1st XV match report v Old Saltleians (Continued) OLs were now very much in the hunt with their tails up; the pack was winning a good share of possession and prop forward Chris le Poidevin was having a storming game, regularly troubling Salts defence with his charging runs. As the clock ticked down and with little more than ten minutes to go, OLs forwards mounted a great drive and from a scrum just inside the opposition half Parker and Adams combined well to send Bayliss away down the right. The wing shrugged off a couple of tackles and his pace did the rest as he scorched over for a try half way out. Miller’s conversion attempt drifted just wide, but OLs had the lead for the first time at 14-12. This signalled a finale of high drama as Salts went back on the offensive in a last attempt to salvage the game. They won a five metre scrum, but OLs forced them back with aggressive defence as they tried to attack the line, Paul Willis leading the charge like a man inspired! The home side’s efforts became increasingly frenetic as they tried to break down OL’s stubborn defence. As the minutes ebbed away they missed a kickable penalty that would have won the game; then, unaccountably, ran another close range penalty and were swallowed up by OL’s tacklers. Scrum half Parker and his back row of Gleghorn, Adams and Glenn Todd were harrying and hustling around the fringes, refusing to allow the home side any space or time to set up a drop goal attempt or build any attacks. And OL’s back line, as they had throughout, kept Salts dangerous backs in check, Iain Wallis at fly half, together with centres Murch and Miller, covering and tackling with unerring efficiency. After a Salts drop goal attempt sailed wide, the referee blew for time and OLs had won a famous victory that sees them promoted at last after three near misses in recent seasons. Midlands One will present a tough test, but this side is young and improving all the time and has the ability and confidence to trouble the best in the higher league
Report by Bill Wallis
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