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Evesham - 1st XV: 15 - 28 |
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Written by Dennis Fisher
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Saturday, 15 September 2007 |
Two early tries in the first 15 minutes for winger Alex Pain, both scored as a result of good ball won by the forwards in set pieces and loose play and converted into points by quickly moving the ball along the speedy OL’s backs This should have established the method for beating the slow moving Evesham defence and when a further try scored by fly half Ben Dawson, following a comedy of errors by Evesham and a converted penalty increased the score to 18 – 0 Evesham should not have been allowed back into game.
Lapses in concentration, an apparent abandonment of the successful game plan, together with a period of poor decision making allowed Evesham to assert themselves and that, together with a number of missed or half tackles saw a period of concerted pressure by Evesham either side of half time.
The home side gradually reduced the deficit to 15 – 18, with two tries, one of them a well executed move scored by the best Evesham player, fly half Mark Williams who also kicked a penalty and a conversion.
OL’s were made to hang on for the majority of the second half and it was only desperate defence by OL’s and some poor finishing by Evesham that prevented the home side from taking the lead. With 10 minutes to go OL’s woke up as Evesham tired and began to use the backs and run at Evesham again with the extra pace of full back Rob Ridler, playing in his preferred position and winger Alex Pain being rewarded with two well constructed tries. Outstanding for the OL’s was the back row, particularly Ian Rowley, and Alex Pain who produced 80 minutes of committed rugby and scored his hat trick in fine style.
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