Match Preview

Off the back of a superb win away at Trojans, OTRFC head into the final game of the season knowing that a win could see them finish the 2016/2017 season in third position. If that wasn't exciting enough, the team they must defeat to take the bronze medal is the side who currently sit there, Old Cranleighans. With OC's on 75 points, four ahead of Tiffs on 71, a victory by more than 7 for the boys from Grists would see them leap frog their neighbours by virtue of RFU Regulation 13.2.5(b)(i). Or in English, because they would have won 15 games this season to their hosts 14. A bonus point victory by more than 7 points would take the rule book out of the equation, whilst a bonus point win with OCs picking up both a losing and a try scoring BP would be insufficient. Simply, Tiffs need to score a lot and concede little.

Should Tiffs lose (and fail to secure any bonus points), they know that only an unlikely Basingstoke bonus point win against league champions Farnham could see them drop to 5th. Fourth position in London SW 3 would be the club's highest ever league finish.

For those with higher aspirations than 4th and who believe in historical comparisons, the odds are stacked in Tiffs favour, as they have won 4 out of the previous 5 meetings at Old Cranleighans with an average score of 11.6 v 27.6. A scoreline like that, whilst bizarre, would do just nicely.

Of course, the historical meetings were between different groups of players and in different conditions so have little bearing on this weekend's encounter.
Less optimistically for Tiffs, OC have won 7 out of their 10 games at home, with an average score of 33.7 v 17.6. A rather less attractive result. That said, they have lost their past three home games (Farnham, Eastleigh and Trojans) and so may be on a downward trend.

OC's will of course be looking to buck that trend and having defeated Tiffs in their last encounter at Thames Ditton and with a combined total of 19 try scoring and losing bonus points to their name they will be confident they have the try scoring abilty and defence to get the result they need. They will also take confidence from the fact that they have never lost to Tiffs twice in one season and so, in that respect, have history on their side.

Whilst a 4th place finish would still be a wonderful achievement, fans of OTRFC know that Jaewon's side have developed a habit of making their own history this season. This Saturday is an opportunity for the side to do so again.

Come on lads!

IFLOT x

Previous meeting this season:

10.09.2016 - Old Tiffinians 18 v 13 Old Cranleighans

We have History:

05.01.2013 - Old Cranleighans 20 v 14 Old Tiffinians (Surrey 1)
29.09.2012 - Old Tiffinians 26 v 24 Old Cranleighans (Surrey 1)
26.03.2011 - Old Tiffinians 9 v 10 Old Cranleighans (Surrey 2)
11.12.2010 - Old Cranleighans 10 v 29 Old Tiffinians (Surrey 2)
26.02.2005 - Old Cranleighans 11 v 21 Old Tiffinians (Surrey 1)
08.02.2003 - Old Cranleighans 12 v 20 Old Tiffinians (Surrey 1)
22.09.2001 - Old Tiffinians 12 v 13 Old Cranleighans (Surrey 1)
16.09.2000 - Old Cranleighans 5 v 54 Old Tiffinians (Surrey 1)
11.09.1999 - Old Tiffinians 39 v 15 Old Cranleighans (Surrey 1)

Current form:

Old Tiffs - WLWWW
Old Cranleighans - LWLLW