OLs had a guard of honour onto the field by their new “Mixed Ability” team (The Hornets) who had put on a demonstration with Broadstreet Mixed Ability for half an hour before the league match.

The home side played well in front their 90+ Patrons and guests who had just enjoyed their semi-annual lunch. This was the game that Old Leamingtonians needed to win to hold onto the league top spot and in the end it was a close result with OLs securing the required result. Both sides got a bonus point, OLs for scoring four tries and the visitors for being within seven points of OLs winning score.

The game kicked off with the visitors gaining some territorial advantage but sound defensive play prevented any scoring opportunities. The constant shrill of the referee’s whistle made it a stop start game and it was 15 minutes of play before the game saw the first score on the board, a penalty awarded in front of the posts to the visitors to give them a three point lead. Berkswell & Balsall were employing a forward driven game whilst OLs adopted a 15 man approach, using the backs whenever possible but it was good forward play by the home side that saw the next score on the board. From excellent possession and a flowing three-quarters move the OLs drove the visitors deep into the 22 area from where a series of rucks and mauls saw hooker Reece Jones forced over the line for a well worked try. The conversion was missed making the score 5 - 3.

Further pressure by OLs saw Berkswell & Balsall pushed back into their own half but when good driving mauls looked as though they would provide scoring opportunities the match official’s whistle continually halted proceedings resulting in yellow cards for players from both teams and some confusion amongst spectators. One infringement by the visitors resulted in a penalty for OLs that Henry Reynolds converted to bring half time with the home side having an 8 – 3 advantage.

The second half kicked off with OLs taking the game to the visitors and with the home forwards having the better of the set pieces the speedy OLs backs came more into the game. Time and again the OLs backs distributed the ball and from one such flowing moved the ball was worked along the line for centre Simon Hemming to break through and score try number two. The conversion failed making the score 13 – 3.

The game continued with OLs dominating the opposition. Try number three came from an interception by centre Simon Hemming who fed the ball out to wing three-quarter Ciaran O’Connor who outpaced the defence to touch down. The conversion was successfully kicked by Oscar Heath making it 20 – 3.

OLs continued to dominate for the next period of play and further strong forward play saw Number 8 Hugh Melhuish cross the line for try number four to secure the bonus point.

Berkswell & Balsall came back into the game for the last 15 minutes and OLs found themselves under pressure as the visitors forced their way deep into the OLs 22 and the heavier B & B forwards scored two tries, both converted, to move within eight points of OLs with time running out. Further pressure caused more OL mistakes and Berkswell & Balsall was converted a penalty to make the score 25 – 20. Despite the late pressure and with only 13 men on the field due to more yellow cards and several injuries, OLs defences held firm through the 10 minutes of added on time that was the result of the match official continually stopping the game.

This was an important game for OLs securing maximum points and maintaining a 6 point clear lead at the head of the table. Next week sees OLs visit Coventry Welsh with a 2.15 kick-off.

Report by Den Fisher
4 Photos by Tim Nunan. 1. Ciaran O’Connor 2.Simon Hemming 3. Hugh Melhuish 4. Hugh Melhuish

Nick Crighton
OLRFC Press & Publicity Officer (07768 77560)1