Old Leamingtonians Rugby Football Club Match Report

Saturday 19^th September 2009

Handsworth RFC 1^stXV    v  Old Leamingtonians RFC 1^stXV   (Cup)  

Venue             Handsworth

Date            Saturday 19.9.09

Result            Handsworth RFC 1^st XV     15   -  19    Old Leamingtonians 1^st XV   

For the first time in many seasons the Old Leamingtoniansprogressed to the second round of the National Cup with a hard fought win overHandsworth.  The game was on aknife edge until the final whistle but should have been put out of reach in anopen first half when Old Leamingtonians should have taken more advantage oftheir superior performance.

The game began with OL’s putting pressure on the homedefence with strong forward play and good open running and it was only sixminutes into the game when the ball was quickly fed to speedy winger Dealtrywho displayed his excellent sprinting capabilities to out-pace the home defenceto run in under the posts. The try was converted by Jamie Brown to give adeserved 7 point lead. Continued pressure on the home defence saw a similarmove following a break down in Handsworth’s play and again Dealtry was on handto gather the ball and cut a scything run through the home defence to score hissecond try.

Handsworth began to come more into the game and exert somepressure. An error wide out led to a penalty which the home side stand-offconverted to reduce the arrears. Five minutes from half time saw OLs attemptingto defend their 22 with a poor passage of play that saw them lose the ballrepeatedly when they had opportunities to clear. The errors led to Handsworthbeing allowed to cross for an unconverted try.

This stung the OL’s into action and more pressure on thehome defence saw a wayward kick from the Handsworth full back collected by OLsand play taken back into the Handsworth 22. From good forward play and ballretrieval Jamie Brown cut inside the home defence to add a further fivepoints.  Brown also converted togive OL’s a half time lead of 19 – 8.

The second half was interrupted after 7 minutes by a serious ankle injury to the home side number 8 and the game was held up for 30 minutes.Handsworth were first to wake up after the break and the remainder of the gamesaw the home side exerting continuous pressure on the visitors defence. It was acredit to OLs that the defence held out and caused Handsworth to spill the ballon a number of occasions when a try looked almost inevitable. Full back JackJones was outstanding throughout the game. Handsworth did manage to cross theOLs goal line once more to reduce the deficit to 4 points but the final scoreof 19 – 15 saw OLs progress to round 2.

The overall performance of OLs was disjointed at times and the ball was relinquished far too often. More work must be done on the lineout.  On too many occasions goodground won was lost by poor line out practices giving the home side anadvantage that allowed them to exert unnecessary pressure on OLs defence.

Stratford RFC 2^ndXV      v    Old Leamingtonians RFC Extra 1^st XV       

Venue             Stratford

Date            Saturday 19.9.09

Result            Stratford RFC 2^nd XV    66   -   0     Old Leamingtonians Extra 1^stXV   

The score suggests that Old Leamingtonians were completelyplayed off the park.  The Stratfordteam were well drilled and had obviously trained together. Some of their playsinvolving intricate training routines were executed on the playing fieldwith great precision.

OLs started brightly enough but after 10 minutes a wellrehearsed backs opened the Stratford scoring. This was the start of their 5try demolition of the OLs in the first half making the mid term score 33-0

It was a similar story in the second half, and OLs woes wereincreased by the loss of leading forward Luke Cobb with knee ligament damage,as well as injuries to several other key players. The team played on with manyof the remaining players playing out of position, but nevertheless puttingin a sterling effort for the remainder of the game. Final score was twice thatof the first half 66 -0.

The team displayed brave and ferocious tackling, evenwhen they seemed to be faced by several players at any one time and theybattled to the end giving their all.

The Extra 1^st XV need to start putting somepoints on the board which they almost succeeded in doing against a very strongand youthful Stratford side. 

Old Leamingtonians RFC Colts 1^st XV    v  Broadstreet RFC 2^nd XV

Venue             TheCrofts

Date            Saturday19.9.09

Result            Old Leamingtonians Colts 1^st XV    36  -   5     Broadstreet RFC ColtsXV  

Old Leamingtonians Colts continued their impressive start tothe season with a thumping victory over Broadstreet. As the only side playingat The Crofts, the Colts had the full attention of the crowd. They were not tobe disappointed.....

The first try came courtesy of Jason Hobman harassing theopposing scrum half and turning the ball over. Tom Hyman ploughed through thecentre, continuing the onslaught before the ball wound up in the hands of LiamWellings to score. Unfortunately, this was to be Liam’s only contribution tothe game as he was taken to Warwick hospital with a broken thumb. Tom Hyamadded the conversion.

Joe Richardson added a try of his own on the twenty minutemark, burrowing over from short range wearing several Broadstreet players asdecoration.

Cieran O’Connor then scored after Jason Hobman worked hardto get the ball to him under pressure. O’Connor waltzed his way through the Boradstreetdefence to score under the posts. Tom Hyam converted.

The second half saw Tomás O’Leary score a snipers try fromthe back of a ruck, marking a successful return to Colts rugby. Rob Smith thenadded a try of his own in similar fashion, smashing his way over from shortrange after several rucks had pinned Broadstreet back.

Finally, Gregg Swinburn acrobatically added a try of his ownafter a tap penalty, receiving a punch to the face for his efforts as hebulldozed through Broadstreet’s defence.

Broadstreet did manage to score a consolation try, theirbacks running the ball in to the corner after pulling the OLs defence one waythen the other. The try was not converted. Final score 36 -5 to the home side.

Next up is local rivals Leamington. The Colts can’twait.......

Nick Crighton

OLRFC Press & Publicity

07768 775601