Back to winning ways

A dominant second half performance saw OL’s end a good competitive match with a bonus point win despite being 14 points to 7 down at the half way mark, having gifted OC’s two first half converted tries through wayward passes allowing interceptions against the run of play.

From the kick off the game was played with open play rugby from both sides with the OL’s forwards having the better of the OC’s pack giving good ball possession to the fast running backs and the game was being played mainly in the home half of the field but the OC’s defence prevented any clear scoring chances. After fifteen minutes of play OC’s made the virtually the first break into the OL’s half of the field, thanks to a mistake in the OL’s attacking play that allowed a break out from defence with OC’s running the ball almost the length of the field to touch down for the first converted try. Ten minutes later OC’s intercepted a loose pass by OL’s inside the home half of the field and again ran the length of the field to touch down for a second converted try.

OL’s continued to play attacking rugby with the three-quarters and forwards linking well and the game was taken back into OC’s half and a series of driving mauls by the forwards saw number 8 complete the drives by touching down to reduce the deficit. Connor McLenaghan converted and half time was reached with OL’s down 14 points to 7.

The second half was dominated by OL’s with the OL’s forwards having the better of the OC’s pack providing quick ball for the backs and after 10 minutes of the half the ball was passed along the line with good handling for Callum Semple to complete the moves with a second try that went unconverted. OC’s were having the defend well to keep the OL’s from adding to the score and the longer the game went on the more dominant the OL’s forwards directed the game and a conceded penalty by OC’s was converted by McLenaghan to give the lead to OL’s. From this point OL’s took control of the game and OC’s were committed to defence for long periods but the defence was broken when a sweeping OL’s three-quarters move ended with winger Alex Witchell touching down try number three. The conversion followed.

The final ten minutes of the game saw OL’s repeatedly trying the break down the OC’s defence and almost on the final whistle a set scrimmage in the OC’s 22 metre area saw OL’s hold the ball in the back row while driving forward until number 8 Callum Gosse took possession and drove through the OC’s defence to touch down for the bonus point try and complete a better all round performance ‘ from OL’s. The try was unconverted but OL’s ran out winners by 27 points to 14.

Next week sees OL’s return to The Crofts to meet Ledbury with a 3,0pm kick off.