First Half Display earns win against Oundle

By Matt Armstrong

Week 7 and the visit of Oundle

This week's fixture saw the visit of Oundle, a club with ambitions who are looking forward to push on at the top of the table. Another week and a raft of changes from the previous week with a number of players injured or missing so here goes.....
In the front row Chris Shipman made the move to hooker, the second row saw Connor Gordon move into the 5 shirt from the back row, in the back row Billy Hyman made his first start since stepping up from the Colts last season. The back line saw a reshuffle but this time it was positional, so Ryan Mackie moved into the 10 shirt, Pete Vickers shuffled to 12 and Harry Bryan over to 13. Steven Gall moved into the full back shirt, on the bench James Maher was making his first team debut and he was joined by Eddie Johnson and Rhys Fereday. This week saw club chairman George Shipman take up the reporting reins.

1st Half
> First pens against Wellingborough, for off feet.
> 6 mins Oundle 7 straight through our midfield, think he was surprised he had to run in and score under posts. Converted 0-7.
> 13 mins and consistent good pressure by Wellingborough, pen for offside. Another one against Oundle for offside, shot at goal and converted by Vickers
> 14 mins 3-7
> 17 mins tackle missed outside (Checkley) Oundle try. Conversion missed 3-12
> 20 mins great kick and chase, gathered by Harry B, offload to supporting Steven Gall. Converted by Vickers 10-12
> 24 mins further Boro pressure, Oundle pinged for hands in ruck, pen kick at goal missed by Vickers. 10-12
> 32 mins further good play by backs sees H Bryan cross for try, converted by Vickers 17-12.
> 35, kick chase, gather , great off load to supporting Bean for 3rd try and another conversion by Vickers, 24-12
> Half time (everyone needed a break and both coaches wanted to talk to their teams - no one at the ground would have predicted the final score at this point)

Wellingborough 24 v 12 Oundle

2nd Half
> Change from first half with Oundle pinged twice, holding on and then off feet at the ruck.
> 45 mins SUB. Connor Gordon off (bang to head) Rhys Fereday on.
> Checkley injury. Pen to Oundle.
> Oundle pinged, not releasing, good work at breakdown by Joel
> Good pressure by Boro, sees play into Oundle 22, knock on and Oundle scrum to relive pressure.
> 62 mins Connor Riley injured, Eddie Johnson on.
> James Maher on for Rhys Fereday
> 70 mins another pen to Boro, kick to touch and more pressure in Oundle 22.
> 75 mins Oundle pinged again, kick just wide of posts (Vickers)
> 80 mins ref calls time during play and over excited Boro forward through the ball out of play. Pen to Oundle. Kick to touch and line out on Boro 5m line.
> Everyone expected Oundle catch and drive but good defensive work sees Boro recover the ball. Covering scrum half (Seaton) tries to kick to touch but goes straight to Oundle player instead, then still with 4 m to Boro try line Oundle knock on and ref blows for time.

Full Time
Wellingborough 24 v 12 Oundle

> Good defense and good support play, heads up at all times and looking for work - no one watching from either side thought we would have a scoreless second half