Spartans - 2nd XV: 3 - 29

Written by Jon Carnall

Saturday, 08 September 2007

2nd XV underway with a victory The 2nd XV made the away trip to Spartans to play in their first Warwickshire 2nd XV Merit Table fixture of the season. Taking a strong side, OLs were confident of turning over what initially appeared to be a large and well drilled side from Spartans and having won the toss, decided to play against the slope in the first half. Straight from the off it was clear it would be an aggressive game up front with fierce rucking from both sides, not entirely legal all of the time and the referee had his work cut out keeping tempers down. It was from one of these penalties that Spartans got the opening points on the board. Indiscipline by OLs in their own 22 led to the Spartans kicker having an easy 3 points from in front of the posts. This score seemed to inspire OLs and some good ball carrying, initially by Luke Cobb and then by Dan Biddle, enabled some good yards to be made through the centre of the pitch. It was from one of these runs up the left and some good quick ball that allowed the OLs backs to open their hands and put Neil Hall in for an easy score in the right-hand corner……..or it would have been if the Spartans scrum-half hadn’t made a last ditch cover tackle to bundle him into touch. Half-time Score, Spartans 3 OLs 0 OLs had the advantage of the slope in the 2nd half and the little wind there was and Andy Hall made excellent use of this in the opening exchanges, pinning Spartans back in their 22. Indiscipline by the home pack led to OLs being awarded a penalty wide right, 10m from the opposition’s try line. A crisp pass from Mark Foley to Andy Hall who shifted it short left and Dan Biddle crashed over under the posts, converted by Andy Hall. By this time the scrums had gone to uncontested after an inexperienced OLs front row had eventually been unable to cope with the pressure from their opposite numbers. This seemed to lift the Spartans forwards who came back with greater intensity than before but also maybe indiscipline as their legs grew tired. With the OLs lineout improving in the 2nd half, several deep penalty kicks to the corners were gathered by the OLs pack and the backs started regularly getting quick ball. This enabled them to show the pace they had threatened all afternoon and several strong runs by Simon Magill through the centres had the opposition in all kinds of trouble. Eventually the pressure began to tell and with Spartans reduced to 14 men for indiscipline in the ruck, OLs found space wide right and Simon Magill went over for an unconverted try. This was followed up almost immediately when a penalty on the left was passed along the line and Jack Secher went over for his debut senior try. Further tries by Simon Magill and Jack Secher rounded the game off in the closing minutes and with Mark Foley knocking over a conversion from very wide left to finish the game. Final Score, Spartans 3 OLs 29. This may have looked like a game of 2 halves and indeed the game did change in OLs favour when the scrums went to uncontested, but some strong running in the first half and good support in the rucks and mauls allowed the platform for the backs to eventually take control. Credit must also go to Liam Jones who again stepped in where required and looked solid at tight-head prop for the initial 50 mins. After-match drinks were enjoyed and it was decided it would be unfair to award a man of the match with an excellent all round team performance. As for dick-of-the-day, 2 nominations were received, Dan Biddle for arguing with the Spartans winger over who had the worse haircut, Dan with his ginger locks or the winger with his cut! This was all during the continuing game. 2nd nomination was for Neil Hall who as described before failed to beat a 9-stone scrum-half from half a yard when a try was begging. Unanimously, the decision was Neil was given the award and he now heads the season table with Nick Bingham with one award each. Squealer award went to Luke Cobb who went down in the last 5 minutes with what was initially thought to be a broken leg judging by the noise, but eventually it became apparent it was purely cramp of the umm, well, backside really! Evesham II at home next week so hopefully we can take some of the intensity shown so far this season into the next game and come away with another W.

 

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