Extra XV v Warwickians: 24-14 (Away)

Written by Aaron Dudley

Saturday, 21 February 2009

Well how best to describe this game? Entertaining? That would depend on your idea of entertainment I suppose. Eventful yes, especially if you have a fondness for B.M.I. related player-touchline banter. A good game? No, definitely not. But this was a good win for the Old Leamingtonians Extra 1st XV. This is three wins on the trot (not including last week’s cancelled game against Bedworth), and the Extras are looking to match their 11 game winning streak by winning the remaining 8 games. Our opponents will surely have other ideas..... Anyway, onto this game.  Old Leamingtonians lost the talented Luke Weetman after he came down awkwardly in the very first lineout, forcing the Extras to play with 15 men for the remaining 75 minutes or so.  Sadly, it appears that the dynamic lock will be sidelined for a long stretch, meaning at least he has a legitimate reason for not playing and watching the six nations. Perhaps unsurprisingly Warwickians sought to use their numerical advantage out wide, constantly bringing their full back into the line and seeking to generate overlaps. Final passes, desperate tackles and a couple of refereeing decisions going against them saw the Warwick based side fail to take advantage of this opportunity. However, their fly half did manage to score a great solo effort following an OL’s chip and chase that didn’t really work out. Conversion successful. OL’s then hit back following scrum half Aaron Dudley’s break out from his 22. After sprinting 70m towards the try line, an attempted step inside saw him floored by the full back, causing a torrent of abuse from the OL’s players who had to make up the distance; sorry chaps. However, quick hands saw the pressure continue and Warwickians were forced to offend. Mark “You can’t even spell B.M.I.” Bisset, evidently bored with waiting for the ref to decide whether or not the comatose OL’s captain HAD said he wanted to kick it or not, tapped and passed the ball out to Luke Turner. The nomadic number 8 crashed over in the corner, wearing several Warwickians players as decorative features. Mark Bisset added the conversion. Warwickians scored a breakaway try against the run of play, and with the conversion went into half time leading 14-7. The second half saw OL’s try and play the quick rucking style of rugby they have made their own, however this Warwickians side specialised in slowing the game down and getting in the way. What was good to see was OL’s not giving up at all. Old Leamingtonians drew level when that oddest of phenomenon’s occurred; a Richard Deaville try! Yes I assure you that this did actually happen (honest).  A succession of quick rucks saw OL’s parked on the Warwickians five meter line. Luke Turner picked and went, but being unable to go the full distance off-loaded to Yorkie who artfully crashed over from around about 30cm out. Well done that man! Mark Bisset converted. The game too-ed and fro-ed for a while until Warwickians knocked on close to their try line. Seeking to take advantage of this, Dudley moved himself into the pack and put the hulking Welshman that is Gregorius Williams at 9. The whimper of “oh ****” from the opposing nine was heartfelt as he quickly worked out what was going to happen. Williams picked up and trampled the poor sod into the ground, being held up just short of the line. Fortunately, the pack arrived in support and Ted Goener, our recent Australian acquisition, found himself the scorer of a good try. Bisset successfully converted again. The game then descended into a football style exchanging of opinions between touchline, referee and both teams. Most of the comments are a little to colourful to print in this report so I shall leave it to your imaginations, though I think it is fair to say that a certain inside centre won himself few friends on this day of days. Perhaps the referee should have been a little firmer with his application of the laws; who can say. Both captains were called upon to talk to their teams following a vicious ‘chinning’ of Deano's fist following a late tackle. The game climaxed in a Jamie Brown try. Dudley , cutting a line through the Warwickians backline reversed passed to the advancing Brown who battered his way over the try line to score. The crowd were most entertained when Mr. Bisset missed perhaps the easiest of his conversion attempts.  He took it on the chin with a smile. Barcode man of the match goes to the rampaging Greg Williams, recently returned from darkest Slovenia and well fed up on bear meat. The lock epitomised the cheerful never-say-die attitude that saw this side come back from behind and win. Honourable mentions in despatched also go to the lineout work of Chris Clapham; the cool head of Rich Linfield, surprising considering the heat and the wig he wears; the tenacity of Toby Godridge and Dean Harris; and the hard running of Jamie Brown. We didn’t play our best, but we still won which is something all good teams need to be able to do. Next week sees the Extras play host to AEI rugby. The Extras sincerely wish Luke Weetman all the best, as well as fellow wounded soldier Kev Greenhill who is currently suffering from a fractured fingernail. All the best you big girl!

 

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