10 Oct 09
Midlands 2 West (South)
Old Laurentians 33 – Newbold on Avon 8
The strong rivalry between these two clubs produced a match of high intensity, which would be the case even without the league points on offer to add that extra spice to the clash. Laurentians took the honours, and the points, with the largest winning margin in this encounter for some years.
But to do so they had to withstand a period of strong pressure from the Newbold side midway through the second half when a score by the visitors would have put the game back into the balance. But some outstanding defence kept them at bay before OLs moved up a couple of gears to secure a comfortable win.
Both sides displayed early nerves, OLs almost capitalising on a fumble by Newbold’s Viggers when a shrewd kick by Ben Wiles came close to putting Iain Wallis in for a try. Then from the five metre scrum that followed, OLs spilled possession and Bold cleared downfield.
But the first score wasn’t long in coming, Wiles putting over a fine penalty from 40 metres after Newbold were caught offside. The riposte from the visitors was swift, Richard Allen putting in a long, raking penalty to give Bold a lineout just ten metres from OLs line. The ball was won, driven on then released quickly to the left where Dave Barclay ran in for the game’s first try and give Newbold the lead at 5-3 after fifteen minutes play.
OLs were dominating territorially and from the re-start their pressure won a penalty on the 22, Wiles putting the kick over to restore OL’s lead at 6-5. But Newbold hit straight back to force a penalty that Allen converted to put his side ahead by 8-6 after twenty minutes and on just their second foray into OL’s territory, the last score they would record.
By now OLs had the upper hand in the contest, their pack competing effectively and Paul Willis and Ben O’Riordan winning all their own lineout ball, with the aid of Mark Todd’s pinpoint throwing, and regularly spoiling their opponents’ possession.
Twice OLs came close to tries in the next ten minutes, first when Denzil Evans’ finely judged crossfield kick found Simon Bayliss, but the right wing just failed to catch the ball cleanly as he crossed the line; then Glenn Todd drove over from close range but the referee ruled that he hadn’t grounded the ball. But the pressure told when Newbold conceded a penalty on their 22 and Wiles kicked his side back into the lead at 9-8 after 33 minutes.
As half time approached, another OLs attack finished with a knock on. But at the following scrum the Newbold eight were driven back, Carl Adams won the ball and with Glenn Todd took it on to the line before the ball was moved smartly right, where Evans went over with a man spare outside him. Wiles converted the try for a 16-8 lead to OLs at half time.
The first part of the second period yielded little until a mild skirmish produced yellow cards for OL’s Parker and Newbold’s Miller. Then Bold’s forwards lifted their game to put OLs under heavy pressure, the home side holding out with some fine defence to keep them scoreless.
OLs lifted the siege and, shortly after the half hour mark, lock Ben O’Riordan drove deep into the visitors’ defence, fly half Wiles put in a steepling kick and Bold’s back three conceded a scrum under heavy pressure. OL’s skipper Carl Adams picked up at the base and deftly offloaded to Bayliss from a tackle, the wing speeding over for a try on the right and a 21-8 lead.
Four minutes later a tremendous drive by OL’s pack forced the Newbold eight back fully 25 metres and when the ball was released centre Wallis splintered the Bold midfield defence in a mazy run and prop Chris le Poidevin finished off the move with a try to extend his side’s lead to 26-8.
Minutes later Wallis repeated the treatment to slice through the defence again, the ball reached Evans and his astute crossfield kick gave Bayliss the chance to outstrip the cover and touch down, Wiles converting handsomely for the final score of the game.
This win pushes OLs up to second place in the league table and leaves Newbold languishing dangerously close to the bottom. But they showed plenty in this game to demonstrate that they can fight their way out of danger and climb the table to a safer position. The occasion produced a great match, played in a good spirit before a large and enthusiastic crowd in the best traditions of this long standing encounter.
Report by Bill Wallis
Friendly
Old Laurentians 3rd XV 24 – Lutterworth 3rd XV 5
The curtain raiser to the main event at Fenley Field on Saturday saw a strong third team take on Lutterworth.
The OLs frustration at the late arrival of their opponents denying them the opportunity of seeing all of the first team clash was channelled effectively in the first ten minutes of the match as forward domination was established and the OLs intentions made clear.
The back row of George Raps, a returning Richard Foxon and the impressive John Dennik were quick to the breakdown and solid in the tackle eventually earning a try from Foxon after 25 minutes. Welcome back.
Despite the continuing bossing of the game by the OLs pack at set piece and in the loose, most of their first half possession was squandered with an Arsenalesque desire to over - complicate and score the perfect try.
A debut try for Dennik toward the end of the half, converted by Rigg, was the only addition to their tally despite the vast majority of possession and the thirds turned around 12 - 0 to the good.
An early rally from Lutterworth at the start of the second half saw them score their only points of the game by way of a try after some obdurate OLs defending but normal service was soon resumed and Kyle Knott playing his first ever game at Fly Half was able to get the backs running - and run they did, with the back three strike runners of Coburn, Ryan Edwards and Phil Walters seeing plenty of ball, but it was to be a forward who scored next. Half way through the second half saw the, now omnipresent, Dennik render the Lutterworth defence impotent as he powered through to score his second try, of what will surely be many, for the OLs. Rigg was able to convert and OLs played out the rest of the game in the Lutterworth half.
Despite a line out that misfired at times, the scrummage was working well with several won against the head and OLs had too much for this Lutterworth side. As the clock ran down, Rigg, now filling in for the injured Cooper at scrum half sent a chip over the Lutterworth centres, a hack on, a lucky bounce and a footrace for the ball resting over the line and Rigg brought his personal tally for the match to 9 points with the final try of the third's afternoon.
Report by Tim Chambers
