Match Report:
16th April 2005 |
First team: Ollerton’s
penultimate week of competitive rugby saw their 1st XV travel away to
Meden Vale for a friendly, their 2nd team completed the seasons
Pennant fixtures with a tough away fixture at Worksop 2nds while the
3rd team played a home fixture against Newark 4ths.
The 1st team arrived at Meden not knowing if the game would go ahead
with only 10 opponents available. By 3 o’clock Meden had a side and
were ready to commence battle in a game that was always going to be
hotly contested. Ollerton drew first blood early on as captain Stuart
Parker powered his way
over the line after a strong, dogged run, 5-0. Ryan Bartle extended
the lead with a well taken penalty, 8-0. The rest of the half saw a
difference in tactics with Ollerton allowing their backs full freedom
to run and Meden Vale using their experienced pack to try and bludgeon
their way through the Ollerton defense. Neither side saw any rewards
as the defenses maintained on top, however Ollerton did create several
half chances which only ended up with blatant forward passes at the
crucial moment. Half time remained 8-0 to Ollerton.
The beginning of the second half remained the same with Ollerton
attacking but to no avail. Meden Vale used the ball well when they had
it but it was Ollerton who scored first in the second half. After
numerous attacking opportunities a piece of skilful running by fly
half Chris Ford saw him beat several men from the 22, to dart under
the posts and score. The conversion was added by Ford himself which
took the score to 15-0. Meden Vale then upped their game which saw
them reach Ollerton’s 5 meter line from which they were awarded a
scrum. Pressure from the Vale pack saw the scrum slightly rotate which
opened a gap for the scrum half to pick up and score, 15-5. The final
score of the game came from the final play which saw 2nd row Darren Wilford score a deserved try. Sean Cogan caught a Vale
defensive clearance in his own half and ran it back toward the 22
where he offloaded to Chris Ford who made space for the supporting
Wilford to score under the posts, from where Ford converted. Final
score 22-5. |
Second Team: The
second team played a very experienced Worksop side and came unstuck
55-19. The game started badly for Ollerton as poor defense allowed
Worksop to score immediately from kick off. Ollerton then dug in and
began to make a game of it until towards the end of the half where
Worksop scored 3 more tries and 2 penalties taking their points tally
to 26. Ollerton managed one bright moment from a quickly taken penalty
where the Ollerton forwards created space for fly half Billy Stevenson
to score which he converted himself. Worksop went in at half time 26-7
up.
The second half saw Ollerton start the brighter and were awarded a
penalty try for persistent offside from the Worksop forwards,
Stevenson added his second conversion which took the score to 26-19.
Worksop then upped their performance which saw them score several more
tries taking the game out of Ollerton’s reach and their points tally
to 55. The final try of the game came from Ollerton winger Pete Oates
who capped a great move by scoring the try of the game making the
final score 55-19. Ollerton's man of the match went to scrum half,
Matt Abdy for a fine all round performance. Despite
the score it was a much improved display from the second team who have
had one of their toughest campaigns in the clubs history. All eyes
will be on next season where they hope to maintain a consistent squad
and build the confidence of last season back up. |
Third Team: Performance
of the weekend yet again went to the 3rd team who beat Newark 4ths by
one point; 15-14. Ollerton scored first with a penalty from Tony
Storrs, 3-0. After 20 minutes of tight play Ollerton got the upper
hand in a maul in which they drove the Newark pack back and drew in
their defense allowing space for the returning Nick Pearce to score
under the posts where T Storrs didn’t convert, 8-0. Newark reduced
the deficit to 8-7 from a shortened lineout which saw their number 8
take the ball at the back and score. Newark then reversed the
advantage with a try from their inside center who went on a powerful
run through the Ollerton defense to score a converted try and make the
half time score 14-8 to Newark.
Ollerton came out in the second half and were determined to win. The
winning try came from Jamie Price after a well constructed move in the
back line. As the ball moved in to the Newark 22, Craig Barnett moved
forward creating space for winger Price to score in the corner. T
Storrs redeemed himself from his earlier miss and put the conversion
over. Man of the match went to hooker Steve Wallis although it took 3
try saving tackles from Steve Porzse Jnr to keep Ollerton in front.
Next week sees the final league game of the season for the first team
at home to Buxton and then a St Georges day knees up in memory of John
and Bob. Full details are available in the Plough, Ollerton. |
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