Sat 18 Nov 2023
After a narrow defeat last week to table-topping Ledbury, the OC’s faced a seemingly even tougher test this week away to Luctonians II’s. The home side boasted a 30-game winning streak heading in to the match – and they looked every inch the confident, powerful leaders of the League.
In blustery conditions, OC’s got off to a good start from the kick off, pinning Luctonians in their 22m area for the first few passages of play where they retained the ball and recycled it well. However, a poor kick chase gave the ball away to Luctonians far too easily. With some neat interplay and breaking through a few tackles, their zippy scrum half showed the OC’s defence a clean pair of heels and rounded things off in style from about 40 yards out for a converted try.
Luctonians, who were really well organised throughout the game, again put pressure on the OC’s defence and after spending some time in the OC’s 22m area, Luctonians flyhalf flighted a lovely cross field kick to his left winger who caught it cleanly and had an easy run in to the line to score another converted try. Not to be deterred, OC’s worked really hard to try and get back in to the game but met with some stern defence from the homeside. OC’s went further behind when, from a lineout on the halfway line, Luctonians caught and drove the ball forward beyond the 22m line and their centre picked up a short pass to cross the whitewash for a third converted try to the home team.
OC’s headed in to halftime without a score on the board. But there was no giving up or lack of determination from the OC’s players - they had just come up against a very strong, well-disciplined side whose confidence was obviously high following 30 wins out of their previous 30 matches.
Half Time: Luctonians II 21 v Old Coventrians 0
OC’s actually started the second half the brighter of the two sides, using the windy conditions to great effect to push the home side back in to their own half. However, an innocuous, loose kick from the Luctonians winger clearing the ball upfield was poorly dealt with by the OC’s defence who conceded a sloppy try against the run of play. The Luctonians No 10 stepped up and slotted home another nice conversion. Sadly, things didn’t improve for the OC’s. Straight from the kick off, the Luctonians left winger gathered the ball deep in his own half, broke a couple of poor tackle attempts and scampered towards the corner flag only to be hauled down by an OC’s defender. He was deemed to have tackled the player high and the referee felt that it merited both a penalty try and a yellow card.
In recent weeks, OC’s have responded well to being reduced to 14 players and it seemed as if this might again be the case. They worked the ball nicely into the opposition 22m and had a good 5-minute spell of pressure with some powerful runs from the forwards and the backs. Trying to force the play in an effort to break through the seemingly impregnable Luctonians defensive line, OC’s tried a very flat pass which was intercepted by the Luctonians centre who sprinted away to score under the posts from 80 metres out. Another cruel blow for the OC’s players.
Finally, the OC’s managed to get a much deserved first try of the game. Playing themselves neatly in to the home teams 22m area, they earned themselves a penalty which they kicked to the corner. A well-worked catch and drive from the subsequent lineout pushed the forwards ever closer to the opposition’s goal line. Some lovely pick and go’s from the forwards eventually saw Jake Elvidge deftly pick the ball off the back of the base of the ruck and dive over the line. Elliot Sheepy stepped up to successfully slot home a tough conversion from wide out.
Could this be an OC’s fight back – perhaps! Working their way smartly back in to the opposition’s 22, OC’s applied further pressure on the Luctonians defence, frustrating them in to making a few mistakes and giving away a few penalties – Luctonians eventually getting a player yellow-carded for ill-discipline. OC’s – who had scrummaged pretty well throughout the game against a bigger, heavier side – opted to go for the scrum and a powerful drive got them within inches of the line, where James Callaway picked up and dived over for OC’s second try of the game and his first try for the First XV. Unfortunately, Elliot Sheepy could not quite make the conversion.
That was it for the OC’s comeback! As they tried to force their way forward, a loose pass was caught by the wind and went straight into the hands of the pressurising Luctonians outside centre who gathered up the interception and scampered in under the posts to complete the scoring for the afternoon.
Final score: Luctonians II 49 v Old Coventrians 12
Not the result that the OC’s had wanted after a long coach drive out towards the Welsh border. But Luctonians are easily the strongest team in the League and the OC’s didn’t quite have the fire power to end their unbeaten run. Man of the Match deservedly went to Ollie Cunningham with a display of powerful bulldozing runs and strong, solid defence.
