Old Leamingtonians Rugby Football Club - Alcester U14 Vs OLs U14 14th Feb 2010

Alcester U14 Vs OLs U14 14th Feb 2010

Written by Chris Hain
Monday, 15 February 2010
Match result: Alcester U14 17 v 26 OLs U14 It was a beautiful sunny morning at Alcester with a light breeze and a nice soft (but large) 1^st XV pitch to play upon. OLs managed to field a team of 13 players due to half term plus injuries and included guest Gus Gillespie. Alcester generously gave us their last player to turn up, their hooker, so the match was to start 15 v 14. OLs straight away started to pressure Alcester in their 22 despite being a man short. However Alcester had a solid defence and some useful players in both the back line and amongst the forwards. Fairly even play ensued then an injury to an Alcester player meant it was an even 14 a-side on the pitch. This did not seem to help OLs and Alcester reached the OLs 22. A knock forward, Alcester won the scrum, the no 8 picked up, we were warned he would do this, and took it over for the first try under the posts. 7:0 Alcester gained confidence from this and reapplied the pressure taking OLs back to their 22. However OLs regained possession and went on a charge. Joe Blake offloaded to Luke who went over the try line but one handed just managed to lose the ball before touching it down. Now OLs, more in command, produced some good rucking, the ball was turned over, it went out along the backs with good hands until it reached Alex who took it down the left wing to score under the posts. Rhys converted practising his long range boot from the 22 yard line. 7:7 After a brief scare when Alcester came close to scoring down the right wing OLs were slightly edging the possession and territory against a fairly solid central Alcester defence. It went out again to the left wing where Eddie (Andrews no not Morgan!) happened to be. He nearly made it over the try line, and was just inches away. An almost exact repeat of the first try followed soon to give Alex his 2^nd try. Another good conversion from Rhys. 7:14 Half Time. Alcester wanted their hooker back so OLs started the second half up slope 13 v 14. They continued the pressure and Alcester panicked hoofing the ball straight out on the full, not noticed by touch judge and OLs coach Simon, they didn’t gain too much ground. The line out was won by OLs and Captain Joel, now playing as a back leaving just 6 in the scrum to face a full and proficient Alcester pack, went on a charge. He cut through the centre, having perfected his hand-off technique, and scored under the posts. Rhys practiced his drop goal to convert. 7: 21 This just spurred Alcester into action and they started to dominate play. OLs were starting to tire and support play weakening. Alcester took advantage with some powerful running and broke through the weakening OLs defence to score, no conversion. 12:21 . Joe Blake had not given up and made his bullet like charge through the middle of the Alcester defence to go over at the left post. Unfortunately he dropped it at last moment, try not given, and he came off with an injured wrist from his move. Joel determined not to allow Alcester any more advantage persuaded the generous and fair ref to loan OLs a player (a little chap) so it would not be 12 v 14 but 13 v 13. OLs were to score again in a similar manner to the previous two tries with Luke scoring, no conversion 12: 26. Alcester did not give up and had OLs under the thumb for the remaining 10 minutes, they scored with no conversion. 17:26. (Chris had overlooked an OLs score in his scribblings and had everyone mistakenly thinking it was close at 17:19). OLs did extremely well to hold off an Alcester team determined to win it Welsh style in the last few minutes but they were no Scotland and Sam sensibly kicked into touch twice before game over. Match result:: Alcester U14 17:26 OLs U14 Man of the Match: Joel Team: Joel (capt), Joe Blake, Aled, Joe Davidson, Max Hain, Alex, Rhys, George, Jamie, Sam Hain, Luke, Eddie Andrews, Gus Gillespie (guest)

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