Victorious Oldfield Earn Promotion Play Off Place

Wiveliscombe, who played Nailsea & Backwell a few weeks previously, only just managed a two-point victory so a hard fought game was anticipated.

On a hot April afternoon Oldfield played down the slope in the first half and for the first ten minutes were camped in their own half finding it hard to hit their patterns.

In the 11th minute they forced a line out in their opponents half and drove the ball some twenty meters before spinning the ball wide for Lewis Edwards to score the opening try.

Five minutes later with Oldfield slotting nicely into their shape, a penalty was cleared to touch and from the line out prop Mike Guida muscled his way over.

10 minutes later Oldfield's skipper Ollie Hayes broke the first line of defence and several offloads later from the now rampant Oldfield pack, Alex Dewhurst put through a beautiful rubber for Lewis Edwards to score his second, this time converted by Joe Russell.

The home side continued their rolling forward game and from a scrum just 10 meters from the Oldfield line, the ball broke to Edwards who
scored a full length of the field break for his third try, converted by Russell.

Nailsea then scored an unconverted try in the 38th minute, but Oldfield hit back on the stroke of half time. This time a scrum in their opponents 22, saw Hayes pick up from the base, offload to Conrad Braithwaite for him to scoot over for a half time score - Nailsea & Backwell 5 Oldfield 29.

Just three minutes into the second half the excellent Toby Fields stole a line out ball and Lane sent it wide for full back, Harry Smith to score under the posts, which was duly converted by Joe Russell.

In the 59th minute the ball was again sent wide and Edwards crossed for his fourth try.

Nailsea continued to try and play their rugby and were rewarded with their second try of the afternoon in the 54th minute.

In the 60th minute centre Joe Russell hit the line at pace, broke through the defence and some 3/4 phases later, the ball was received by fly half Sean Lilley to scorch over.

Two minutes later, almost from the kick off replacement, Arron Collins Thomas made a lovely break, sprinted some 20 meters offloaded to Pat Zindi who made another 20 meters before eventually offloading to Toby Fields who sold a dummy and crossed the whitewash, again converted by Joe Russell.

Alex Dewhurst moved to stand off and he made a 69 meter clearance kick to touch, the ball was again stolen at the lineout for Arron Collins-Thomas to score and Oldfield were now almost scoring at will.

Edwards crossed again in the 78th minute for his fifth try of the afternoon and from the kick off he received the ball, ran it back and skipper Ollie Hayes scored the final try of a thoroughly entertaining match.

Oldfield host St Mary's Old Boys at Shaft Road on Saturday 29th April in the play off final – KO 3pm All Welcome!

Match Report by Ben Gillow
Match Photos by Donna Bunton

Red Army!!!