ONS MAKE IT FOUR OUT OF FOUR

OLD NORTHAMPTONIANS 32-20 WEST BRIDGFORD

West Bridgford led 17-6 at the break but 26 second half points,21 of them coming in just over 10 minutes at the start of the half,earned the ONs the league points in Nottingham.

There were three changes to the ONs starting line up.Greg Pieterse returned to the back row,Ben Rivans came in at fly half and Director of Playing Richard Blank made his first appearance of the season after a late call up at scrum half rather than his normal wing position.

The bench comprised Jake Diggin,Ryan O’Donoghue and vice captain Callum Brennan,making a welcome return after a month out.

West Bridgford kicked off with the wind advantage and took an early lead with back row Niko Salmon going over after good handling had created the space.Ben Rivans replied for the ONs with a penalty but the home side were dominating,the enterprising play of their backs causing the visitors repeated problems and it was no surprise when a Sam Johnson try took them 10-3 ahead with 15 minutes gone.Rivans again replied with a fine kick into the wind from 35 metres but when Salmon scored his second and Elliott Wright converted it looked as if West Bridgford might run away with the game.The ONs squandered a chance to reduce the deficit when tapping a penalty rather than going for goal and the final 10 minutes of the half saw them under intense pressure.But the earlier defensive frailties had been corrected and the tackling was secure, several times denying the home side a further score and even when the ONs lost Greg Pieterse to the bin just before half time West Bridgford could not increase their 17-6 advantage.

The talk in the interval huddle had according to captain Alex Crofts focussed on this fine defensive effort and the ONs players if not perhaps their travelling support started the second half full of confidence that they could overturn the deficit.A confidence that proved justified when firstly Marley Wolfenden’s timely incursion into the line following possession from a scrum 35 metres out saw him weave through the home side defence to go over wide out.A penalty was kicked to the corner,the drive was held up over the line,the ONs shunted the opposition scrum backwards and Drew Hudson completed the pushover.A yellow card reduced West Bridgford to fourteen before a strong tackle in midfield forced the ball free,Rivans hacked on to touchdown under the posts.He converted all three of these tries and the ONs had turned an eleven point deficit into a 27-17 lead with 55 minutes played.West Bridgford turned down a kick at goal to go for the corner, the ONs managed to turn over the lineout and minutes later Wright landed a penalty from a similar spot,27-20.With just over 10 minutes remaining the ONs secured their bonus point try.Rivans slid a kick through,the home side knocked the resulting lineout throw in forward,scrum possession was won and Richard Blank’s pass to the blind side found Ryan O’Donoghue,the replacement winger racing round his opposite number to score in the corner.Rivans conversion attempt hit the bar and the remainder of the game saw West Bridgford striving for at least a losing bonus point but the ONs’ defence held firm as they ran out 32-20 winners.

ONs:Marley Wolfenden,Mike Bellamy,Alex Crofts,Rhys Evans,Kieran O’Connor,Ben Rivans,Richard Blank,Greg Pieterse,Drew Hudson,Ben McDonald,Chris Reid,Max Wortley,Zach Draper,Dave Irvine,Craig Stewart.

Replacements:Callum Brennan,Jake Diggin,Ryan O’Donoghue

Man of the Match:Alex Crofts

Next week the ONs once again travel to Nottingham to take on table toppers Paviors.