Broadstreet RFC Colts v Old Leamingtonians RFC Colts
By Richard Pettifer
Honours even at Ivor Preece Field
OLs encountered their first major test of the season away to Broadstreet . Both teams were evenly matched throughout the initial exchanges but it was OLs with the first score , courtesy of a fine individual try from Alex Evans who picked up the scraps of some poor backs handling to run in a 50 yard try after bouncing the first defender , 0-5 . Unfortunately the very next play saw Alex replaced by Hugo Petry following a clash of heads . Broadstreet , the masters of the pick and go , then forced a penalty due to a high tackle on the the OLs 22 - this was duly slotted to make the score 3-5 . Both packs battled away for territory but the wind was affecting some of the handling so the game was scrappy at times but never dull . Alex Evans made a welcome return from his HIA to score his second of the game in the corner .10-3 to OLs . With 3 minutes to go before the break
Jake Pettifer found himself binned for playing the ball on the ground and with OLs down to 14 men Broadstreet capitalised with the pick and go routine to bundle their way over to make the game level at half time , 10-10 .
The second half started with a string of errors from both teams but neither team could take advantage and convert this to points . Mid way through the half it was Broadstreet who struck with another good try made by the front five , 17-10 . OLs were now facing their first defeat in a very long time and had to dig deep to find some inspiration.- It came with ten minutes on the clock and was by far the best try of the game . Alex Evans made the initial burst into space from his own half ,
Ed Gray then somehow managed to keep up with the OLs Flyer and take the slipped pass , he then shipped it to Allrick Haynes who sprinted over and also had the forethought to take the ball under the posts , Will Davies completed the try , 17-17 - the game was back to honours even . With time running out and the Boadstreet No7 in the bin for back chat , OLs very nearly nicked it at the death with some clever play down the right flank but just came up short and the game ended in a draw . Probably a fair result .