Newbold RFC Colts v Old Leamingtonians Colts

OLs suffer first league defeat of the season ...

OLs relinquished their unbeaten league run away to Newbold RFC in another close encounter . OLs had gained the bragging rights by beating Newbold earlier in the season and by knocking them out of the Warwickshire cup .
This game was on a knife edge all the way to the final whistle and the result was always only ever going to be one score either way . OLs started well with some fine breaks from Archie Semple and Will Davies but turning the pressure into points proved difficult for both teams . Upfront the two packs once again battled fiercely for supremacy but as with the backs there was little between the players in terms of quality . Mid-way through the half Newbold were first to score , Nathan Chant was carded for slowing the ball down and from the resulting penalty the Newbold centre burst through and caught the OLs defence off guard , score 5-0 as the conversion was missed . OLs pressed for points and a fine break from Alex Witchell down the left hand flank nearly made the line but the offload went to ground . However the continued OLs pressure lead to a penalty being awarded on the 22 - Will Davies stepped up and slotted , score now 5-3 in Newbolds favour . Half Time .
The second half was again a tight affair with neither side yielding territory , tackles were being made all over the pitch from both teams . A penalty was given to OLs ten minutes into the half on the 40 metre line . A tough chance , Will Davies stepped up but was unfortunate with his effort as the ball hit the left hand upright and bounced back into play and Newbold cleared their lines . The game remained very even for long periods with equal play in both halves . With 10 minutes left OLs were awarded a lineout deep into Newbold territory , the pack gathered their thoughts (and some of the coaches ) and came up with the move of the game that saw George Smith touch down out wide - the TMO might have been called into action as the home crowd felt the ball was not grounded but the referee gave the try , score now 5-8 in OLs favour . The next five mintues were a tense affair with Newbold giving everything to the cause and with 2 minutes to go OLs found the themselves deep in their own 22 and on the other end of a charge down which bounced nicely for the Newbold flanker to drop over the line , the resulting conversion was missed . The score was now 10-8 to Newbold and there was no time left for OLs to mount another attack . Kenilworth in the cup up next .