13 Feb 10
Silhillians 3 - Old Laurentians 50
Although OLs have a good record at Silhillians Copt Heath ground, they have frequently had to dig deep to prevail against stubborn opponents who never relinquish the points easily. But the Fenley Field side entered this match with confidence high after a great sequence of wins and blew their opponents away with a devastating display of fifteen man rugby based on another dominant performance by the forwards.
The first score came just four minutes in, OLs retaining and recycling possession through several phases to set up an opening that Scott Wiles took in style to touch down. Five minutes later, Glenn Todd made it 10-0 when finishing off a great forward drive that set the pattern for the rest of the game. Such was OLs dominance in the opening exchanges that Sils only had the ball in their hands at restarts and then in a brief flurry after sixteen minutes when they successfully converted a penalty for 10-3, their first and last real scoring opportunity.
Silhillians held a relentless series of OLs attacks until the half hour mark when they were robbed at a scrum on half way and Scott Wiles scythed through their midfield defence. Iain Wallis took his pass to go over and Denzil Evans added the conversion for 17-3. Minutes later Evans initiated a counter attack from deep in OL’s half and Chris le Poidevin and Richard Parker took the ball on before it was switched inside to flanker Andy Orbinson who touched down, Evans converting for a half time score of 24-3.
Sils won an early lineout in the second half, the first success they had achieved in this phase of play, and mounted an attack through three or four phases for a rare excursion into OL’s 22. But this was held and OLs replied with a try that was swift and clinical in execution when Evans dummied an outside pass before deftly switching inside to scrum half Parker, who carved through untouched for a try under the posts, Evans conversion hoisting the score to 31-3.
As OL’s relentless pressure continued, Parker broke blind from a scrum on Sils 22 and Steve Pike took the ball at pace to go over in the corner. Then an Evans kick was followed up by Bayliss who harried the defenders into error and Ben Wiles, on as a replacement at full back for his brother Scott, snaffled the loose ball to go over, Evans adding the extra points to lift the score to 43-3.
In the closing minutes, the second of two storming runs by prop Ollie Cowley set up some great interplay between forwards and backs and Simon Bayliss finished the movement for the final try, Evans successful kick bringing up the fifty points.
OLs stay in third place in the league after this success as Droitwich, in second spot, travelled to leaders Worcester Wanderers and came away with a narrow win which maintains their two point advantage over the Bilton side. If both teams continue their winning ways, it could come down to a final showdown in the very last game of the season when OLs entertain Droitwich at Fenley Field.
Report by Bill Wallis
Old Laurentian 2nd XV 15 - Leamington 2nd XV 15
OL’s second team returned to league action with the return fixture against a much changed Leamington team from the first encounter
Despite a lively start from OLs, it was the visitors who took the lead with a simple back row move leading to a converted try. This spurred OLs into life and with the driving lineout going well, with Joel Gleghorn taking good ball, OLs had a period of sustained pressure leading to a penalty by cats eye Coburn
It was still OLs in the ascendancy and the back line with Lawrence Webb at 10 and the visiting Minnesota centre Dave Heebner beginning to settle, OLs looked even more threatening
From a line out on the opposition 22 OLs drove to the line, the ball was then taken on again by Geoff Capes’s love child Paul Amor who popped the ball to Coburn who cantered in from 2 yards to score
OLs were now in control of the game and with half time approaching they pushed to extend the lead. Matt Cockman was as ever crashing over the gain line and OLs again drove deep into the opposition 22
Leamington were now penned into their 22 and with the returning Rich Foxon and James Melvin swarming all over them Leamington were harassed into making a mistake near their own line which allowed try burglar Webb to pounce to score under the posts
Cato, who was having a good day, converted to give OLs a 15-7 half time lead
The second half started brightly and OLs spurned a great chance to wrap the game up. This seemed to galvanise Leamington, who then took control of the game and scored a try to set up a tense finish
OLs made some changes in an attempt to close out the game with skipper Reed retiring for Howard Harris to have a run at scrum half and the dangerous Dean Graham coming on in the back line. Ash McEwan was sent on to bolster the scrum, but it was the visitors who had the last say with a penalty to tie the scores
OLs, who generally competed well against a strong Leamington team, will be slightly disappointed with their second half performance and will no doubt look to get back to winning ways at Barkers Butts on Saturday.
The only other disappointment of the day was that our friends from Minneapolis didn’t get to see the Bernai, who was in hibernation for a week.
Report by Dean Cobley
AEI 37(ish) - Old Laurentian 3rds 0
It had been a while since these two sides had met, but a cursory glance at the results section of the AEI website would have given the threes an idea of what to expect from a visit to Hillmorton Road.
A full OLs side plus a couple of replacements had the garnish of youth about it with the welcome return of Chris Tew and Hugh Sullivan in the front row and Tom Middleton in his first start in green alongside father Dave in the back row.
From the off OLs dominated proceedings, running through several phases and culminating in a penalty within kicking range for Kev White on 3 minutes. White missed. Which was a shame as it was to be the only chance at some points the OLs would have all game. Domination over.
Ball in hand, AEI were a well drilled and capable outfit. It became apparent that the wider they went, the faster they got and it didn’t take long for them to get on the score sheet with a try after about 10 minutes followed by another in quick succession.
Despite sterling performances from Sullivan and Tew, the OLs scrum was creaking, and a succession of clean ball from the set piece saw AEI begin to play with a bit of swagger. It should be noted at this point that the home side fielded a French fly half, proof indeed of the task the Thirds faced.
OLs managed to nullify the opposition for long periods of a game notable for the number of scrummages set by the referee but, to the home side’s credit, nullification was about as good as it got.
Pick of the opposition was their number 4 aided and abetted by Kev White who saw fit to kick the ball to him at every opportunity.
As a couple more tries went over, it could easily have been a cricket score for AEI if it were not for some resolute defending and obdurate ball retention by the threes.
An outstanding defensive performance from debutant Tom Middleton, dogged brutality from Lawrence Sherriffs, a fine rucking performance from Gavin Randall, and an ever improving scrum served to keep the AEI honest and, despite the scoreline, OLs did play some Rugby at times.
The introduction of Josh Brimley and Pete Mawby (yes, Pete Mawby) shortly after half time added some fresh legs and a different dynamic to the scrum but AEI were able to keep on top with a pacey performance out wide and a steady drip feed of replacements and points.
Line outs were working well, and there were even a handful of scrums won against the head toward the end of the second half. Stand in scrum half Hughes, tried most tricks in his considerable repertoire but even these were to no avail. OLs couldn’t buy a point.
It was the hardest game the thirds have had for a while and they were beaten like a ginger step-child.
But, if there’s a better way to spend a cold February afternoon, we’ve yet to find it.
Report by Tim Chambers
