v Whitchurch

1st XV Match Report Midlands 1 West – Saturday 18th September Old Laurentians 33 – Old Halesonians 22 When Halesonians’ backs scythed through the home defence to run in three tries inside the first fifteen minutes of this game and built a 17-0 lead, it looked as though OLs were in for a torrid afternoon with damage limitation the only available strategy.

But quite the opposite occurred. The whole Laurentian XV gritted their teeth, buckled down to the task and took the game to their much fancied opponents, with the result that this deficit had been turned into a 21-17 lead by half time.

Even then there was a certain nervousness amongst the watching OLs supporters who would have been quite happy for the game to have finished at the break. But that view wasn’t shared by OLs players as they kept up the remorseless pressure applied on their increasingly demoralised opponents in the latter part of the first half right through to the final whistle, to pull off an outstanding win.

In that opening spell, the fleet footed Halesonian backs appeared to be scoring tries for fun when wings Rose and Smith and scrum half Wagstaff went over, full back Hooper converting one. But, superbly rallied and led by skipper Glenn Todd, OLs had other ideas.

Their task was made that much tougher by the loss of their outstanding young lock forward, Ben O’Riordan, with a serious knee injury after just 15 minutes play. But, undaunted, OLs pack took control of the game with a sustained exhibition of controlled driving play, to which Hales appeared to have no answer.

The game was now being played on OLs terms and the dangerous Halesonian back line was denied any opportunity to repeat their opening blitz and when they did threaten they were cut down by OLs tacklers. It took some desperate defence on several occasions to deny OLs forwards but the ever increasing pressure told after 25 minutes when hooker Ollie Cowley broke away from a maul on the visitors’ 22 to put in a delightful little grubber kick through the defence. Flanker James Orbinson was quickest to the ball as it bounced over the try line and touched down for OLs first score, Denzil Evans converting – 7-17.

The home pack mounted a further series of driving raids on the Hales line and at the thirty five minute mark they had sucked in so many defenders that when the ball was released Iain Wallis was able to cut through at will and score under the posts with a spare man outside him – 14-17 after Evans conversion.

Try though they may, Hales could not escape the stranglehold. An attempted clearance after a lineout on their 22 was charged down by Evans and Danny Murch was up to score, Evans converting – 21-17 at half time.

The pattern continued into the second half. After five minutes, Richard Parker broke through with Orbinson in support, Hales offended as they scrambled back in defence and Evans put over a penalty for 24-17. The visitors did try and hit back with a series of scrums near OLs line, but gritty home defence kept them out, Parker and Todd combining to turn the ball over and clear their lines.

Hales did get a try back – their first score for 50 minutes – after a poor pass went to ground as OLs were countering and centre Carl Robinson capitalised to go over in the corner to reduce the margin to 24-22.

But OLs responded straight from the re-start, Evans kicking a penalty for 27-22 when he had been tackled very late after lifting a chip kick over the visitors’ defence. The pressure continued from OLs, resulting in two more penalty awards that Evans put over with aplomb to finally sink Halesonians. The fly half finished with 18 points, finding the target /continued overleaf