Match Report: 9th April 2005
First team: Dronfield 8 vs 5 Ollerton

How Ollerton failed to score the required try in the second half will mystify the club for a while after the season has finished. That is all it would have taken to win the game and take the clubs survival in to the last game of the season in two weeks time at home to Buxton. As it is, Ollerton are doomed to relegation after a up and down season which could have been rescued. Dronfield were in the same situation and proved to be very determined opponents and had the upper hand in the first half. After 5 minutes Ollerton had an attacking 5 meter scrum but committed the cardinal sin and lost the ball against the head with the try line begging to be crossed. Soon after, Dronfield scored what proved to be the decisive points with a penalty well slotted over. The score remained constant for the next 20 minutes with the Dronfield forwards bashing away at the Ollerton defense who managed to soak up all the pressure until the 32nd minute. Dronfield set
up a well drilled maul 10 meters from the line but despite desperate defending managed to roll it round and score. There was one bright moment for Ollerton when Ryan Bartle managed to find a gap in the defense, as he has done in the last few games but a lack of support saw the move fall
down.
Half time 8-0
Ollerton came out in the second half knowing the importance of the next 40 minutes of rugby. They then threw everything at Dronfield in their attempt to score, but lacked a little inspiration and ounce of luck that would have seen them score several tries as they deserved. Eric Cranmer and Luke Dymyd both had opportunities out wide but ran out of room and were stopped short by the touch judges. The wind and driving rain made conditions difficult but they were no excuse for several handling errors that also cut moves short that could have seen Ollerton round the back of the Dronfield defense. In the 68th minute Ollerton finally got the score they needed with a great try for the evergreen Eric Cranmer. The ball was shipped down the line for Simon Hayward who drew 2 defenders and put in Cranmer who ran outside 3 players before coming to with in 5 meters where he stopped, let the last 2 defenders run past him and he was able to slip in to score. 8-5 and 12 minutes to go. In the mean time Ollerton were getting desperate and despite repeated warnings from the referee saw two players, including scrum half Fred Ford, for the first time in his long and distinguished career sin binned for persistent ‘offside’ at rucks. Although being men down Ollerton pressed and pressed and despite excellent chances Dronfield held firm for the win that sees them safe for another season. Ollerton have one game left to end the season with some pride, in the cruel and ironic world of sport, they will probably go out with a flourish. Man of the match went to Mark Hayden with the other back row players; James Hooper and Mark Laughton also
getting special praise from the Dronfield officials for inspirational performances, unfortunately they were all in vain.
Second Team: Dronfield 2nds 29 vs 12 Ollerton 2nds
A mixture of Ollerton 2nds and 3rds joined their 1st team counter parts for the long away trip to Abbey Road Sports field, current home of Dronfield RFC. The away side made the brighter start scoring early in the first half through fly half Billy Stevenson after a good break from Andy Clifton. Stevenson duly converted, 7-0 to Ollerton. Dronfield then came back to draw level but Ollerton were soon back in the lead through Tommy Steele after good lineout work, where Ollerton took their own ball and set up a rolling maul which allowed Steele to pull off and score. Two tries later on in the first half saw Dronfield go in at half time 17-12 up. The second half was even through out until 2 late tries and another conversion saw Dronfield increase their lead and subsequent final score to 29-12. Ollerton’s mixed team showed great spirit and man of the match went to prop Tommy Steele who came back very strong from a serious knee injury. Next week sees the 2nd team play their final Pennant game of the season away at Worksop.
Third Team:

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