Old Leamingtonians Rugby Football Club Match Report

Saturday 26^th September 2009

Redditch RFC 1^stXV    v  Old Leamingtonians RFC 1^stXV   (League)  

Venue             Redditch

Date            Saturday26.9.09

Result            Redditch RFC 1^st XV    53    -  5    Old Leamingtonians 1^st XV   

A well taken try from winger Robbie Ridler was scantconsolation for a miserable day for OLs. Turning out a side with many first team regulars missing through eitherinjury or non-availability, and those who did play being asked to play out ofposition, the result was a disjointed performance from OLs  with a lack of cohesion and gamestrategy.

 The result was predictable and but for good performancesfrom Luke Staton playing back row and Mark Foley at scrum half, the situationcould have been worse. For the young players and third XV players who wereasked to stand in, the game was a difficult introduction to league rugby.

Hopefully this result will be seen as a lesson from which greater commitment might emerge before next weeks game versus Shipston at theCrofts.

Shipston upon StourRFC 2^nd XV   v   Old Leamingtonians RFC Extra 1^st XV

Venue             Shipston

Date            Saturday26.9.09

Result            ShipstonRFC 2nd XV    12    -   12   Old Leamingtonians Extra 1^st XV   

Pure grit & determinationsaw OL Extras achieve a draw at Shipston. After dominating the first 20 minutesOLs went behind from a superb try by Shipston's very pacey fly-half.Extras Captain Dean Harris took a quick tap penalty, after some greatteam work and pressure close to Shipston’s line, scoring straight throughtheir forwards from 5 yards out but the Shipston stand off struck again withanother try putting Ols on the back foot by half time.

After a much needed team talkOLs came out firing with big hits coming in all over the park. After severalgreat plays the Extras got to the Shipston line with Anthony Wood driving overfrom short range. Unfortunately, Shipston managed to unsight the referee whoruled that the ball had been grounded short. The pressure remained on theShipston line but OLs just couldn't seem to score.

Shipston came back withrenewed vigour and nearly scored all but for a try saving tackle by Paul Towey.This type of tackling was ever present throughout the whole team and justfrustrated Shipston, to the point that saw a forced pass intercepted by CawailWong who ran the length of the field to score (almost) under the posts. PatO'leary kicked the extra 2 points which tied the game.

The effort by OLs in thisgame and the no surrender attitude of all the players made the draw seemlike a win.

Old Leamingtonians RFCColts XV    v   Nuneaton RFC Colts XV

Venue             TheCrofts

Date            Saturday26.9.09

Result            OldLeamingtonians Colts XV   10   -   5     Nuneaton RFC Colts XV  

OLs Colts were due to play their first away fixture of theseason at Leamington RFC; however this was cancelled by the away team and theColts welcomed Nuneaton to the Crofts at short notice. The game produced anevenly contested match on the main pitch in front of appreciative spectators.

The first half was played out mainly in the forwards withboth teams keeping the ball tight and both sets of backs tackling well indefence. At the end of the first half there had been no score although OLs hadthe opportunity to take the lead when fly-half Tom Hyam, narrowly missed twopenalty kicks from wide out.

At the beginning of the second half OLs made a number ofchanges. At the 40 minute mark OLs forwards created a strong attack whichformed a platform to release the backs and allow James Robbins to score; hereceived the ball out wide and was able to beat 3 Nuneaton players beforetouching down. The kick was missed and the score was 5 - 0.

 No poor sidecomes from Nuneaton RFC and five minutes later after exerting a lot of pressureon the OL defence Nuneaton scored an unconverted try, to bring the match levelagain. The game continued to be tight and tense with both sides attempting totake gain control. OLs who had introduced fresh players looked slightly on top.Following a number of attacks on the Nuneaton try line Jack Quinlan made adecisive break to score an excellent try which took OLs into the lead 10-5. Theremaining minutes continued to be tense but OLs held out to finish the gamewinners against a strong Nuneaton side.

Next game: Home to Earlsdon

Nick Crighton

OLRFC Press & Publicity

07768 775601