In a topsy-turvy game of open rugby, OLs with five tries overcame Manor Park with four tries. From the kick off and playing down a slope it was the home side that dominated the match taking the play to OLs and it was only solid defence that prevented Manor Park from opening the score from the kick off. OLs spent most of the first quarter of an hour defending their goal line but it was breached on the 15 minute mark when Manor Park forwards forced the ball over the line for the opening try. The conversion followed.

From the restart OLs gained good ground and began to put some pressure on the home side. From an infringement just inside the home 22 metre area stand-off Bradley James converted a penalty to reduce the score only to see the home forwards storm back down the hill to repeat the pressure on the visiting defence and again the OLs defence was broken with another converted try making the score 14 – 3.

The game evened out and the OLs forwards competed well to produce good possession inside the home half of the field. The ball began to be moved well by the OLs three-quarters and from one such move that went from one side of the pitch to the other, winger Liam Wellings burst through the home defence to touch down just inside the corner flag on the right making it 14 – 8 and from a similar move a couple of minutes later Wellings again crashed through a number of defensive tackles to score his second try, making the score 14 - 13.

The game continued with Manor Park again putting pressure on the OLs defence and with the benefit of the down slope in the pitch and the wind at their backs the last 10 minutes of the first half was spent in the OLs half of the field. Manor Park increased the lead with a well taken penalty kick and right on half time scored a third try that was converted to reach half time with a 24 point to 13 lead.

The second half saw OLs having the benefit of the conditions and they began to take control of the game keeping the ball well inside the home half of the field and making the Manor Park forwards defend inside their 22 metre area. Time and again the home forwards were driven backwards in the mauls and rucks and after one disallowed try when the ball was held up over the line, the pressure paid off with two forward driven tries, the first touched down by back row Tom Smith and the second by Sam Britain. One conversion followed to move OLs into a one point lead going into the last 15 minutes.

OLs continued to dominate and more forward pressure saw Manor Park again driven back inside the 22 metre area and with the home forwards being pushed over their own goal line a collapsed maul infringement resulted in the match official awarding a penalty try to OLs giving them a lead of 8 points.

Manor Park did not give up the ghost. They took play back to OLs and forced the visitors back into a defensive role and with five minutes to go scored a fourth try wide out on the left of the field. The conversion attempt failed but brought Manor Park right back into game.

From the restart OLs kicked long and a mistake by Manor Park deep in their own half of the field saw OLs keep possession until the final whistle to end the game with a bonus point win. Manor Park achieved two well deserved bonus points. This was another good all round team performance with winger Liam Wellings having another fine game both in attack and defence.
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Next week sees Old Coventrians visit The Crofts with a 2.15pm kick off.

Report provided by Denis Fisher
4 Photos by Nick Crighton

Nick Crighton
OLRFC Press & Publicity Officer
07768 775601