Post by John Jones on Sept 29, 2014 10:46:45 GMT
Old Eds looked to put the loss to Old Laurentians last week behind them as they faced Old Leamingtonians, a side that so far have not won a game in this league. The home side, however, started strongly and the Eds needed to call on all their defensive qualities to overcome early pressure. Strong running out of defence, notably by Tay Brown, and good rucking by the forwards soon saw them pressing the home try line but OLs cleared the danger only for Eds to be awarded a penalty that Jones pulled wide of the posts. A Stuart Holes kick to the corner led to more Old eds pressure and they were awarded a penalty after 16 minutes that Jones converted to make the score 0 – 3.
Eds lineout was working better this week although the forwards never achieved the set-piece dominance of previous weeks against a determined home pack, but OL’s backs made too many unforced errors to be a real threat.
After half an hour, eighteen year old debutant scrum half, Brad Darleston who had a tremendous game all round, sprinted away from the base of the scrum and over the try line without a hand being laid on him to make the score 0 – 8. On thirty-five minutes the other end of the age spectrum appeared when Craig Court, who it is rumoured will not see forty again, replaced Sam Perkins at prop. His experienced driving helped the forwards to fashion a try for Alex Cape and bring the score to 0-13.
The second half started with a number of changes. Perkins came back on to replace Court, and with Kalnins injured Whitehouse moved to Full- back and Brown into the centre. This led to a period of OL’s pressure as the Eds readjusted and only a desperate dislodging of the ball from an OL hand by Adam Jones saved a certain OLs try.
But Old Eds regrouped and a strong run by Stuart Holes from a lineout won by Sam Garnham led to a try to make the score 0 – 18 with Jones’ conversion pushing it out to 0 – 20.
Tries by Tay Brown and Stuart Holes, separated by one for OL’s from a lineout drive made the score after half an hour of the second half 5 – 30 but OLs were finishing strongly and scored a try to make the score 10 – 30. Eds fought back with a try from Dan Elkerton and the never-say-die attitude of the home team allowed them to score a late consolation try to bring the final score to 15 -35.
Whilst the Eds never really achieved the forward dominance of previous weeks the lineout was much improved and the back row again caused real problems for the opposition. Confidence and competence seemed to sum up the Eds performance and allowing that the injuries that players seem to be picking up with frightening regularity don’t get out of hand an interesting few months lie before us.
Eds lineout was working better this week although the forwards never achieved the set-piece dominance of previous weeks against a determined home pack, but OL’s backs made too many unforced errors to be a real threat.
After half an hour, eighteen year old debutant scrum half, Brad Darleston who had a tremendous game all round, sprinted away from the base of the scrum and over the try line without a hand being laid on him to make the score 0 – 8. On thirty-five minutes the other end of the age spectrum appeared when Craig Court, who it is rumoured will not see forty again, replaced Sam Perkins at prop. His experienced driving helped the forwards to fashion a try for Alex Cape and bring the score to 0-13.
The second half started with a number of changes. Perkins came back on to replace Court, and with Kalnins injured Whitehouse moved to Full- back and Brown into the centre. This led to a period of OL’s pressure as the Eds readjusted and only a desperate dislodging of the ball from an OL hand by Adam Jones saved a certain OLs try.
But Old Eds regrouped and a strong run by Stuart Holes from a lineout won by Sam Garnham led to a try to make the score 0 – 18 with Jones’ conversion pushing it out to 0 – 20.
Tries by Tay Brown and Stuart Holes, separated by one for OL’s from a lineout drive made the score after half an hour of the second half 5 – 30 but OLs were finishing strongly and scored a try to make the score 10 – 30. Eds fought back with a try from Dan Elkerton and the never-say-die attitude of the home team allowed them to score a late consolation try to bring the final score to 15 -35.
Whilst the Eds never really achieved the forward dominance of previous weeks the lineout was much improved and the back row again caused real problems for the opposition. Confidence and competence seemed to sum up the Eds performance and allowing that the injuries that players seem to be picking up with frightening regularity don’t get out of hand an interesting few months lie before us.