Old Leamingtonians 1st XV were denied a run out on Saturday as a result of their League opponents, Stoke Old Boys, being unable to field a team.

However, on a glorious sunlit late October afternoon in front of a good crowd of supporters including all of the OL Ladies dressed for a Halloween Party, the OL Barbarians put on a fine display of rugby against Old Coventrians 2nd XV.

After 5 minutes play OLs signalled their intentions when they shipped the ball to centre Liam Wellings who beat 4 men to score under the posts. The try was converted by Adam Burch - score 7 – 0.

OL’s might have been further ahead but for handling errors which briefly allowed OC’s into the game and it wasn’t for another 25 minutes that they got their next score when Ben Stuart left tacklers in his wake also to touch down under the posts. Try again converted by Adam Burch. Score 14-0

It didn't take long before the third try was scored by replacement centre Ciaran O'Connor beating another three tacklers the score under the posts to make the score 19 – 0, again converted by Adam Burch. At half time the score was 21 – 0.

Almost immediately the second half commenced a thrilling three-quarter movement saw Paul Cartwright go over in the right-hand corner to make the score 26 – 0, and shortly after another brilliant three-quarter passing movement allowed Max McCrickard to go over in the same right-hand corner for 36 – 0.

From the restart Max McCrickard tore down the field to score his second try in one minute making the score 36 – 0. Adam Burch’s conversion hit the post.

At this point a shower combined with the strong sunshine produced a double rainbow over the Crofts.

Try number 7 was scored by Nathan Chant wide on the left side after a 20 metre run by Ollie Craig making the score 41 – 0.

OC’s never gave up and for the next 5 minutes mounted an attack deep in OL's 22 but the home side broke out again and a 40 metre run by Liam Wellings was stopped 10 metres from the line by a great tackle but he scored shortly afterwards to make the score 46 nil.

Another attack by Paul Cartwright down the right hand wing was ended when he was tackled into touch on the OC 5 metre line but at the next scrum OL’s scrambled the ball to score again near the posts. This time the touchdown was by Ollie Scott making the final score 51 – 0.

All credit to OC’s for never giving up against the much stronger OL side who obviously enjoyed themselves tremendously putting on a splendid show for the spectators.

Nick Crighton