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 29^th November, kick off 2.15 pm.