In losing this important home game on Saturday the Old Boys not only squandered the opportunity of earning valuable league points, but also put themselves firmly into the relegation zone.
A much-improved Old Freemen’s XV won this game by a clear thirty-two points margin having conceded the earlier game on their ground by a similar thirty-two points. Apart from nine injured first choice players another eleven players were too busy to play!
Play started encouragingly with an OWs scratch side keeping out the opposition; Jack Duggan showing to good effect with ball in hand and James Howell proving a handful at scrum half. Sadly, the home scrum came under great pressure and were forced on to the retreat several times giving away several penalties and allowing the visitors to kick their way down field. After twenty minutes Freemen’s scored two tries in quick succession, each from poor defensive positional marking and flimsy tackling. With thirty-five minutes gone the best try of the match was scored by the Old Boys. From a lineout fifteen metres out the home forwards caught and drove and when held, fed the ball down the line for Lewis Taylor to power over for an unconverted try. However, this good work was nullified almost immediately when the visitors were gifted three tries in the first half injury time.
Turning round with the game lost, the Old Boys put up a much improved display in the second period, showing just what a full-strength side could have done. The home backs came more into their own with Mike Ellis proving difficult to hold and skipper Rory Southgate punching holes in the opposition defence. The forwards also began to combine better together and their mauling was proving effective, Rory Forward and Andy Brown each being forceful with ball in hand. No score accrued to either side until late in the game, the visitors then notching a penalty and a converted try whilst OWs countered with another spectacular effort from Mike Ellis which Robbie Westacott converted.
Next Saturday sees the distraction of a home National Vase Cup match which of course we want to win, however in your humble scribes opinion all efforts and a full availability needs to be directed towards winning the final five league fixtures.

E G Bell