Defeat for a youthful OLs 1st XV on the road

In a biting crossfield wind a youthful OL XV encountered a more experienced Manor Park side who
knew how to take advantage of their sloping pitch and the weather conditions.
OLs commenced the game playing down the slope but it started badly for them when almost from
the kick-off they found themselves under siege in their own 22. A quickly recycled ball saw Manor
Park flip the ball out to the short side and a dummy by one of their centres provided a gap for him to
run in the first try which was converted to make the score 7 - 0.

OLs responded from the restart by pressing Manor Park down the hill but although they were
granted a penalty wide out on the 22 the kick was missed and the game entered a midfield scrap
during which 2 nd row Rob Smith was yellow carded.

In spite of their shortage of numbers OLs defended well and shortly after they were restored to full
complement a dazzling run down the left hand touchline by young wing forward Pat Errington,
evading at least 3 tacklers, saw him score wide out on the left wing. The try was not converted
making the score 7 - 5.

Shortly after the restart Manor Park’s marauding pack engineered a second try in the left corner
making it 12 – 5 at half time.

Playing uphill in the second half OLs were making far too many handling errors and this allowed
Manor Park to get deep into their territory where a penalty was conceded in front of the posts which
was kicked to make the score 15 – 5.

Luck was on Manor Park’s side when a poor kick turn into an opportunity for their number 13 to pick
up and run half the length of the field for the next score. The try was converted making it 22 – 5.
Manor Park knowing how to use their hill scored a further converted try to make it 29 – 5, and their
last score was the result of what appeared to be an error by the match official in penalising an OL
player who fell on a loose ball and was not allowed to get up. The try was not converted giving a
final score of 34 -5.

OLs had one final attempt on the Manor Park tryline when winger Ruarch Winston hacked on a loose
ball and almost beat the defenders to line. In the dying minutes Callum Gosse was yellow carded for
goodness knows what but the ref blew up early and there were no more scores.
Next Match is away versus Alcester on Saturday 6 th April 15.00 Kick 0ff.