Fri 28 Mar 2025, 19:30
This encounter was going to be interesting for several reasons. Both sides play at Counties 1 level with OC’s in West(South) and Newold in East(South). OC’s lie second in our league and Newbold third in theirs. So, on paper a close match. It proved to be just that with OC’s taking the victory with five tries and Newbold responding with four. 36-29 would be the final margin.
One or two player changes from last week but such is the quality in depth of this squad and the ability of many players to play in various positions the game plan and execution was seamless.
The game started well for OC’s with some good carries. Pressure came to nought and Newbold raced to the OC's 22 and kicked a penalty from in front within the first 3 minutes. OC’s go further behind when Newbold take a lineout on the left and a controlled drive sees them dot down for an unconverted try after 9 minutes. There are some good exchanges of play from end to end but the deadlock is broken after 18 minutes when Josh James breaks from the middle of the park to score between. Chat converts for a 7-8 scoreline.
We add a couple more tries within a six minute period. The first came from a wonderful break from No.10 Chat Senavirathne and the ball finally comes to Jack Fennell to continue his try scoring streak on the left. Chat has his kicking boots on today to make a great conversion. The next comes from JJ again. From a lineout 6 metres out on the right, Luke Ireland takes, Elliot Sheepy loops round and pops it to JJ at speed to score just right of the post. Chat converts and we have raced into a 21-8 lead after 25 minutes.
We go further ahead just before the break from a scrum when Elliot picks up, feeds his No.9 Sam Miles and then on to wing Ayuk Takang who scores on the right. Another excellent conversion from Chat and we are 28-8 ahead. Newbold will rally just before the interval following some frenetic play from both sides for a converted score and a half time score line of 28-15.
A lull in the try scoring for the first 30 minutes of the second half but plenty of good rugby. We get close a couple of times but we are kept out. When Newbld have the ball they have some very sharp backs and threaten. We deny them a lot of ball. We put hem under pressure at lineout and scrum and Sam Miles is giving his opposite No.9 a torrid time. However, Newbold’s revival continues from a lineout about 8 metres out from our line on the right. We almost rob it through Jack Fennell but Newbold scramble it and it comes to the centre at pace and he bustles over for a converted score to bring the game back to a 28-22 scoreline. We respond a few minutes later from an unfortunate error from Newbold where there attack from a scrum midway breaks down when the ball bounces from the chest of the attacking player into OC’s possession. We mount our own attack and Jack Fennell gets very close but finally Chat , whose confidence to back himself grows each week, crosses for a try which he is unable to convert. 33-22 scoreline.
There is little time left now but we are attacking down the left through Rhys Johns, who has been prominent with his carries all game , and Chris ain in support. We can’t cross on this occasion but we do get a penalty and Chat puts the game out of the Newbold reach with a goal.
We are still pressing but we get penalised on the Newbold line and they race up field. A kick through and chase is won by the Newbold attack for a converted try and a final score of 36-29.
Some good performances. The lads do it week in week out. Rhys johns and Jake Elvidge, who are not always inn the starting lineup can be proud of the shifts they put in tonight.
