1st XV v Pershore: 12-22 (League)

Written by Dennis Fisher

Saturday, 28 March 2009

A much better display from OLs but ultimately disappointing as Pershore resisted the aggression of the OLs pack to close the game out in the last ten minutes. OLs began strongly and could easily have scored twice in the first 5 minutes as winger Paul Salvin sliced through a brittle defence on both wings only for the final pass to go astray. Pershore looked dangerous every time they touched the ball and sure enough, having repulsed several sequences of OL offence they interpassed brilliantly from their own 22 to score in the corner. 0 -5 OLs returned to the attack and pressed strongly for another 10 minutes but again Pershore soaked up the pressure, eventually clearing their lines, and from their next attack from the back of a lineout  bullocked over to double the score. 0 – 10 The OLs pack were tireless and at scrummage and lineout they exerted pressure on their counterparts which eventually had to tell with skipper Luke Staton chipping over the Pershore defence, outrunning them to collect his own kick to score wideout. No conversion, 5 - 10 and halftime beckoned. OLs started the second half like an express train with centre David Canning scoring under the posts inside 30 seconds, converted by flyhalf Jamie Brown. For the next 20 minutes OLs steam-rollered their way through the Pershore pack providing countless opportunities to press home the advantage but all were squandered by backs and forwards alike. The wind was not used as an extra man to put pressure on the creaking Pershore defence and eventually OLs stopped to draw breath, allowing Pershore an opportunity to counter attack which they did with relish scoring under the posts to retake the lead. 12 - 17. Three real attacks in 65 minutes and 3 scores! OLs tried to raise their game again but were unable to put together a telling attack and in the last seconds Pershore scored again. Overall some outstanding personal contributions but  OLs lost to the better drilled team.

 

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