13 Feb 10
Midlands 2 West (South)
Newbold on Avon 7 - Old Laurentians 23
A strange game, this one! For a local derby that is normally brimful with tension and highly vocal support from the touchlines, it was a disappointment as it lacked both. OLs won it comfortably enough, as they were expected to do, and were never really troubled after Newbold’s opening flurry.
But the expected second half onslaught from the Fenley Field side didn’t materialise, their numbers reduced by two yellow cards and injury and perhaps feeling the effects of their third game in seven days. The Newbold side had much to do with that as well, their defence holding firm for long periods under a lot of pressure.
OLs took the field without the number 15 jersey as a mark of respect to the late Kevin Jones, who had filled that shirt with such distinction in his playing days, and weathered the early Newbold attacks when the home side should have drawn first blood but missed a penalty in front of the posts.
After some early forays had been held by the Bold defence, OLs scored a fine try after fourteen minutes that had all the elements of good rugby about it. They won a lineout on their ten metre line and drove the home eight back into their half, Glenn Todd took it on to set up a maul and quick ball gave Denzil Evans time and space. He made a half break and lofted a pass to Scott Wiles, arriving at pace from full back, who in turn released Jamie Brightwell for the winger to finish with his now familiar certainty and touch down in the corner, the conversion missing.
Five minutes on and another strong forward drive took OLs twenty metres towards ‘Bold’s 22, finishing with a penalty award which Evans slotted for an 8-0 lead. OLs pack were now driving their opposite numbers back almost at will and creating opportunities, Evans taking one to put over a further penalty as half time approached.
Then a strong run through midfield by Iain Wallis occupied several defenders and when the ball was released Ben Wiles sent Simon Bayliss away, the right wing running round to touch down under the posts. The normally reliable Evans unaccountably missed the conversion for a 16-0 half time lead.
With fifteen minutes of the second half gone and after several strong Laurentian attacks had been held by gritty Newbold defence they cleared their lines for an OL’s lineout twenty metres out. After a clean catch by Tom Gleghorn, OLs pack drove the ball back to the Newbold line and Glenn Todd got the touch down for a try that Evans converted to lift the score to 23-0.
Ben Wiles was cooling his heels on the touchline after seeing yellow when OL’s skipper Carl Adams, who was carrying a niggling injury, retired from the action to be replaced by Steve Pike. He in turn was yellow carded and much of the impetus drained from OL’s play, Newbold striking back with a well taken try by Dave Barclay after he snapped up a loose ball as an OL’s attack broke down on halfway. Ben Harrison converted to mark the end of the scoring and the game drifted to a low key finish.
Harry Bryan came on for his first taste of this local rivalry and frustratingly was forced to leave the field with a hamstring injury minutes later, the re-shuffle meaning that Chris le Poidevin moved back from prop to pack down as a flanker. But the warmest welcome was reserved for Martin Shaw, coming on for the final fifteen minutes for Bold, having already put in a stint for their Vets in the afternoon’s earlier game.
This win pushed OLs to the top of the table on points difference, albeit temporarily as Droitwich in second have a game in hand and third placed Worcester have two. But the result almost certainly condemned Newbold to relegation from Midlands 2, not a prospect viewed by OLs with any pleasure as these local derby games are the highlight of the season, normally creating big occasions and drawing large crowds.
OLs take a well earned rest this Saturday after a punishing run of games that has seen them move to the top of the league table and into the semi-finals of the Warwickshire Cup.
Report by Bill Wallis
Newbold vets 5 - 17 OL's Vets
A 1pm kick off after a late night send off was probably not the ideal start to a much anticipated double header a Parkfield Road.
Despite the ravages of injury, illness and intoxication, OLs were able to field a full, if weakened, team of veterans to face a Newbold side with an impressive record to defend. Of course, whether in a league, a cup or friendly fixture, all games are important; but some are considerably more important than others . . .
OLs kicked off straight to the ‘Bold Number 8 who, looking well for his 35+ years, wasted no time in bringing it straight back to the visiting forwards – a habit he clearly relished as he persisted in it all afternoon, and from the early exchanges, it was obvious that this was going to be a spiky, stop start affair.
Most of the first half was taken up with the two sets of forwards getting acquainted. Some were getting so well acquainted in fact, that a wing forward from either side was given a quiet 10 minutes to themselves away from the rest of the nonsense. With both down to 14 men neither side managed to capitalise on the situation but the game probably became more watchable for the spectators from both sides.
Although it took a couple of crowd pleasing “range finders” early in the half, the OLs lineout was working well with the second row pairing of Edwards and uber-veteran Spriggs winning most of the ball intended for them, and some that wasn’t.
Despite the apparent difference in size, and with typically robust performances from McEwan and King in the front row, the visiting side had the better of the scrummages throughout the game and this was to prove a decisive factor later on.
Endless rucks, mauls and scrums were pretty much the story of an ugly first half never lacking in commitment and peppered with penalties. No side were able, or willing, to unleash the backs or make much headway through the forwards with pressure in the OLs 22 being routinely diffused from the boot of Sir Mark Palmer, it was stalemate at half time and the oranges came on with no score to either side.
So . . . the forwards had had their fun in the first 40.
It was time to get the backs running and OLs committed to moving the ball through the phases in the second period. With the back row of Hammond, Middleton and Longrigg making the hard yards, the visitors began to get quick ball out to10 and beyond to the sleeping three quarters.
About 10 minutes in and OLs were awarded a penalty. White stepped up. The crowd hushed. A dog barked in the distance . . . fingers were crossed and hares feet in pockets stroked. A sweet strike, the cheer from the travelling Fenley Faithful carried the ball between the uprights. 3 points to the visitors, first blood to OLs.
With Sherriffs and Page entering the fray, and the centres coming into the game as planned, the vets began to make some in roads. Every kick over the top was carried back by Pete “The Bulldozer” Rigg and the forward machine rucked, mauled, scrummaged and wheezed its way upfield.
And then it happened.
An OLs attack through the forwards saw the ball released to Rhys Wade running the sweetest of angles. Wade made serious ground toward the try line and was tackled 8 metres out. With hands that could paint a Turner on a rollercoaster, the off load went straight to the midriff of Middleton who surged over for the try. As ball touched turf, the bells of St Botolph’s rang out in celebration and a shaft of sunlight pierced the leaden skies. White’s conversion made it 10 points to nil and the vets dared to dream.
The ‘Bold were not beaten and, as Kato left the field with a dislocated shoulder more replacements were brought on to bolster their attack. A series of penalties against them saw OLs defending a lineout on their 22.
The ball went out to the home side backs who were beginning to show some of the class that had earned them their unbeaten record. An infringement under the posts led to a tap penalty poorly defended by OLs and the young ‘Bold winger went over on the 15m line. The try was unconverted. 10 – 5.
From the restart with time running out, and an opposition energised by their score, the ‘Bold attack had added venom and pace and the 5 point lead began to look fragile. The fact that two of the home side went on to play for their Firsts in the later kick off is testament indeed to the fitness and aptitude of the Newbold Vets.
A White penalty that would have given OLs lead a cushion in the dying minutes was missed and the tension went up a few notches.
OLs were awarded a scrum on the Newbold 22. Now was the time to make hay from their scrummaging dominance. The ball was cleanly won and the drive decisive – a few yards on and Longrigg picked up and sprinted forward, unloading to Arbuthnott who managed, just, to squeeze through and avoid the attention of two defenders whilst diving through the tackle of a third to seal the game with a try under the posts converted by a now swaggering White.
The last play of the game was a long one and Newbold, fuelled by pride, tried in vain to get some face saving points on the board but eventually the ball was turned over, kicked for touch and it was OLs day.
The loss of their enviable and well earned record must have hurt the ‘Bold but they were as gracious in defeat as they had been obdurate in combat and were the finest of post match hosts.
Stopping smiling only to imbibe the sweetest of beer, the Vets enjoyed a memorable afternoon and a long, long night.
The game? For the most part, fractious, ugly and peppered with errors . . . an absolute classic.
Report by Tim Chambers
