In stark contrast to the previous Saturday it was a glorious sunny day at the Crofts when OL second XV welcomed Old Coventrians seconds in what turned out to be a most entertaining and pretty equal rugby contest.

This was the only game of the weekend as the first team were handed a home walk-over in the Warwickshire Cup by Nuneaton Old Edwardians who were unable to field a team in the week before Christmas and the scheduled Colts match was also pulled due to a shortage of players.

It was evident from the start that it was a day for slinging the ball about and both teams stretched each other’s defensive capabilities time and time again.

OCs notched up the first score with a converted try and in attack they looked very dangerous. It took some grit from OLs to get back up the field from where they were able to secure good ruck ball which allowed veteran prop Craig Ellis to charge through under the posts to equal the score.

Shortly after OLs ran in another try courtesy of Chris Bree. Adam Burch converted both scores.

From then on it was a dingdong battle with both sides playing expansive rugby and making plenty of errors in to the bargain. The scoring ratcheted up with plenty of tries from both sides but always with OLs keeping a good margin versus the visitors’ score.

OLs had already scored 7 tries and 5 conversions when near the end of the game a maul near the OCs line was pulled down repeatedly by the defenders upon which the referee awarded a 7 point penalty try making the final score 52 - 29 to Old Leamingtonians.

OL scorers were
Craig Ellis
Chris Bree - 2
Adam Burch
Ollie Sarginson
Matt Witchell – 2
Penalty Try
5 Conversions by Adam Burch

At the end of the match over 40 players had had a marvellous pre-Christmas run out with the final score not mattering as much as everyone having had a great game of rugby football.

Report provided by Nick Crighton

2 Photos by Nick Crighton:

Nick Crighton
OLRFC Press & Publicity Officer
07768 775601