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Sat 29 Oct 2016 · London 2 South East
Old Alleynians
1st XV
24
14
The Performance's Keep Improving ........
Ian GEERING6 Nov 2016 - 17:40
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With two outstanding second half Performance's in recent weeks, mean it's only a matter of time before the results start to come.
Coming off an excellent second half performance the previous week there were cautious hopes for a revival of fortunes this week against an accomplished OA side, that had just suffered a thumping against Medway.
OA’s were naturally keen to forget last week’s performance and came at the visitors through their large pack, which provided quick ball to their impressive backs. With the ‘Boro backs slow to narrow the space, the momentum generated enabled gaps to be breached and only some excellent last ditch covering kept the scoreboard blank. Further great defence saw what seemed like a certain try from a catch and drive, held up over the line and from the scrum a long clearance up to half way cleared the threat.
However, against a side like OA’s it requires a full complement of players ,so for Ollie Jude-Trailor to be mysteriously yellow carded in the first five minutes, followed 10 minutes later, somewhat erroneously by Nick Hill for an alleged trip, was only to make life more difficult than it need be.
During this period, the diminutive Ben Searle gave his colleagues a tackling lesson 101, stopping the huge charging #8 on several occasions in his tracks with some classic low level tackling, although he understandably may have wondered where his cover was. However even his prowess was unable to halt said #8, from taking a lineout 10 metres out from the ‘Boro line and although brought to ground, rolled several times to score the first converted try of the afternoon. 7-0
With 15 minutes gone, OA’s were once more on the attack, exploiting the narrow ‘Boro defence that still allowed the opposition to get up momentum, and passing through three pairs of hands rounded the defence to score under the posts for the second converted try. 14-0
With both Hill and Jude –Trailor back on and Tom McMahon off, Liam Derrick came on slotting into the inside centre berth. Whilst reorganising OA’s were gifted a third unconverted try.19-0.
This, at last served to galvanise the visitors into action, and saw the ‘Boro pack compete for, and win constant possession that their backs took deep into the opposition half, only to be undone on three occasions within site of the line, either through inaccurate passing, or poor catching.
One such attack followed Ben Searles long pass out to Liam Derrick who fed the mercurial Sam Kisbee , who side stepped and breezed through several defenders during his sixty metre run, before being brought down, and having outstripped his support OA’s gratefully cleared up field bringing the half to an end 19-0.
From the restart OA’s were on the attack again determined to take the wind out of the sails of the resurgent ‘Boro side, and attacking down the left, the centre fended off an attempted tackle, (that had not attended the earlier Ben Searle master class) with a well-aimed hand-off , that enabled the winger to cross the line in the corner for an unconverted score 24-0.
Tragically, within minutes of the score, the OA centre appeared to dislocate or break a hip, and the game was halted for approx 25 minutes while an ambulance negotiated the South Circular. Relocated to another pitch, it was ‘Boro that adjusted to the delay better, bossing the remaining 30 minutes with some of the best rugby they have played all season, with Liam Derrick having his best performance by far in a ‘Boro shirt, directing the backs first from his centre position then at fly half, using the copious amounts of ball that their forwards competed for like ferrets.
With ‘Boro in the accendancy OA’s back peddled, and as ‘Boro closed in on the OA line, OA’s resorted to illegal activity with a penalty award to Boro. Nick Hill ignored the easy three points and seeing his forwards were at last motivated called for the scrum. A second penalty was awarded for collapsing but not a yellow. A third penalty with the same result was followed by a fourth and at last a yellow card for the prop, and from the final scrum ‘Boro drove the OA pack over their line only for the scrum to be collapsed again for a penalty try that was converted by Bertie Boast. 24-7
With still 20 minutes to go ‘Boro’s new found confidence, albeit probably too late, saw them fend off a well constructed OA attack, before once more moving the ball through the hands deep into the OA half. From a scrum Ben Searle fed Liam Derrick who drawing two defenders slipped the ball to Charlie Bulow to crash over in the corner with Bertie Boast converting and Boro within three of a losing bonus point. 24-14.
The closeness of the game had escaped no-one on or surrounding the pitch and with 10 minutes to go it was astonishingly, still all to play for. ‘Boro raised themselves better for this challenge, camping in the OA half, and it was a nail biting time for the home support before time eventually ran out for the visitors together with the chance of that all important losing bonus point.
Clearly ‘Boro’s remedy to their current predicament is literally in their own hands, with some of the very basic handling and defensive errors to be addressed, bolstered by the return of some of their more experienced players in key positions. This squad are more than capable of getting the results needed against two thirds of this league, but now need to build on the past two second half performances and put in a full 80 minutes graft, to get the results they and their supporters desire, and in doing so climb out of the bottom zone.
Match Report by Rick Howe.
OA’s were naturally keen to forget last week’s performance and came at the visitors through their large pack, which provided quick ball to their impressive backs. With the ‘Boro backs slow to narrow the space, the momentum generated enabled gaps to be breached and only some excellent last ditch covering kept the scoreboard blank. Further great defence saw what seemed like a certain try from a catch and drive, held up over the line and from the scrum a long clearance up to half way cleared the threat.
However, against a side like OA’s it requires a full complement of players ,so for Ollie Jude-Trailor to be mysteriously yellow carded in the first five minutes, followed 10 minutes later, somewhat erroneously by Nick Hill for an alleged trip, was only to make life more difficult than it need be.
During this period, the diminutive Ben Searle gave his colleagues a tackling lesson 101, stopping the huge charging #8 on several occasions in his tracks with some classic low level tackling, although he understandably may have wondered where his cover was. However even his prowess was unable to halt said #8, from taking a lineout 10 metres out from the ‘Boro line and although brought to ground, rolled several times to score the first converted try of the afternoon. 7-0
With 15 minutes gone, OA’s were once more on the attack, exploiting the narrow ‘Boro defence that still allowed the opposition to get up momentum, and passing through three pairs of hands rounded the defence to score under the posts for the second converted try. 14-0
With both Hill and Jude –Trailor back on and Tom McMahon off, Liam Derrick came on slotting into the inside centre berth. Whilst reorganising OA’s were gifted a third unconverted try.19-0.
This, at last served to galvanise the visitors into action, and saw the ‘Boro pack compete for, and win constant possession that their backs took deep into the opposition half, only to be undone on three occasions within site of the line, either through inaccurate passing, or poor catching.
One such attack followed Ben Searles long pass out to Liam Derrick who fed the mercurial Sam Kisbee , who side stepped and breezed through several defenders during his sixty metre run, before being brought down, and having outstripped his support OA’s gratefully cleared up field bringing the half to an end 19-0.
From the restart OA’s were on the attack again determined to take the wind out of the sails of the resurgent ‘Boro side, and attacking down the left, the centre fended off an attempted tackle, (that had not attended the earlier Ben Searle master class) with a well-aimed hand-off , that enabled the winger to cross the line in the corner for an unconverted score 24-0.
Tragically, within minutes of the score, the OA centre appeared to dislocate or break a hip, and the game was halted for approx 25 minutes while an ambulance negotiated the South Circular. Relocated to another pitch, it was ‘Boro that adjusted to the delay better, bossing the remaining 30 minutes with some of the best rugby they have played all season, with Liam Derrick having his best performance by far in a ‘Boro shirt, directing the backs first from his centre position then at fly half, using the copious amounts of ball that their forwards competed for like ferrets.
With ‘Boro in the accendancy OA’s back peddled, and as ‘Boro closed in on the OA line, OA’s resorted to illegal activity with a penalty award to Boro. Nick Hill ignored the easy three points and seeing his forwards were at last motivated called for the scrum. A second penalty was awarded for collapsing but not a yellow. A third penalty with the same result was followed by a fourth and at last a yellow card for the prop, and from the final scrum ‘Boro drove the OA pack over their line only for the scrum to be collapsed again for a penalty try that was converted by Bertie Boast. 24-7
With still 20 minutes to go ‘Boro’s new found confidence, albeit probably too late, saw them fend off a well constructed OA attack, before once more moving the ball through the hands deep into the OA half. From a scrum Ben Searle fed Liam Derrick who drawing two defenders slipped the ball to Charlie Bulow to crash over in the corner with Bertie Boast converting and Boro within three of a losing bonus point. 24-14.
The closeness of the game had escaped no-one on or surrounding the pitch and with 10 minutes to go it was astonishingly, still all to play for. ‘Boro raised themselves better for this challenge, camping in the OA half, and it was a nail biting time for the home support before time eventually ran out for the visitors together with the chance of that all important losing bonus point.
Clearly ‘Boro’s remedy to their current predicament is literally in their own hands, with some of the very basic handling and defensive errors to be addressed, bolstered by the return of some of their more experienced players in key positions. This squad are more than capable of getting the results needed against two thirds of this league, but now need to build on the past two second half performances and put in a full 80 minutes graft, to get the results they and their supporters desire, and in doing so climb out of the bottom zone.
Match Report by Rick Howe.
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