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Sat 11 Nov 2017 ·  Midlands 2 East (South)
Oakham
1st XV
17
30
Belgrave come from behind for a bonus point win in an all round team effort.
richard pollard12 Nov 2017 - 14:21
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Written by a man abandoned in Oakham yet again,saved by Keith Crellin yet again,a free cup of coffee and a lift from Tom Ball and no thanks to Lewis Austin.
Today an away fixture at Oakham RFC in the far flung east of Leicestershire.An uneventful journey with Tom(statto)Hunter at the wheel of the cleanest car in the world,Wayne(the navigator)Hunter and Mr F.E. Peake.The usual scenery rolling green fields,many hedgerows,trees and lots of sheep.Not unlike LE4.
The match official for the day Jenny Burrows of Loughborough an accountant at Jaguar/Land Rover,it must be added she handled the 2 minutes silence prior to the game very well.Controlling 60 plus players and a large crowd with a whistle and a watch.
Prior to the kick off a guard of honour by all teams for Brian Sampson 70 years young turning out for Oakham 2s in his final season.Theres hope for me yet then got till next September to get into shape.
On the kick off Belgrave defended the road end,on 10 minutes a Belgrave clearing kick set up an Oakham counter attack from the half way line,Oakham number 13 Charlie McKie went on a 30 yard run to give Oakham a 7 point lead.Shortly after this Patrick(the Viking warrior)Thomson was carried from the field with a gash to his leg,as I write he is in the LRI awaiting an operation,see facebook,but you have to be over 18 to view and that's just Patrick not his injury.But he is in good spirits.Thank you to all that helped out and well done to Mrs Crellin for her organisational skills.
After this long break in play Callum Crellin slotted over a penalty from 30 yards out to put Oakham ahead by 10 points to 0,there then followed a period of scrappy play by both sides with neither able to take advantage.Belgrave then took the intiative,Liam Barnes scored from the rear of a ruck,duly converted by Kevin(bungle)Curtis.
With Belgrave now on a roll Curtis went on a 25 yard run beating 6 defenders to score,on the last play of the half Tom Knifton stole an Oakham lineout to set up the Belgrave forwards on a 20 yard rolling maul for Connor(son of) Jackson to drop on the ball.From 10 points to nil down Belgrave were now leading by 17 points to 10 at halftime.
From the start of the second half both teams stepped up a gear,a long clearing kick by Belgrave saw them recover the ball and their backs take over for Tom Knifton to cross the line,giving Belgrave 22 points.Team injuries then came into play due to the pace of the game and hard tackling, Roderick(weak ankles)Jonas,Roddy to his friends came off ankles taped up with about 2 miles of tape and went back on again.
With all now to play for Oakham took the game to Belgrave and battered at their defensive wall,not unlike the Battle of Hastings mentioned a few weeks ago.A tap penalty by number 17 Stee Vukinavanua 10 yards out saw him breach the Belgrave line to score taking several defenders with him.Oakham now within one score of Belgrave.
Oakham kept up the pressure with Belgrave on the back foot,a turning point of the game found Niall(right place,right time)O'Connor on the halfway line with an Oakham player who was somewhat taller and larger than Niall coming at him and only open field beyond him.As they say cometh the hour cometh the man.Niall tackled him and brought him down this gave the Belgrave defence time to regroup, Niall retired to the sidelines with a sprained body.From a penalty on the 22 yard line Kevin Curtis put 3 points on the board for Belgrave to make it a 2 score game.
For the final minutes of the game Oakham pinned Belgrave inside their own 22,falling inches short of a score.Belgrave somehow got hold of the ball on their own 5 yard line and with the whole team pulling as one they marched down the field playing 15 man rugby.Tom Westley making several solo runs to gain valuable yards,In the final minutes Peter(the pastor)Petra scored a final try for Belgrave.Final score Oakham 18 Belgrave 30.
At this point I was stranded in Oakham yet again,with messrs Hunter,Hunter and Peake vanishing into the distance,hot footing it back to LE4.A refreshing pint from from Mr Crellin and a lift back with Tom Ball,Thanks Tom.
On entering The Tom Hoskins I found the said Hunter,Hunter and Peake along with that dodgy character Lewis Austin,with a large grin on his face.Was this a set up I ask myself.After a few pints I made my escape before the race night started.
Next week County Cup round 1 at home to Market Harborough see you next week.Just off now to speak to Lewis Austins parents,they can ground him next week.Plus there will be no more yet agains,used up my ration for the season,yet again.
The match official for the day Jenny Burrows of Loughborough an accountant at Jaguar/Land Rover,it must be added she handled the 2 minutes silence prior to the game very well.Controlling 60 plus players and a large crowd with a whistle and a watch.
Prior to the kick off a guard of honour by all teams for Brian Sampson 70 years young turning out for Oakham 2s in his final season.Theres hope for me yet then got till next September to get into shape.
On the kick off Belgrave defended the road end,on 10 minutes a Belgrave clearing kick set up an Oakham counter attack from the half way line,Oakham number 13 Charlie McKie went on a 30 yard run to give Oakham a 7 point lead.Shortly after this Patrick(the Viking warrior)Thomson was carried from the field with a gash to his leg,as I write he is in the LRI awaiting an operation,see facebook,but you have to be over 18 to view and that's just Patrick not his injury.But he is in good spirits.Thank you to all that helped out and well done to Mrs Crellin for her organisational skills.
After this long break in play Callum Crellin slotted over a penalty from 30 yards out to put Oakham ahead by 10 points to 0,there then followed a period of scrappy play by both sides with neither able to take advantage.Belgrave then took the intiative,Liam Barnes scored from the rear of a ruck,duly converted by Kevin(bungle)Curtis.
With Belgrave now on a roll Curtis went on a 25 yard run beating 6 defenders to score,on the last play of the half Tom Knifton stole an Oakham lineout to set up the Belgrave forwards on a 20 yard rolling maul for Connor(son of) Jackson to drop on the ball.From 10 points to nil down Belgrave were now leading by 17 points to 10 at halftime.
From the start of the second half both teams stepped up a gear,a long clearing kick by Belgrave saw them recover the ball and their backs take over for Tom Knifton to cross the line,giving Belgrave 22 points.Team injuries then came into play due to the pace of the game and hard tackling, Roderick(weak ankles)Jonas,Roddy to his friends came off ankles taped up with about 2 miles of tape and went back on again.
With all now to play for Oakham took the game to Belgrave and battered at their defensive wall,not unlike the Battle of Hastings mentioned a few weeks ago.A tap penalty by number 17 Stee Vukinavanua 10 yards out saw him breach the Belgrave line to score taking several defenders with him.Oakham now within one score of Belgrave.
Oakham kept up the pressure with Belgrave on the back foot,a turning point of the game found Niall(right place,right time)O'Connor on the halfway line with an Oakham player who was somewhat taller and larger than Niall coming at him and only open field beyond him.As they say cometh the hour cometh the man.Niall tackled him and brought him down this gave the Belgrave defence time to regroup, Niall retired to the sidelines with a sprained body.From a penalty on the 22 yard line Kevin Curtis put 3 points on the board for Belgrave to make it a 2 score game.
For the final minutes of the game Oakham pinned Belgrave inside their own 22,falling inches short of a score.Belgrave somehow got hold of the ball on their own 5 yard line and with the whole team pulling as one they marched down the field playing 15 man rugby.Tom Westley making several solo runs to gain valuable yards,In the final minutes Peter(the pastor)Petra scored a final try for Belgrave.Final score Oakham 18 Belgrave 30.
At this point I was stranded in Oakham yet again,with messrs Hunter,Hunter and Peake vanishing into the distance,hot footing it back to LE4.A refreshing pint from from Mr Crellin and a lift back with Tom Ball,Thanks Tom.
On entering The Tom Hoskins I found the said Hunter,Hunter and Peake along with that dodgy character Lewis Austin,with a large grin on his face.Was this a set up I ask myself.After a few pints I made my escape before the race night started.
Next week County Cup round 1 at home to Market Harborough see you next week.Just off now to speak to Lewis Austins parents,they can ground him next week.Plus there will be no more yet agains,used up my ration for the season,yet again.
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