 |
Pay Subs On-Line |
 |
|
|
Contents |
|
|
|
Who's Online |
|
There are currently, 12 guest(s) and 0 member(s) that are online.
You are Anonymous user. You can register for free by clicking here |
|
|
|
|
|
Forthcoming Fixtures |
|
11 September (RFU week 2)
1st XV play London Exiles 1st at home kick-off 3.00pm
2nd XV play Bec OB 2nd/3 at home kick-off 3.00pm
3rd XV play Staines 4th/4 away kick-off 3.00pm
4th XV play Woking 2nd/2 at home kick-off 3.00pm
18 September (RFU week 3)
1st XV play Old Blues 1st/3 at home kick-off 3.00pm
2nd XV play O.Tiffinian "Club" at home kick-off 3.00pm
4th XV play O.Walcountian 3rd/3 away kick-off 3.00pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest Results |
|
|
04 September (RFU week 1) |
|
| 1st XV | | 34 |
| Old Actonians 1st/4 | | 19 |
|
All results |
|
|
|
|
|
Player Registration |
|
|
|
|
OP 2s steal the show |
|
Posted on Wednesday, September 30 @ 14:02:54 BST by evsy |
 OP 2nd XV 20 vs. Old Wellingtonians 2nd XV 13
Saturday 17th October 2009
Surrey Conference 1 Merit League
An unfortunate combination of holidays, injuries, fixture mismatches and ‘donations’ of players to the 1s had meant that the 2s season so far had been a farce to rival anything penned by Moliere or Chekhov. This had to change in the week when we were given top billing at the ‘St. Pauls School International Rugby Festival’. Promises were made of hundreds, nay thousands, of partisan supporters roaring on every touch with a passion unseen since Billy Kennedy first laid eyes on Anne Wilkinson.
It was therefore something of a let-down to arrive to see two stewards and a couple of kids playing on the swings (separately, not together in case anyone from the NSPCC is reading). The 4th of June it wasn’t. But coping with disappointment is a quality any team needs to develop on the way to success. So, light of heart and heavy of concentration out trotted the team onto the allegedly hallowed turf of the 1st XV pitch, past the visiting OWs who had already been there for a good 30 minutes. Eschewing ‘progressive’ warm-up regimes like stretching, playing touch or running drills, OPs did it old school with all the forwards practising drop goals and the backs introducing themselves to each other and deciding who was playing where while Carrsy had a fag.
It was a method that initially paid higher dividends than Berkshire Hathaway, as OPs ran in three tries within the first 30 minutes in a mouth-watering display of champagne rugby. All over the park breakdown battles were being won, offloads were going to hand and tackles were being beaten. Against a considerably larger pack OPs held their own in the scrum and lineout – credit to the front row of Josh, NFL Hero John Madden and ex-captain Mark ‘Fozzy’ Foster – and pinned OWs down in their own half through clever distribution, incisive running and unrelenting pressure.
No-one can quite recall who scored the first (unconverted) try, but for the second score Foz, returning wearing a number considerably lower than the last time he played for OPs, gleefully broke down the blindside and trundled around almost under the posts. This was after solid work from the backs chasing up a well-weighted kick from Johno, and quick ball turned over by Ali. The extras, again, weren’t added.
Ben Palairet, finally playing in his preferred midfield position, crashed over a few minutes later on first phase ball although was almost caught, Will Carling-esque, over the line when trying to get closer to the posts to make the conversion easier. He needn’t have bothered – it was missed anyway.
In a move that was unfortunately more predictable than Simon Cowell’s black-suit-white-shirt combo, OPs took their foot off the gas and let OWs back into a game that should have been closed out. Early success in turning over the opposition at the breakdown led to complacency, with the intensity levels dropping. As with all games this season, interpretation of the rules by referees has been a curate’s egg – particularly contentious is Law 15.6(c). For those who can’t recall the exact wording, it relates to the first player to a ruck being able to use their hands for the duration of the ruck, and OPs were penalised on a few occasions for perfectly legal play. Also, like an ill-judged Saturday night conquest emerging from under the duvet, the self-flagellation of ill-discipline reared its ugly head. The second half penalty count against OPs mounted quicker than the chocolate cake on Max’s plate after the game. What this did, however, was afford OPs the opportunity to practise their defence. OWs set up camp in OPs 22 for so long in the second half you wondered if they’d made a pre-match trip to Millets. All credit to the fringe and midfield defence that it was only from two stupid errors – both from poor passes out of the ruck on the line – that OWs scored their two tries to add to a penalty.
At 15-13, and with the tension tighter than a nuns nethers, OPs rediscovered their attacking flair – aided by fresh legs off the bench (a novelty this season!) in the form of Sav and Tom Attenborough. Another delicate chip over the rush defence by our rotund fly-half was hacked on by Tiny, forcing OWs to concede a line-out deep in their 22. A perfectly executed catch, drive and rolling maul led to a try for OPs no 8. Commentators would have called it a move ‘straight off the training ground’, if only this team knew when training was.
So all in all a good return, albeit with a worrying Ospreys-like attempt to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Thanks to the non-regulars who came down: Foz, Thin Sheppard (who proved that Max’s bulk isn’t genetic) and Jay (playing his second game in 4 days), and to those who came down for the first time or first time in a while. In keeping with the recent increase in actual OPs playing, there were 6 in the squad – certainly a record number for a game your correspondent has played in – which is fantastic news, and long may the numbers grow.
The most pleasing aspect was the way the whole team dug in and refused to lose nerve when OWs rallied – if winning teams are built on defence then this team has the makings of one that could go far. This performance makes the detritus of the previous weekend all the more frustrating but shows that with a full complement, and with consistency of availability and selection this team can compete. Maybe the School should host a rugby festival every week.
Team: Micky, Tiny, Carrn’t kick, Ben, Gaz, Crab, Angry, Hero, Ali G, Scholesy, Fat Sheppard, Thin Sheppard, Fozzy, NFL Hero, Josh. Subs: Sav, Tom
Scorers: Tries: Fozzy, Ben, Hero (+1 other – not sure who). Conversions: none
MOM: Ali Glass – for bossing the breakdown, strong carrying & great link work. But as you didn’t come to the pub afterwards, Ben had to do your pint – a creditable 7 seconds.
COM: Carrn’t kick – the clue is in the name
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Related Links |
|
|
|
Article Rating |
|
Average Score: 5
Votes: 5
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options |
|
|
|
|
Sorry, Comments are not available for this article. |
|
|
|
|
|
