Old Leamingtonians managed to make it two league victories on the trot (ignoring the cup defeat last week of course). In difficult conditions, Old Leamingtonians were able to capitalise on their forward dominance and notch up a clinical win. Opening honours went to Adam Canning after Shipston were caught putting their hands where they were not wanted. The fly half slotted over a penalty goal from a paltry 30m (easy money for Tin Man). However, Shipston were able to pull back a penalty themselves after we went over the top of a ruck. Shipston then scored a try of their own after OL’s went to sleep following a less then quality restart to the game. Shipston took a quick tap penalty and crashed over. No conversion though. The game ebbed and flowed for a while before Andy Davies was able to score a push over try. The OL’s pack shoved Shipston back and the ever-young No. 8 crashed over. No conversion for Canning this time though. Half time saw it at 8-8. Shipston were able to count themselves lucky with this score line, as the general consensus was that each OL’s forward owned their opposite number. Deciding to lead by example, El Capitan Luke Staton scored from the restart. Chris Bartlett and Dave "BF" Sims showed quality counter rucking skills to regain possession. Craig Ellis then found Staton who accelerated to approximately a million miles an hour and dived over majestically for a great score; artistic impression 8.8 for the dive as well. Canning was unable to get the additional two points, conditions under foot not helping matter at all. Shipston then scored from the restart. OL’s again failed to look after the ball and Shipston were able to score by getting the ball down the line quickly. No conversion registered. Old Leamingtonians were able to regain the lead after Mark Foley demonstrated his desire to emulate David Beckham. The plucky scrum half hoofed the ball down field, the ball curling into the corner (completely by design Foley assures us) and Steve Dealtry touching down impressively. Adam Canning rediscovered his kicking boot to score a cracking conversion from the touchline. Canning had to leave the field of play, leaving with 99 points in all competitions so far. Without the talismanic kicker on the field, penalty goal duties were handed to Mark Foley. He was called into action with about ten minutes to go after Shipston decided to go over the top of a ruck. The game was out of reach for Shipston and OL’s recorded the victory. Man of the match could have gone to several candidates. Team Manager Charlie Sabin identified Liam Jones and James ‘Noddy’ Holder as exceptional once again. However, the award this week goes to Chris Bartlett; as much for the unseen Richard Hill-esque work the big man does as for his efforts in the lineout and scrum. This was by no means an easy win. Captain Luke Staton said it best after the game “It’s important that we can win even when we don’t play our best.” A win is still a win and this is perhaps one of the more important victories for the season. OL’s have now got to carry this kind of clinical doggedness into next week’s fixture at home to Edwardians.
Old Leamingtonians Extras are back to winning ways in style. This was a good performance from a team determined to prove that last week was a one off. The first try of the game was scored by Howard Wickes. Shipston sliced a clearance and Paul Salvin was able to dance his way through only to be held up a short distance from the line. Howard was on hand to rip the ball out of Paul’s hands and score a simple touchdown. Jamie Brown added the points. Paul Salvin was then able to add a try of his own. Shipston were again forced to clear their lines, thanks to constant pressure from the dominate pack. The ball ended up in Salvin’s hands and the powerful winger showed some silky running skills to dance through Shipston’s advancing defensive line. Jamie Brown added another conversion. And then something amazing happened. Greg ‘one-in-ten’ Williams, burst through from the back of a ruck, trampling all over a thoroughly done over fly-half. Seeking a speedy support runner, lo and behold who should appear at top speed but Shane Tilsley, prop extraordinaire! Greg made the pass and Shane was able to out-pace the entire Shipston back line from well outside the twenty two, scoring his first try for Old Leamingtonians. Well done Shane (Took your bloody time about it though)! Jamie Brown successfully converted. Try four came due to the cultured boot of Jamie Brown. Following another show of forward dominance, driving deep into the Shipston half, Jamie brown received the ball and chipped through. Ian Maull was able to scamper past the Shipston winger and score his first try for the Extras this season. Quality play! Having found his scoring boots, Ian was at it again. Andy Mould made a lovely break through, helped by the superbly timed pass of Jamie Brown. Andy timed his own pass to perfection and Ian was able to take the ball at full tilt. The full-back stood no chance. Ian scored under the posts and Jamie converted again. The second half opened at the same tempo the first had closed. Setting up camp in the Shipston twenty two, OL’s were again able to score through the hard running of Greg Williams, quick hands of Aaron Dudley and the fact that Murray Stiles was able to remember where he was and actually put the ball down. Ben Forrer had been complaining recently, following a try drought. Happily, the hardy Fireman was able to score a try from a move he started himself. Chris Clapham stole the ball from a lineout and Ben was able to pick up. Pointing himself at the beleaguered Shipston backline and setting his face into a now familiar expression resonating ‘GET OUT OF MY WAY!’ Ben powered through only to be tackled. The ruck was formed and the ball made its way down the backline for Jamie Brown to pop pass to Ben who powered over from short range. Jamie Brown converted. Right from the kick off, OL’s were again able to score. Shipston tried a close range kick off, Jamie Brown was able to pick up and pop to Clapham. The open side flanker passed to the backs and Ian Maull was again able to burst through. Drawing the full back, Ian was able to pass to Paul Salvin who was on hand to receive the pass and score under the posts. Jamie Brown added another conversion. The final try was scored by rampaging number 8 Greg Williams. Following several scrums inside the Shipston twenty two, Greg was finally able to get the try his performance deserved. It would be fair to say that Greg had been experiencing some frustration at the back of the scrum, mostly with regards to him being able to keep hold of the ball. I am going to attribute it to his desire to pound the Shipston number 10; the poor kid was approximately a third of the size of Greg and will no doubt see the big feller in his nightmares for the foreseeable future. Greg was able to beat off most of the Shipston backline and score under the posts. Jamie Brown converted again. The final whistle went with OL’s again deep inside the Shipston half. All credit to Shipston, who kept going right until the end, but they were unableto cross the Gold and Blue defensive line often enough and do something with it. On the other hand, Old Leamingtonians Extras were awesome. In particular the scrummaging efforts of the front five were phenomenal. Jason Standbridge, Shane Tilsley and Ben Forrer were able to the win the ball against the head at will thanks to the power of Luke Cobb and ‘Donk’ behind them. Ball in hand, Brown, Mould, Wicks, Salvin, Stiles and Maull were all threats going forward. If a criticism could be made it would be that we didn’t do enough of the basics right. It is a credit to these guys that they came off the pitch less than satisfied with their overall performance. Too many knock-on’s, too many passes thrown in haste when setting it up would have been a safer option. But this is stuff to work on in training. There is no denying the fact that we absolutely hammered Shipston. This game marks the last game of the year for the Extras at The Crofts. We are happy to have left it with such a commanding victory. Next week sees us head to Pinley to begin two months worth of away games. Joy......
A much changed OL’s Thirds came up against a very strong and well drilled Shipston side who ran out 22-0 winners. The early loss of prop ‘Bingo’ disrupted the OLs forward rhythm and consequently they struggled to secure any quality ball going forward. Spirited defence from the Hall brothers Neil and Andy, and skipper Lester Hunt limited Shipston to 2 first half tries. Heads never dropped with Damon Golding and Rikki Kular giving everything for the cause despite Shipston managing another 2 tries and full credit to the mainly youthful Wanderers for giving 100% up to the final whistle.
In a game played in rain squalls, occasional hailstones and on a slippery muddy pitch, both teams found ball handling difficult but still managed to provide the spectators with an exciting game of rugby. Despite the difference in league status OL’s matched the home side throughout and but for a couple of very near misses could have taken a more dominating lead into half time. The game began with B&B forwards trying to impose themselves but having been pushed back a couple of times by OL’s forwards, who performed well throughout the game, the match settled into an even battle up front. OL’s playing the first half down the slope with the wind advantage slightly in their favour, played the conditions well and used the long ball to good advantage. The first half saw B&B take an early lead with a storming try from the open side flanker to give them a five point advantage. OL’s retaliated with a converted penalty by Adam Canning followed by an unconverted try scored wide out by Jack Secher, who enjoyed another fine game at full back, and a converted try scored by scrum half Mark Foley. OL’s were unlucky not to score further during a half that saw chances created but ground conditions spoiling the final pass or pick up. Right on half time B&B scored a try against the run of play to bring the half time score to 15 points to 10. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with B&B now using the slope and wind advantage to clear their lines to good effect. The B&B kicker nudged over a penalty from in front of the posts; however OL’s continued to match B&B in every stage of the game. Towards the end, the pressure began to show when a B&B managed to free up their right wing who scored a well worked try. OL’s continued to play well and entered the last 15 minutes of the game taking the match to B&B and with the OL’s pack now beginning to drive the B&B forwards backwards towards their goal line it was only an infringement, adjudged by the touch judge to have been committed by an OL player and not a B&B forward, that resulted in a penalty award allowing B&B to clear their lines. OL’s were still in the game but with only minutes to go a penalty awarded to B&B in front of the OL’s post saw the lead extended to 23 – 15 and the final whistle followed. This was an extremely good all round performance from OL’s who were not outplayed in any quarter of the game and whilst a number of first team players were unavailable those from the first team squad who did play showed total commitment and on the day were unlucky not to come away with a win. OL’s next game is away to Shipston on 29th November, kick off 2.15 pm.
This game saw four colts step up to the mark and play against one of the best sides in the district. Mike Tattersall, Tom Hyam, Tom Smith and Jack Quinlan all played like demons. Hyam, Smith and Quinlan had all played for senior sides in the past, but this was young full-back Tattersall’s full debut on the senior stage. I am happy to say he acquitted himself nobly. The future of the club is in good hands with these boys around. Onto the game itself. Broadstreet scored a well worked try by outflanking the over worked OL’s defence. The Gold and Blues were able to pull a penalty back through Jamie Brown. Street then scored again through their fly-half; a canny field kicker who kept the ball in Old Leamingtonians twenty-two. The fly half also managed a drop goal. The Coventry side then scored through their Captain; the prop crashing over from short range. Two conversions and Broadstreet took a commanding lead into the break. At half-time OL’s gathered themselves for a second half fight. Against these guys you measure success by how often you can cross the gain line and keep possession; ball and territory being a hard fought commodity for the Extras. It was in the little victories that we measured our success, we had made this side work bloody hard for this lead and we were going to make them work just as hard in the second half. Initially, OL’s successfully pushed Broadstreet back. But sadly, they were unable to sustain this and the Coventry side scored with a cross field kick their speedy winger was successfully able to catch. No conversion but game on. Old Leamingtonians then held the line. Broadstreet's discipline began to falter, most notably when they were marched back twenty meters for attempting to do the ref’s job for him. After an hour Old Leamingtonians finally got the break through their tenacity deserved. Scrum-half Aaron Dudley took a quick tap penalty following another Broadstreet offence. Drawing his man he fed Jack Quinlan who cut back inside and left the full-back for dead. He nearly made the line himself, which would have been no less than this player deserved. But, the ball was knocked on and the scrum was called in Broadstreet’s favour. From the back of this scrum, Dudley was able to apply some pressure to the number 8, forcing the error and picking the ball up himself. Thanks to the added weight of Chris Clapham and Andrew Hemming, he was able to cross the line and score, giving the thoroughly soaked crowd something to cheer about. Jamie Brown added the conversion. Unfortunately Broadstreet were able to score two more tries before the final whistle was blown. This Old Leamingtonians side punched well above their fighting weight. People will say that we never stood a chance. That we were always going to lose. Others will say that we would have done better with different personnel. Maybe the conditions went against us. I don’t really care either way. I shared a pitch with nineteen guys who were able to walk off it and be proud of their performance. Broadstreet came here prepared for a fight, and they got one. Neil Hall, last seasons vice-captain and injured full back put it best in the bar afterwards: “If you turned up and saw just the last ten minutes you would have had no idea who was winning”. Such was the competitive spirit on display here. We are still unbeaten in the league, and it took a side that I suspect will feature in the final of this cup competition to bring our winning streak in all competitions to an end. There is no shame in trying as hard as you can and coming up short. I am proud to have led these guys in this hardest of tests. I know that the poor sods we play against next Saturday will feel the full force of it. Bring on Shipston and the rest of them......
