Game

Jan 10th
Powergen Midlands 1
Old Laurentians 23 v Luton 16

report to appear here soon

Jan 3rd
Powergen Midlands 1
Old Laurentians 10 v Bedford Athletic 31

This was always going to be a difficult game for us against table toppers Bedford Athletic.  It became more difficult just before kick off when winger Shane Betts pulled a muscle in the warm up and Grant Inch was delayed at work.  Graham Pettifer and Steve Pike came into the side in their place, with Inch dropping to the bench.  Within ten minutes a rout threatened as Bedford scored two tries, one converted, as well as missing a penalty from in front of the posts.  Bedford were quick to support the ball carrier and their swift passing created gaps for the two tries.  From that point on our defence settled and they rattled Bedford with the quality and fervour of their reply.  Bedford were forced to concede a penalty as our forwards drove forward and Denzil Evans reduced the deficit.  As our defence improved Bedford found it more difficult to make headway.  Tackles by Dave Wallis and Pike not only stopped Bedford attacks but they also gave a lift to the home side.  With Carl Adams and Gary Hammond leading the way we forced Bedford to defend deep in their own half.  We deservedly closed the gap with a finely executed move that let to Ed Wallis touching down.  Evans’ conversion from the touchline brought us to within two points of Bedford .  The game was finely balanced as half time approached.  We looked to have the advantage as we were awarded a penalty but we missed touch and Bedford broke out from their 22 and a couple of phases later they scored their third try.   This was a killer blow especially as the conversion left them nine points adrift.  We started the second half well to camp on Bedford ’s 22.  Paul Willis and Lawrence Sherriff provided plenty of line out possession but, despite plenty of endeavour, we did not possess the cutting edge to break down Bedford ’s defence.   Bedford raised the siege with a huge kick out of defence and for the remainder of the half both sides had periods of dominance although Bedford looked the more dangerous in possession. Too frequently we helped Bedford with poor line kicking, which eased the pressure on them.  The difference between the sides in the second half was Bedford’s classy full back Jon Wells who combined pace with power as he scored two tries, one of which was converted.   Bedford deserved the win that keeps them top of the division and in line for a quick return to National League 3.  However the score-line scarcely does justice to our contribution to an exciting game.  Adams showed what the side has missed by his long period of absence while Hammond once again led by example.  Paul Cutts did well on his league debut while the much-changed back division defended well after early problems.  The way the firsts came back from such a poor start to rock the league leaders says much for the team’s spirit despite their perilous league position.

Warwickshire 2^nd XV Cup Semi Final

Old Laurentian 2nds 0pts v Barkers Butts 2nds 24pts  

Up to the last ten minutes the seconds dominated possession and field position but a combination of good defending and poor attacking options meant they were unable to score.  In contrast Barkers made far better use of their limited chances.  They seemed to score every time they got close to our goal line.  Barkers took the lead with a first minute penalty after we made a mistake at the kick off.  We missed a penalty of our own as we camped in Barkers’ half.  A series of rucks and mauls stretched the visitor’s defence but the final pass was dropped with the try line begging.  A break by Rich Ramsden looked threatening but Barkers were able to snuff out the danger.  Minutes later we should again have taken the lead but a clear overlap was wasted as the ball carrier went for glory.  Barkers made us pay for their mistakes when they finally broke out of their half with a speculative kick.   Having almost scored when we failed to deal with the kick Barkers moved the ball to the other side.  We appeared to have dealt with the danger but we allowed Barkers winger to wriggle his way past a number of defenders to score.  The conversion put Barkers ten point clear after doing most of the defending.  A great run by Dave Wallis put Ade Cleaver in the clear but the winger just caught the line with his foot and the try was disallowed.  Barkers were reduced to 13 men when they collected two yellow cards, one on either side of the break.  Two strikes against the head were all that we had to show for their numerical advantage.  We were unable to turn position into points as their line-out failed and we continued to bring the ball back inside when the situation cried out for the ball to be moved wide to Cleaver and Grant Inch on the wing.  Barkers finally broke out of their half and almost increased their lead but a penalty attempt flew wide.  The decisive score came soon after when Barkers picked up a loose OL’s pass near half way to conjure up their second try, again converted.  Before the end Barkers’ big centre showed a fine turn of pace to break through the middle for a try under the posts, which was again converted.   The final score-line did not reflect the amount of possession and position enjoyed by us but it did reflect Barkers’ greater ability to take advantage of their scoring opportunities.  The team was indebted to fine displays by their young flankers Matt Bills and Mark Wilson who were well backed up by No 8 Dave Middleton.

Leamington 2nds 40pts v Old Laurentian 3rds 3pts

 The thirds were surprised to find themselves playing Leamington ’s second XV although their display in the first quarter did not show this.  They took the lead with a Kev White penalty and for the next quarter we kept on top as we ran the ball against the heavier Leamington pack.   Mid way through the half Leamington broke away to score their first try and from then on they controlled the game.  They scored two further tries before the break when we were still in contention.  After 15 minutes of the second half the situation had changed dramatically as Leamington ran in four tries in this period.   We managed to get some level of parity up front after this to keep Leamington from scoring again until minutes from time when they scored their eighth and final try.    James Morgan and James Melvin did well at prop as did Andre w Thorne at fly half while praise goes to all players especially those that played out of position to help the side.

Old Laurentian U-14 19pts v Silhillians U-14 27pts

This first post Christmas game proved to be a really good advert for junior rugby with both sides playing fluently and demonstrating both good individual and team play.  With OL’s dominating, Silhillians scored first against the run of play with a breakaway try.  Another breakaway try helped Silhillians extend their lead to 17-0.  After a quick penalty we came back into the game with a try from Frankie Fenwick-Wilson bringing the half time score to 17-7.

Silhillians got off to a good second half and soon increased their score to 22-7 with their fourth try.  Danny Murch replied with a good individual try.  Silhillians just kept coming back and again extended their score with some strong running.  We did not give up or let their heads drop.  Good forward play and good passing created the second try for Frankie Fenwick-Wilson, which brought the final score to 27-19.  The U-14’s showed determination and had a lot of possession against this strong side and look to continue their 2004 season where they left off.

Dec 27th
Warwickshire Cup
Southam 0 v Old Laurentians 51

After 3 months of frustration in Midland's 1 it was to be a cold December afternoon before OL's were finally able to show what they were capable of when they traveled to Southam for the first round of the Warwickshire Cup.

Both sides were no doubt feeling the after effects of the Christmas celebrations - to much food and too much alcohol are not the ideal preparation for a rugby match and for the first 15 minutes Southam were able to keep OL's at bay.  Despite the majority of the opening period being played in their opponent's half OL's were unable to breach a stubborn defence but when they did it was Dave Wallis playing at fly-half who was to cross the line for an unconverted try, 5-0.  Shane Betts was to go over next for OL's following some lovely play from the backs and with the conversion by Pikey and a 12-0 lead OL's began to look a lot more confident than they had been able to throughout their hard baptism in Midlands 1. Betts was close to going over again in the 37th minute but was held up on the line, from the resulting scrum Ian Wallis, unfortunately the conversion was wide and at half-time OL's were to hold a 17-0 lead.

Playing into the wind in the second half proved to be no obstacle for the OL's and with coach Stu Birch making a couple of substitutions the 2nd half was to be a case of even more of the same .... Ten minutes into the half, following a great break from Grant Inch that saw him gain some 60 metres, a OL's try was won and saw Mark Wilson cross the line to increase OL's lead to 22-0.

Grant Inch, who was to have an excellent game then went over the line following some more excellent work from the backs and then neatly slotted over his conversion 29 - 0.  Ian Wallis was to claim his second try to make the score 34-0 and a few minutes later claimed his hat-trick 39-0.

Grant Inch who, at full back was making some great breaks went over for his 2nd converted try, 46-0 and the game was rounded off by Shane Betts deservedly claiming his 2nd try of the game 51-0.

So, what was different in this game compared to others played, and unfortunately lost, this season?

Southam played and battled well starting and ending the game with a flourish, however the difference in league status was obvious and allowed the forwards to win the ball well before it being shipped to the backs who were able to play with the style and flair that they demonstrated last season.  Hopefully this victory will do much to restore the confidence in a side that perhaps begun to doubt itself - they have no need to - for when playing with confidence they are the OL's of past seasons, committed in the tackle, quick to release good ball and united as a team.  Well done guys and thanks for the Christmas present.

Next Saturday OL's play hosts to league leaders Bedford Athletic and on this showing the second half of the season could well prove to be an upset for some of the visitors to Fenley Field.

Dec 20th

Powergen Midland 1

Scunthorpe 54pts v Old Laurentians 8pts

Cold, wet conditions meant that dry ball rugby was a high-risk option. With the elements in their favour Scunthorpe scored a try virtually from kick off and they soon followed with a penalty.  OL's worked their way back into the game with Denzil Evans kicking a penalty.  Soon after the visitors equalized with a try of their own.  Paul Willis won a line out and the pack drove over the line with Jason King claiming the touch down.  Scunthorpe came back strongly to score two tries, one converted, to lead 20-8.  OL's exerted some pressure and Denzil Evans was just wide with a drop goal attempt, as OL’s tried to close the gape before the interval.  For 15 minutes of the second half OL's were parked in the Scunthorpe 22 but did not have the power to batter their way through the home defence. From then on Scunthorpe took advantage of inconsistent defending as poor OL's tackling started to let them down.  Scunthorpe added a penalty and five tries, three of which were converted, in the last quarter to round off a handsome win.  Once again OL’s had to re-arrange the side at the last moment when Mark Owen and Dave Hunt cried off.  This allowed skipper Ricky Reed to play his first game for several weeks and both he and Butch Reeve, in for Hunt, acquitted themselves well.   Willis and Lawrence Sherriffs both competed well in the line out and Denzil Evans was combative throughout the match. Matt Bills showed promise when he came on for his first team debut in the final 15 minutes.  

Dec 13th
Powergen Midland 1

Old Laurentians 19pts v Scunthorpe 33pts

In a match sponsored by Gator Design, OL’s were deservedly ahead at the interval and had the opportunity to claim their first league win of the season against the top try scorers in the league. 

Although Scunthorpe forged ahead in the second half OL’s pulled themselves back to be only 6 points behind towards the end of the game OL’s and could still scent a win.  Two late scores to Scunthorpe finally gave them victory but for the second week running the score line did not do justice to the OL’s.  Two late changes saw Dave Hunt return to the front row with Graham Pettifer replacing Ade Cleaver on the wing.    As one wag in the crown put it ‘we hadn’t got the bus journey out of our legs’ when visitors Scunthorpe took a first minute lead with a penalty from Robinson.  The visitor’s infringed after Sherriffs won a Scunthorpe line out and Denzil Evans equalised with a 40-metre penalty, the ball, sponsored by ex-Chairman Brian Beckett, soaring over the crossbar.  The home side took the lead with a brilliant try started inside their own half by Paul Willis and Jason King.  Swift handling in the backs gave Shane Betts the chance to set-up Ian Wallis for the try under the posts, which Evans converted.   Mark Owen the created greater pressure by robbing his opposite scrumhalf but Scunthorpe managed to hold out.  Evans increased the lead with a drop goal, which was quickly cancelled out by a second Robinson penalty.  Fine play in mid-field almost led to a Matt Brown try as OL’s looked to press home their territorial advantage.  Scunthorpe were dangerous on the break and Dave Longrigg did well twice to get back to cover and clear.  With the wind in their favour OL’s looked for more points to give them a half time cushion but a missed tackle allowed the visitors to break through for Callum Davies to score.  With the wind against them and only a two point lead OL’s knew they had a lot of work to do in the second half.  In their favour was the performance up front where OL’s were matching their guests and winning their share of possession.  OL’s started the half brightly with a run by Chris Wade but a missed tackle once again led to a try this time scored by Scunthorpe’s No 10, Ben Sherwood, which Robinson converted.  Scunthorpe had the edge, and the wind, at this stage but their next try scored by flanker Jim Bullock owed much to a missed knock-on.  Robinson again converted.  Another try looked a certainty as Scunthorpe pack put in a big drive but OL’s managed to recover the ball in time.  The home side returned to the attack and Scunthorpe were forced to concede a string of penalties to keep out the home tem.  Evans stepped up to kick his third penalty and OL’s were only 6 points adrift.  This was soon nine points as Sherwood flopped a drop goal over the bar as Scunthorpe finished the stronger.  They let slip a great opportunity when they failed to capitalise on a big overlap but a fine passage of support play led to the final try by Mick Coult.  This was a disappointing end for the OL’s who had given themselves every chance to win with a fighting performance.  Hunt, Hammond and King did wonders in the front row while Willis and Sherriffs won their line out battle.  Smith was something like his old self in the back row where Wade put in a tremendous amount of hard, if often un-noticed, work.  In the threes Ian Wallis had an improved game in the centre while Betts was a handful with the ball in his hands.  On Saturday OL’s play the return game with Scunthorpe.

All pictures courtesy of Rugby Advertiser, hard copies available from Zoe Ashton zoe.ashton@hoenews.com 

Old Laurentians 2nds 12pts v Manor Park 1sts 27pts

OL’s started brightly against a bigger side with backs and forwards combining well to cause a few problems for the visitor’s defence.  Even in the early stages Manor Park ’s pack looked to be a crucial factor in the game and so it proved as they took the lead with a converted pushover try.  OL’s also caused themselves problems with the high number of penalties they conceded that frequently allowed Manor Park to clear their lines.  OL’s looked dangerous when they managed to string together a number of phases and at the end of one of these Rich Ramsden squeezed through the defence for a try.  After the break OL’s cut down the penalty count but Manor Park continues to trouble them with their driving forward play.  From a line out the visitors pack drove over for their second try and soon after they extended the lead with a penalty.  With 50% possession and territory OL’s ought to have done better but they were not forceful enough at the breakdown allowing Manor Park to slow down the ball.  Still in the hunt with a quarter of the game to go OL’s were hit twice on the counter attack as Manor Park took the decisive lead.  A speculative kick out of defence from Manor Park bounced wickedly for OL’s straight back into the visitors hands and away they went for their third try.  OL’s responded by throwing the ball around and a break from their own 22 created a two man overlap only for the try-scoring pass to be intercepted and Manor Park touched down at the other end.  The successful kick took the game out of OL’s reach but they responded well for the versatile Steve Pike to score a try from a quickly taken penalty.  The second row, come full back, come centre converted.  Matt Bills continued his string of impressive performances with Rich Hayes doing well in the second row.  Merv McConville looked sharp as he continues his come back until going off with a hand injury.

Manor Pak 2nds 31pts v Old Laurentians 3rds 7pts

Dec 6th
Powergen Midlands 1

Old Laurentian 1sts 18pts v Dunstablians 1sts 38pts

OL’s were again forced to field a much changed side with scrum-half Mark Owen and prop Peter Harris making their first team debuts.  Jason King joined Harris in the front row for a rare league appearance this season.  Against sixth place Dunstablians OL's made a bright start to take an early lead from a Denzil Evans’ penalty.  Dunstablians drew level with a penalty form Hvass.  Unlike previous games OL’s made their early pressure tell to take the lead.  Mark Owen robbed his opposite number and OL’s were stopped on the line.  Winger Ade Cleaver was obstructed as he chased his own kick but the resultant penalty was missed.  Finally the score OL’s deserved came when Dunstablians lost the ball against the head close to their line for Owen to get the touch down.  Hvass reduce the lead with his second penalty as the game swung from end to end.  Good defence kept out Dunstablians before a line out catch and drive almost led to a second OL’s try.  OL’s were not letting their opponents settle although Dunstablians backs looked dangerous.  A weaving run by Cleaver led to a penalty.  Instead of going for goal OL’s kicked for the corner but Dunstablians were equal to the resulting drive by the pack.  OL’s went further ahead from an Evans penalty and they looked to be taking a lead into the interval.  Unfortunately a loose clearing kick was returned with interest as Dunstablians score the equalising try.  OL’s injury run went form bad to worse when Harris went off to be replaced by Dan Volkmann.   Dunstablians upped the pace at the start of the second half and their threes put together a number of slick passing movements.  However they took the lead with a simple move when their fly half ran straight through tackles to set up a try.  They went further ahead when Dunstablians capitalised on a charged down kick after OL’s had turned the ball over.  Evans just failed with a long-range penalty as the ball dipped under the bar and a drop goal attempt by the same player flew narrowly wide.  OL’s pressed to reduce the lead.  Eventually the visitors broke out only to be denied by a Matt Brown tackle.  Excellent support play combined with fast passing eventually broke down the OL's defence for another Dunstablians try.  OL’s were not prepared to lie down and stormed back.  Paul Willis and Jason King ere tackled just short of the line and when the ball went wide it was only desperate defending the prevented a try.  Dunstablians were relieved when they got the ball into touch some 30 metres out.  They hadn’t taken into account the OL’s pack, which drove the Dunstablians over their line from the line out for Gary Hammond to claim the try, converted by Evans.  With the teams separated by 8 points OL’s looked to close the gap but a severe knee injury to Volkmann disrupted the fight back.  Pete Drewitt came on as replacement to make his league debut with David Longrigg moving to the front row.  This seemed to lift Dunstablians who finished strongly to score two further tries.  The second came with a breakout from their own.22metre line to give the shoreline a distinctly lopsided look.   A fine effort by OL’s that once again demonstrates they have the ability to compete with even the higher sides in Midland I.  Mark Owen made an impressive debut, as did Pete Harris before he was injured and Jason King added much needed experience in the pack. 

Warwickshire 2^nd XV Cup – Quarter Final

Coventry Welsh 0pts v Old Laurentians 41pts

In the early stages the home pack competed on equal terms with the OL’s but once the Laurentians moved the ball wide the home side struggled.  OL’s took the lead with a penalty from second-row Steve Pike who throughout the match showed the running skills from his days on the wing.  It was his good work that set up the opening try for the lively Dave Wallis.  Pike converted this try but wasn’t so successful with his next attempt following a try from flanker Matt Bills, which came as the result of a run by Graham Hallam.  Skipper Ed Wallis was injured in the move that led to the try and had to be replaced.  His side continued to flourish and a quickly taken tap penalty by Dom Deery caught the Welsh napping and centre Trom scored the third try, converted by Pike.  Playing up the slope in the second half Welsh surprised their visitors with a series of attacks.  Using the rolling maul to good effect the home side forced OL’s onto the defensive.  OL’s found it difficult to combat the mailing but good defence, especially by Bills and Dave Middleton, prevented the Welsh from scoring.  As Coventry Welsh tired in the last quarter OL’s ran in three further tries.  Graham Pettifer made the running for Dave Wallis’ second try and then veteran flanker Dom Marsella found him self free on the wing when the ball landed in his lap and he went over for a try.  A fine run by Dave Wallis put Pete Rigg and the posts. Two conversions from Pike completed the scoring.   Middleton, Bills and Dave Wallis were prominent in a fine team performance while Deery kept things going from scrumhalf.   OL’s have now reached the semi final for the third time in recent years

Old Laurentian 3rds 53pts v Old Leamingtonian 3rds 3pts

With their strongest team for some weeks Laurentians gave a fine team performance to overcome committed opponents who competed well until tiring in the second half.  The home side scored nine tries, four of them converted.  There were two each for James Morgan, Charlie Terney and Steve Thompson who had a lively game at fly half.  Merv McConville, making a welcome return, scored one, as did flanker Martin Storey.  Pete Rigg kicked three conversions with Kev White claiming one.  James Morgan and McConville scored the pick of the tries.  Morgan made a break from his own half to core while McConville outpace Old Leams defence as he chased a clearing kick from his own 22.  Rich Hayes was in good form at No 8.

Nov  29
Powergen Midlands 1
Broadstreet 1sts 28pts v Old Laurentians 1sts 8pts

Old Laurentians could not prevent Broadstreet from continuing their recent run of success as the home side won this clash of Warwickshire sides.  Broadstreet had the edge for most of the match but the key moment came right on half time when Broadstreet scored their fourth try as OL’s had the chance to score their second.  This gave the home side a 12-point lead while an OL score would have seen the sides within two points at the break.  Broadstreet announced their intensions right from the start.  Two early penalties were kicked into touch instead of going for goal.  From the second the Broadstreet pack drove over for the opening try.  Leading league points scorer Bond was unsuccessful with the conversion, which was the start of a surprisingly poor kicking display throughout the game.   OL’s drew level following a good catch from a drop out by Paul Willis.  Good work by Ramsden, Evans, Cleaver and Betts paved the way for Matt Brown to outpace a number of defenders to score an unconverted try.  OL’s joy did not last long as Broadstreet regained the kick off for powerful centre Andrew Skene to scatter the defence.  From the resultant ruck Broadstreet had a big overlap and they duly scored their second try to regain the lead.  The game settled in mid-field for a while with OL’s having more play territorially.  Throughout the game Broadstreet’s mid field triangle looks dangerous and another break in the centre led to Skene scoring Broadstreet’s third try.  OL’s came back strongly for Denzil Evans to land a penalty but Broadstreet finished the half strongly to put pressure back on OL’s.  Excellent tackling kept the home side out and when the ball was turned over OL’s suddenly had a four to one overlap.  Although still inside their 22 this was an excellent chance for OL’s to break away and score.  Unfortunately the visitors made a hash of their opportunity and Broadstreet swooped on a loose ball to score their fourth unconverted try.   With the elements against them OL’s needed a good start to the second half but an early penalty gave Bond the chance to extend the lead with a penalty.  OL’s injury list lengthened when Barba came off to be replaced by Andy Coleman in the front row.  The game became very scrappy with both sides making numerous errors.  OL’s defence did well to hold Broadstreet at bay until a driving maul led to the home side’s fifth try.  As in a number of games OL’s finished strongly to camp in Broadstreet’s half.  Poor control of the ball gave Broadstreet too many chances to clear their line.  OL’s had their opportunities during this spell but they failed to gain any tangible reward for their efforts.  Broadstreet gained their reward for taking their chances far better than the OL’s who had sufficient possession to have made the score line closer.

Old Laurentian 2nds 3pts v Broadstreet 2nds 72pts

OL’s long injury list meant that the seconds took the field with many of their team playing in unfamiliar positions.  Good defending kept Broadstreet in check for the first half but after the interval the visitors exploited the home team’s weaknesses to run in 43 points.  Ben Slater started his first game in four years for the OL’s and to accommodate him at scrum half Steve Thompson moved to fly half.  Good work by Matt Bills and Ray Smith kept the score down in the first half but Broadstreet still managed five tries plus two conversions.  OL’s reply was an excellent long-range penalty from Kev White while they lost Pete Harris to another injury.  After the interval Broadstreet played well to score a further seven tries plus four conversions.  A special mention for a slim line Matty Munn who gave a brave performance at prop despite losing loads of weight during the summer.

Nov 8th
Powergen Midlands 1
Bedford Athletic 46 - Old Laurentians 6

Injuries and late call offs again disrupted the OL's side seeing Rich Ramsden called up to cover for injured skipper Ricky Reed and Ed Wallis covering for the absent Grant Inch, even the semi-retired - and current physio, Dom Marsella was forced to don the OL's strip as a replacement.  Playing with a spirit and character that had been lacking in previous games this season OL's made Bedford Athletic work hard for their victory and, until their opening, converted try in the 12th minute Bedford had been kept at bay in their own half by an excellent performance by OL's however the Bedford backs, with ball in hand proved to be a convincing threat.  It was to be another 10 minutes before Bedford were able to breach the OL's defence again with a penalty to make the score 10 - 0.  OL's continued to play with total commitment with Carl Adams, Dan Volkmann and Gary Hammond setting the standard.  10 minutes later Bedford crossed the line with another try from the backs, following a scrum 15-0.  A Bedford penalty and subsequent converted try saw the home side take a 25 point lead before stand in skipper Denzil Evans ended the first half with a well stuck penalty 25 - 3.  The second half started the way the first had ended with another Evans penalty 25 - 6 but despite excellent play from OL's Bedford crossed the line again to extend their lead to 32 - 6.  OL's continued to try to move the ball to their backs but were unable to take advantage of some fine kicking from Evans and great runs from Ade Cleaver.  Bedford were to run in 2 more tries to make the final score 46 - 6, a score that flattered a side that, until this season, had been playing their rugby 2 levels higher than OL's.  Old Laurentians should not be disheartened by the result but instead be proud of the way they played against a side that boasts several imported players and a large player base.  I have been told that it is "bad form" to comment upon the quality of refereeing however mention must be made of the fact that again a referee assessor was in attendance to monitor the performance of the man in yellow and I, for one, would love to see his report - perhaps it might read "experience can not compensate for a lack of enforcement of the basic laws of the game - it should be remembered that forward passes and non-straight line out throws are normally penalised".  If that had been the case then a score of 32 - 6 would have been a fairer reflection of a game that was in no way one-sided.

Nov 1st
Powergen Midlands 1
Luton 23 Old Laurentians 13

Oct 25th

Oct 18th
Powergen Intermediate Cup
Old Laurentian 33pts v Leighton Buzzard 19pts

When OL's built up a 21-point lead mid-way through the second half they looked to be heading for a comfortable win against a side from Midland III.  Leighton Buzzard had other ideas and with the generous help from their hosts they clawed their way back to within seven points before OL’s steadied themselves to score again and pull clear.  Early signs were promising for the OL’s especially when Grant Inch ran through the centre from 40 metres to score under the posts, with Denzil Evans adding the extra points.  Although enjoying more of the play the home side was jolted when Leighton Buzzard intercepted an OL attack just outside their 22 and they ran up field for an unconverted try.   OL’s injury problem increased when prop Simon Storey was taken to hospital with an ankle injury but Butch Reeve was a solid replacement.  The game remained scrappy with OL’s doing well in the lineout with Leighton Buzzard offering a strong challenge in the scrums.  Ed Wallis, in for the injured Shane Betts, had a long run after a break by Inch before OL’s extended their lead.  Dan Vollkman finished off a powerful forward surge with an unconverted try.  The visitors missed chances to reduce the deficit when a penalty and drop goal went astray.  Cleaver, Ian Wallis and Hammond interpassed well to threaten the visitor’s defence before OL’s threw away a golden opportunity, failing to capitalise on a 3 to 1 advantage, the ball finally going harmlessly into touch with the line begging.  OL’s extended their lead soon after half time. Bob Barba initiated the attack and a long break by Ian Willis sent in Ade Cleaver for a try converted by Evans.  Dan Vollkman caught the re-start and broke straight through Buzzard’s defence on a 50 metre run.  OL’s misfortunes continued when Matt Brown limped off.  Leighton Buzzard were having more share of the game but the were frequently stopped from releasing their threes through the excellent work of Ricky Reed who time and time again robbed the No 8 of the ball at the back of the scrum.  This tactic created OL's fourth try as Evans picked up the loose ball to dance over for a try he converted.  With a 21 point margin OL’s looked safe.  Unfortunately replacement Reeve himself had to leave the field injured to be replaced by Tim Dougherty.  A poor period of play coincided with a resurgence from Leighton Buzzard and soon the away side was only seven points adrift.  The home side contributed to their guests’ improvement.  First a muddle in the centre gave Leighton Buzzard a clear run to the line and then, straight from the restart, a late tackle left the referee with no alternative but to give a penalty try and a yellow card to the offender.  Both tries were converted and, with the visitor’s confidence sky high, OL’s looked vulnerable.  A missed penalty attempt did not help but the forwards settled down in the last quarter with Rob Field, on for Vollkman, leading the way.   The match was settled in spectacular style when David Longrigg picked up from the base of the scrum to burst through from 40 metres out and score a try.  The conversion by Evans took OL’s 14 points ahead and halted Leighton Buzzards gallant battle.   This as not one of OL’s better performances but they are safely through to the next round of the cup.

Old Laurentian 2ns 19pts v Banbury 2nds 41pts

Marcus Bailey made his debut in the second row with Charlie Turney, fresh from his exploits in the centre, returning to hooking duties.  He scored an excellent try round the front of the line out but for most of the game OL’s struggled to do themselves justice.  Mark Brassey scored his second try of the season as did Michael Coburn but these came in between a number of tries for Banbury who capitalised on OL’s defensive failings.    Banbury created one or two excellent tries but too often then did not have to work too hard for their scores.  Pete Rigg kicked two conversions to complete OL’s scoring. Turney had another fine game for the OL’s.

Oct 11th
Powergen Midlands 1
Kettering 43pts v Old Laurentian 5pts

In the battle of last season’s promoted sides Kettering made the better start.  OL’s made a poor start when they knocked on the opening kick to give the home side an excellent attacking position.  They took full advantage to score a try from their winger after excellent support play.  Not to be out-done Kettering made a hash of the re-start and it was OL’s turn to attack.  Winning good lineout ball they forced Kettering into conceding a penalty, which was missed.  In addition to a weight advantage up front the home side has pace in the backs and looked dangerous when they moved the ball wide.  Two excellent tackles from Matt Brown raised OL’s spirits but their good work was undone when they conceded two tries that owed as much to poor tackling as it did to Kettering’s good support play.  Throw in a conversion and Kettering were 17 points up.  OL’s came back strongly before half time.  A well-executed move saw Ian Wallis held just short of the line before a long period of pressure led to Matt Brown going in for a well-deserved try.
Dan Vollkman came on for the injured Paul Willis but this had no affect on OL’s domination of the lineout as Lawrence Sherriffs took up the challenge.  After their strong end to the first half OL’s had every reason to look forward to the second half and for the opening ten minutes they competed on even terms although Kettering looked the more dangerous.  Their powerful NO 8 made inroads into OL’s defence while their centre belied his heavy build to show a fine turn of speed on more than one occasion.   Kettering missed the chance to go further ahead when a penalty attempt drifted wide but they were not to be denied for long.  Once again missed tackles contributed to Kettering’s fourth try, which was converted and this was the pattern for the remainder of the half.  Kettering scored three further tries, two converted, but questions could be asked of OL’s defence for two of them.  Carl Adams came on for the Dave Longrigg, who had performed manfully at the back of a retreating scrum.  Graham Hallam replaced the injured Matt Brown and emulated the departed centre with a couple of fine tackles.  Mid-way through the half OL’s camped inside Kettering’s 22 but they could not find their way through the home defence and Kettering broke out to score their last try.  Individually OL’s players did well but there were times when they played like strangers to one another.    Matt Brown had a strong game until he went off while Willis and Sherriffs took the honours in the lineout.   Even before this game OL’s knew how tough life would be in Midland I but now they know the level of preparation they need to put in before each league game.

Old Laurentian 2nds 6pts v Kettering 2nds 47pts

OL’s preparations were thrown into disarray with the late withdrawal of two of their front row.  Tim Dougherty gallantly stepped into the breach and was his usual rumbustious self throughout.  This game was almost a carbon copy of the match between the first teams.  Kettering started with a try in the first few minutes from their South African outside half who had scored six tries in the previous game.  OL’s front row problems increased when they lost the effective Andy Coleman to injury.  The home side came back with a penalty from Daz Price as they took the game to Kettering.   The visitors scored their second try but Price pegged them back again, this time with a 40 metre drop goal.  From then until the break Kettering dominated the game with their threes in lively mood to forge a 35-6 lead.  OL’s tightened their defence in the second half as they restricted Kettering to only two further tries.  Up front Tim Dougherty led the way for the OL’s and Rich Ramsden did well at scrum half. 

Kettering 3rds 59pts v Old Laurentian 3rds 29pts

After dropouts elsewhere, the 3rd team played Kettering with only 14 men, after Kettering had leant them a prop to enable contested scrums to take place.  Despite Kettering's distinct weight advantage in the pack, OL’s took the lead when Charlie Turney, playing out of position in the centre broke trough for a try, converted by Pete Rigg.  Kettering hit back soon afterwards to equalise, and the lead changed hands several times in the first half, before ending at 22-22.  The OL’s were indebted to Turney for their first half tries, who completed a well-deserved hat trick before the break.  Rigg added to his total with another conversion and a penalty.  Kettering made several changes at half time, and the fresh legs proved crucial as they ran in 2 early tries to take the game away from the OL’s.  A further try from Kev White, converted by Rigg, gave the OL’s a glimmer of hope, but 2 late tries from Kettering put the match beyond doubt.  Despite the defeat, the team can be proud of their determined performance with only 14 men, several of whom played out of position.  Special mentions for Turney, who had a hand in all 4 tries, Brian Rigg, who worked tirelessly at No 8, and James Melvin and Ray Smith, who battled hard against a much bigger front row.  Jim Darcey also put in some fine tackles at fullback.

Kettering U14’s 22 v OL’s U14’s 5

Unfortunately due to most of the team being lost en-route this fixture was unavoidable disrupted and the traveling team was literally ‘thrown’ into the game.  The home side dominated the first half, taking every advantage of some loose tackling and ‘sloppy’ play by the OL’s.  However, after conceding another try immediately from the kick off in the second half the OL’s began to fight back and with most of the possession in this half they were rewarded with a well worked and well deserved consolation team try scored by James Keefe, in the dying minutes.  A strong Kettering side deservedly won the match.  This result for the U14’s came after a fine comfortable victory at Old Coventrians last Sunday and was a disappointment, but there is so much team spirit and enthusiasm within this young side, they are already eagerly awaiting the return fixture.  OL’s Man of the Match – Daniel Treharne.

Oct 4th
Powergen Midlands 1
Old Laurentian 25pts v Walsall 25pts

After an exciting game, climaxing with the lead changing hands twice in injury time, we deservedly gained our first Midland I league point with a tremendous display against a side that came with a 100% record.  For the first time this season we started with the selected side, which contained a number of our seasoned players returning from injury.  Dave Wallis, Ian Wallis, Merv McConville and Denzil Evans all returned to the back division, which allowed Ricky Reed to return to scrum half.  Gary Reeve returned to the front row while there was also a first appearance of the season for Carl Adams who started on the bench.  After Walsall kicked a penalty in the opening minutes we took control.  Denzil put us in the lead with a dropped goal and a penalty as the pack drove Walsall backwards, one maul travelled 50 metres from OL’s 22 to Walsall’s 22.  Unfortunately we couldn’t add to our score and Walsall came back with a well-worked lineout move that led to a Bradshaw try.  They extended the lead when their energetic Argentinean flanker Seco scored their second try.  Not to be outdone the firsts responded with a try of their own when Dave Longrigg crashed over from one of OL’s special moves.  Evan’s conversion tied the scored at 13 apiece.  The second half saw play move from end to end with us looking the likely winners as we moved nine points clear through Evans’ second dropped goal and two more penalties.   With less than ten minutes remaining Walsall came back into the game when classy full back March went over for his side’s third try. We were still ahead as the game went into injury time but all our efforts seemed to come to nothing when Merlin broke away to score Walsall’s fourth try.  Butler’s conversion put his side three points clear.  However the team was not to be denied as they stormed through from the restart to gain a penalty, which Evans kicked to tie the game.  After three heavy defeats we showed great character to draw with another side in the top four in the league.  The game showed that with a fit squad of players OL’s are capable of competing strongly in Midland I.   After early problems in the scrum the front row of Storey, Hammond and Reeve battled back to end with honours even.  Flanker Chris Wade put in a number of big tackles in a fine performance while the backs as a unit looked much sharper and more cohesive than in previous games.  Evans controlled the game from fly half, his line kicking being equally as influential as his place kicking. 

Old Laurentian 2nds 8pts v Walsall 2nds 20pts

A slow start saw the home team seven points down in a matter of minutes when Walsall scored a converted try.   Walsall’s strength was in the pack and for a little while they held the upper hand.  Wes played the more adventurous rugby to force our way back into the game.  We missed a penalty but Walsall made no mistake with two of their own, which they successfully converted.  After the break we had the majority of play.  The seconds scored an excellent try from a move that started at half way and ended with Michael Coburn going over in the corner.  Further pressure led to Graham Hallam kicking a penalty and for the remainder of the half we went looking for the winner.  Although spending most of our time in Walsall’s half we frequently lost our own line out ball, which allowed Walsall to clear their lines.  To add insult to injury Walsall broke away towards the end to score a second converted try that clinched the win.  Scrum half Rich Ramsden had an outstanding game while back row forwards Mark Wilson and Martin Storey, in his first game for the seconds, were the pick of the pack.

Rugby XV 32pts v Old Laurentian 3rds 0pts

Sept 27th
Powergen Midlands 1
Luctonians

Sept 20th
Powergen Intermediate Cup
Stoke-on-Trent 22pts v Old Laurentian 25pts

Denzil Evans gave a master class in placekicking to help secure our first win of the season against Midland II outfit Stoke.  Seven successes in seven attempts gave Evans a total of 20 points to add to a try by Gary Hammond.    The late try from Hammond helped wipe out a four-point deficit with minutes remaining to give the firsts a welcome win.  However two more injuries to their backs took the edge off the visitor’s win.    Early indications were not good.  Two knock-ons in the first minute set the tone for a substandard display of handling throughout the game.  The second knock-on led to a scrum and although we drove their hosts backwards the home side recovered so well their fullback strolled through a huge gap for a try.  With ourr pack in control in the scrum and lineout we came back strongly.  Stoke were forced to concede a string of penalties that Evans converted to putus 9-5 ahead.  Once again we allowed Stoke back into the game with a knock on that gave Stoke a foothold in our 22 and then a missed tackle that allowed Stoke to score their second try, which was well converted from the touchline.  Stoke looked to have gone further ahead but a double movement in the act of scoring enabled us to clear.  An injury to Graham Pettifer brought on Grant Inch for his first game in the first team for a couple of years.  Two penalties from Evans gaveus a half time lead, which he extended with his sixth successful penalty after the break.  At this stage we were on top and a 60-metre run by Inch almost led to our opening try.  Against the run of play Stoke re-took the lead but they did so in style with a sweeping movement from just outside their won 22 that led to a converted try.  Poor tackling did not help.  Another knock-on by us with the try-line beckoning prevented a try and when Stoke increased their lead with a penalty we looked to be on their way out of the cup at the first hurdle.  Digging deep we forced another penalty but this time they kicked for touch instead of goal, which lead to a catch and drive that ended with Hammond ’s try.  From his ‘wrong’ side Evans converted from the touchline to give us a three-point lead.  There was still time for Stoke to have two opportunities but each time they missed the penalty that would have drawn them level.   Whenever we threatened to take control on this fluctuating match we made mistakes that allowed Stoke back into the game but we survived to go into the draw for the next round.  Hooker Andy Coleman made his debut for the firsts as a replacement on the wing!  He immediately made an impact with a fine tackle.

Northampton Old Scouts 2nds 32pts v Old Laurentian 2nds 10pts

At half time only three points separated the teams with the seconds leading 10-7.  Dave Middleton ran in from the half way line for his second try of the season.   Mark Palmer converted and added a penalty with Old Scouts replying with a converted try.  OLs lost Palmer just after the break with a dislocated finger and this tipped the scale in favour of Old Scouts who used their bigger pack to much better effect in the second half.  Despite the efforts of Mark Brassey and skipper Ed Wallis in mid-field Old Scouts gradually pulled away.  For the seconds prop Marcus Bailey put in a great effort while No 8 Rob Swann didn’t miss a tackle in a solid performance.  Chris Mallan did well in the second row.

Old Laurentian 3rds 29pts v Northampton Old Scouts 3rds 10pts

Our thirds continued their winning start with a solid win over Old Scouts.  Once the pack had settled it provided plenty of quality possession and the rest of the side took full advantage to run in four tries.  James Morgan repeated his previous week’s feat with two tries with one each from Kev White and Mark Allen.  White converted two tries while Scouts opened their scoring with a try.   The second half was more even with both sides scoring a try, Michael Coburn claiming the home try.   Morgan had an excellent game and Mark Allen did well in his first game in the back row.

Sept 13th
Powergen Midlands 1
Old Laurentian 7pts v Leicester Lions 42pts

Injuries and unavailability’s forced the firsts to make five changes, four in the pack, from the previous week.  The latest casualty was influential fly half Denzil Evans who failed to overcome a leg injury and was replaces at the last moment by ex-skipper Daz Price.  Initially the changes did not affect our performance as we again made a bright start.  We forced an early penalty that Ricky Reed pulled wide of the posts.  Leicester Lions broke out with a towering 60-metre kick from fly half James Whittingham, a tactic he used whenever Lions felt threatened.  Whittingham missed a relatively simple penalty before Dave Wallis made a strong run for the home side to turn defence into attack.  The set pieces were fairly even but the visitors were quicker to support the ball carrier.  A fine Lions’ move saw winger Bennett touch down in the corner.   We fought back and for a period had Lions defending hard.  Handling errors disrupted the attacking flow although we almost gained due reward for our efforts but a Reed penalty went just the wrong side of the posts.  Lions extended their lead to 11 points just before the break when Whittingham landed a second penalty.  The deficit could have been even larger but for a try-saving tackle by Matt Brown right on half time.  We were well in the hunt at the interval.  We played their best rugby just after the break, including a fine run by Dave Wallis that led to a period of pressure but no points.  However the next ten minutes proved crucial as Lions played high quality rugby, aided by poor tackling, to score three converted tries.  The second of these, again scored by Bennett, was the pick as the Lions strung together six or seven phases before the winger scored.    During this period we lost Merv McConville and Lawrence Sherriffs to injuries and flanker Gary Smith to illness, with Rich Ramsden, Chris Wade and Tim Dougherty coming on.  Towards the end we also lost Simon Storey to end with 14 men.  The re-arranged side battled hard as the Lions threatened to run riot, led by their fast full back Griffin.  To their credit we conceded only one further try in this period and then surprised everyone by laying siege to Lions’ line.  With a penalty try looming for persistent offences Lions’ defence was finally breached when Dan Volkmann powered over near the posts, Reed converted.  This show of resolve must have pleased skipper Reed but Lions had the last word when we failed to control the kick off and a loose kick fell kindly for Wesley who scored his second try.    Lions were clearly the better side at the end and fully deserved their win.  However the team showed by their first half performance that they can compete in Midland I, although we have also learned that we must take our chances when they come and we need to protect the ball better in contact.  Matt Brown had a fine all round game, Dave Wallis made a number of dangerous runs while Daz Price showed all his experience on his unexpected return.  The front row of Storey, Hammond and young Dave Hunt battled throughout.

Leicester Lions 2nds 53pst v Old Laurentian 2nds 15pts

Quicker in though and deed Leicester Lions had by far the better of the first half although they fell behind early on to a Steve Pike penalty.  The seconds struggled to match the pace of the home team but with Eddie Edwards rallying the troops they gradually came into the game.  The Lions capitalised on our mistakes to keep the scoreboard ticking over.  After Lions built up a significant lead we hit back with a try from Mark Brassey that Pike converted.  We did better in the second half as our teamwork improved.  Lions had to fight harder for their points and we had more chances.  We scored an unconverted try through the front row but we could not overcome the halftime deficit.  Despite an injury niggle Tom Ramsden battled hard in mid-field; Andy Coleman had a fine game in the middle of the front row while flanker Pete Drewitt had another good game.

Old Laurentian 3rds 19pts v Leicester Lions 3rds 10pts

The third team broke the club’s duck by being the first senior side to claim a win this season.  They had to battle hard against a very experienced Lion’s side that had a distinct weight advantage up front.  By comparison OL’s had a nice mixture of youth and experience that wanted to run the ball.  The contrasting styles made for a fine game.  Twice Wigston made use of their bulk and forward knowledge to score tries, both times after kicking penalties into the corner and driving over from the line out.  Our running game paid dividends as the thirds scored three tries, including one from the veteran Dave Middleton who would have scored a spectacular second from half way only to be brought back for a knock on.  Skipper Pete Rigg kicked two penalties to complete the scoring.  In a good team performance Swann stood out.

Old Laurentian U-14 19pts v Old Saltleians U-14 12pts

Old Laurentians’ new U14’s team celebrated their home debut with a stylish and credible win against a very strong and committed Old Saltleians.

The pace of this match was astonishing, given the very hot conditions. Thankfully, both teams had large squads and the coaches sensibly agreed to rotate players frequently.

Despite replacements being made every ten minutes or so, we lost none of our momentum or composure. Even so, Old Salts scored first with a fine try and conversion. We immediately struck back when Matt Davies retained the ball from the restart and set up maul. Scott Gibson broke away, attacking the blind side, closely supported by Ben Ward who, after being tackled, popped the ball up to Harley Steel. Steel then made vital ground before passing to Frankie Fenwick-Wilson to complete a wonderful passage of play.  Unfortunately, James Keefe failed to covert and at half time the score was 5 - 7.

In second half, we continued to put Old Salts under pressure and were rewarded when Danny Murch cleverly intercepted a pass ten metres out to score our second try, which James Keefe converted.  Matt Bennett scored their third try after some fierce pressure from the forwards, which again James Keefe converted.   Old Salts responded with their second try just before the final whistle but it was too late.

The high standard of rugby and fitness displayed by this young side delighted the many home supporters who turned up to welcome them to their new club. This was a match we deserved to win and the very best way to mark the first appearance in an Old Laurentian shirt.

Sept 6th
Powergen Midlands 1
Whitchurch 77pts v Old Laurentian 8pts

We could not have chosen a more difficult match with which to open their campaign in Midland I.  The home side did well last season and were one of the forerunners in Midland I and they have retained a very strong squad.  By contrast we went into the game with a long list of injuries and absent players.  Nevertheless we started well and took the lead soon after the kick off with a penalty from Denzil Evans following a rousing drive from the pack.  Unfortunately this was almost the last contribution Denzil made as he left the field soon after following a late tackle.  Dave Wallis moved to fly half with Ade Cleaver coming off the bench.  Further injuries to Merv McConville and Matt Brow disrupted our back play.  This was fully exploited by Whitchurch who quickly realised that by keeping the ball alive they would be able to out run us. Using their No 8 in he middle of the field the home side created numerous overlaps.  Despite gutsy defence, led by skipper Ricky Reed, the score kept mounting with Whitchurch eventually running in 13 tries.  It was not all doom and gloom for the OL’s as our pack gave as good as they got.  Their lineout worked well with Paul Willis, fresh from his visit to Australia, in fine form.  Dave Longrigg carried the ball well in attack while Simon Storey had a strong all round game.  He was well supported by Chris Bearman who stepped in at late notice from Old Warwickians to help out in the front row along with fellow prop Dan Volkmann, usually found in the second row.  We showed their character and commitment with a purple patch in the second half when they forced Whitchurch onto the back foot.  We were rewarded with a try from Shane Betts after a well-worked move.  Whitchurch finished strongly making an early statement of their intent to bounce back into the national league.  Ricky Reed led his side from the front in his first game as captain.  While disappointed at the margin of defeat both Reed and coach Stu Birch saw enough good things to be hopeful for the season, especially when all the absent players are available.

Old Laurentian 2nds 3pts v Northampton Men’s Own 1sts 17pts

The seconds fielded an inexperienced side sprinkled with a number of wise old heads against a spirited side that took the lead from the start.  Fielding the opening kick the visitors swept to the other end and scored the opening try.   Boosted by thee early score Men’s Own continued to attack but the home defence was up to the task.  Men’s Own enjoyed the majority of the possession but it was the home side that scored next through a Grant Inch penalty.   The remainder of the half was fairly even but this changed in the second half when we were hit with a number of injuries that brought on even more of our young guns.   We were forced more and more on the defensive but they held out until the last quarter before conceding two tries, one of which was converted.  In a hard but fairly contested game Peter Drewitt, Rich Hays and Woody stood out for us.