OLs Crowd Pleasers - Kenilworth Cougars: 15-21

Written by Nick Bennett

Wednesday, 19 September 2007

In what was predicted as a one sided affair, the OL’s floodlit 40’s side proved they were no pushovers on a slippery night at Leamington ’s moorefields. Within the first 5 minutes, the OL’s pack showed their strength by keeping possession well within the opposition’s 22 with Andy Hall looking to create at scrum half. The Kenilworth defence stood solid though and Mark Foley slotted an easy drop goal to give the old 20-20 shield holders the lead (although he did admit after it may have drifted wide!). The speed and skill of a strong Kenilworth side soon showed afterwards, with three tries in quick succession giving them a 21-3 lead. A whitewash could have been on the cards at this point, but OL’s showed grit and determination to fight back. With good link up play in the centres between Rich Blower and Hex and good rucking and mauling the Crowd Pleasers hit back with Foley touching down, Andy Hall converting. The 2nd half was a somewhat one sided affair with OL’s piling on the pressure all over the park, with excellent play from the back row consisting of Liam Jones, Raj Bahey and John Carnall. Good lineout ball gave the pack an opportunity to enforce a driving maul which took them 20 yards and over the try line, Luke Turner emerging as the scorer. With the conversion missed, only a converted try separated the two sides. And with a few minutes remaining the OL’s pack showed their consistent danger in the set play with another driving maul troubling the opposition. After getting as far as the 5 metre line Leams looked destined to score, but for strong defence and ‘arguable’ refereeing. In a solid team performance it would be unfair to single a man of the match out. Although the game ended in defeat, a lot of positives can be taken from this encounter and another strong cup run looks most probable!

 

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