OAs vs Old Rutlishians
(11th March 2006)

Old Alleynian's RFC 18 (8)
[T: Robinson (2)
C: Docherty – P: Docherty (2)]

Old Rutlishians RFC 18 (3)
[T: 2 – C - P: 2]

Old Alleynian’s travelled to Old Rutlishians on Saturday and let a match, which they dominated in possession and territory for large sections, slip through their hands in the last twenty minutes. It was indeed the Old Alleynian’s who had to kick a penalty in the remaining minutes to come back level, before a final Old Rutlishians penalty was squandered which would have capped a remarkable comeback win.

Old Alleynian’s started strongly and continual infringements at the breakdown by the home pack, which continued throughout the first half, starved the game of any continuity. Playing with the slight wind advantage it was the away side that opened the scoring following a midfield break which allowed the supporting Joy to feed Robinson who finished comfortably out wide on the left. The conversion went wide. Following a further infringement midway through the half Old Alleynian’s increased the lead to 8-0 with a penalty.

Despite large portions of possession Old Alleynian’s failed to increase the lead before half time. The seemingly uneducated touchline support was growing increasingly frustrated through the number of penalties being given for the Old Alleynian’s. They were entirely justified with Old Rutlishians fortunate only to have their petulant hooker sin binned in the first half. A penalty just before half time narrowed the deficit and despite being outplayed for much of the first half Old Rutlishians found themselves only five points adrift at the break.

The second half started positively for the Old Alleynian’s when a midfield move allowed Robinson to side step his way past a couple of weak tackles to touch down to the right of the posts. The successful conversion increased the lead to 15-3. Soon after Van der Westhuizen found himself wide out on the wing after another free flowing move but was well tackled agonisingly short of the line. A defensive hand, which led to the full back being sin binned, foiled the resultant quick ball. The attacking line out platform didn’t lead to a score after a knock-on in midfield.

The home side continued to be aggravated by the referee’s whistle and this riled the home pack into action for the first time in the match. Led by their impressive Number 8, they took the match to Old Alleynian’s and a penalty reduced the arrears to 15-6.

The Old Alleynian’s line out soon failed to function giving Old Rutlishians possession which they had been starved of in the first half. A poor tackle out wide gifted Old Rutlishians a converted try and belief quickly spread in their game that the match was there to be won. A penalty for the Old Alleynian’s hit the post before a break by the full back, following another weak tackle, put the home side ahead 18-15 ahead with six minutes remaining.

Old Alleynian’s responded and a penalty for holding on gave the opportunity to level the scores. From in front of the posts the penalty was successful and the scores levelled. The last few minutes were played out before a penalty twenty metres in from the right provided Old Rutlishians a chance to gain an unlikely victory. The kick went wide and soon after the referee’s whistle signalled the end of a match that Old Alleynian’s once again should have won.

Team: Kobie van der Westhuizen, James Franklin, Tom Woodford, Charlie Southern, Bertie Campbell-Baldwin, Leon Orr, Andrew Ross, Matthew Vale, Fergus Davey, Tim Sandars (c), Jack Robinson, Jamie Docherty, Dan Mead, Yousef Salamony, Mike Joy.
Replacements: Cris Fordham, Giles Burris, Tom Foster

Author - Jamie Docherty