprise turnover on the visitors’ 22 enabled them to run in another converted try for a half time score of OLs 12, Broadstreet 22.
The second half began in the same vein with OLs in rampant form, Rhys Wade and skipper Ricky Reed using their experience and the breeze to pin the visitors back.
A superb break from Danny Murch enabled the ball to be recycled quickly and it was Jabba again, collecting the ball out wide and thundering home for the try.
OLs sensed the game was there for the taking and the introduction of Jason King further added to the dominance of the OL’s pack and after a period of sustained pressure they struck again. A superb driving line out from the 22 to within yards of the try line allowed Reed to use his guile and drive over on the blindside to score and level the match.
Despite again pressing over the closing minutes OLs were unable to find the winning score they so richly deserved. For the second week running the Bernai had an effect on the match with many spectators agreeing that if he had watched the 1st XV instead we probably would have won!
This was an outstanding team performance and clearly demonstrates that OL’s 2nd XV is a force to be reckoned with and look forward to the return match with Broadstreet in the New Year
Report by Dean Cobley
