“The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief” – Othello

The OL’s U10’s bowed out of the Prima Tigers Cup competition at the 1/4finals stage... unbeaten!  The tournament rules small print being the only victor in a match that saw our team held to a 5 -5 draw, the opponents progressing to the Semi’s  on the basis that they had scored first.....

On a ‘Baltic’ afternoon at Welford Road, the OL’s U10’s took to the pitch against Wolverhampton RFC in front of a coach load of suitably raucous OL’s supporters.  In a match cut to 5mins each way because of the freezing conditions (didn’t want to spoil the pitch for the Tigers game that followed), Wolverhampton quickly scored a well worked try – having benefitted from a 1/2hr warm up session in an adjoining park apparently!  That was pretty much the last of the ball that the opposition saw, OL’s relentlessly driving forward searching for a break in a well drilled defence - Luke Green adjudged as ‘held up’ over the line (even though we were convinced he grounded first)  and Tom Hoare nudged into touch in the corner on the stroke of halftime.

 A couple of subs and we were into the second half already – Wolverhampton never got out of their half of the pitch as the OL’s pressure mounted.  After several phases of backs play OL’s equalised through the recently discovered ‘weapons grade’ running of Tom Hoare – so game on for the win, except the whistle for full time blew shortly afterwards.  A muted end to the game as news filtered back to the touchline that in a score draw at full time, the team scoring first would proceed to the semi final.  A victory for the OL’s appeared inevitable but time was against us.

A mighty experience for all concerned; some of the squad did not get to run out on the Tigers turf but their contribution in helping us get this far is not overlooked.  Nearly the whole of the OL’s U10’s team travelled in support of the squad that played, so the coach’s, parents and relatives all deserve a group hug.  And finally, to the players – big thanks and well done for the experience we all shared, a great achievement.