OAs vs Weybridge Vandals
(Home - 11th October 2008)

Old Alleynians FC 17 (3) [T: Sandars, Mead; C: Docherty (2); D: Docherty]

Weybridge Vandals 23 (15) [3T; 1C; 2P]

So close yet so far as the early league leaders Weybridge Vandals survived a scare at a glorious Dulwich on Saturday. A disallowed try under the posts in the final play of the game, after a period of concerted pressure in which a Weybridge player was sin binned, consigned Old Alleynians to a home narrow defeat.

Having won the toss Old Alleynians played against the slight elements in the first half and were immediately on the back foot when a close range line out catch and drive provided Weybridge with the opening score on the left touchline. A penalty soon after for not rolling away at the breakdown extended the early lead to 8-0 before Old Alleynians responded with a drop goal, after a penalty miss.

The first half was a tight affair with the Weybridge pack on the front foot while the Old Alleynian back line was finding space in attack. The line out was evenly contested with Thomas disrupting the Weybridge line out on a regular basis. Towards the end of the first half the Old Alleynian defence was caught cold when a turnover ball was spread wide for the Weybridge winger to score.

The second half was a tight affair as Old Alleynians looked to secure field position while Weybridge looked to their pack and inside centre to assert authority. Weybridge extended the lead through a midfield penalty before a break and offload from Aitken-Read provided Sandars with a run in to the left of the posts to reduce the deficit to 18-10.

With Old Alleynians growing in confidence and benefitting from a number of penalties, Mead sliced the Weybridge midfield defence to score under the posts 18-17. The momentum was short lived as a missed tackle in the Old Alleynian midfield gave Weybridge the potential winning score to the left of the posts. With the conversion missed however Old Alleynians chased a six point deficit in the dying minutes.

From the kick off play Old Alleynians soon reclaimed the ball and play was taken into the Weybridge 22. Desperate defence stopped a number of drives before a couple of penalties led to a yellow card and a final assault at the Weybridge line. Old Alleynians did manage to break the Weybridge defence but the referee, probably correctly, adjudged crossing. With the resultant penalty cleared off the field Weybridge ran out eventual winners 23-17.

This was an encouraging display from the Old Alleynians whom are steadily coming to terms with the higher league standard having played most of the top teams in their opening five games. This weekend the team travel to Hove of London 3 SE in the second round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase.

Team: Woodford, Franklin, Jaanimagi, Juuko, Thomas, Mahoney, Aitken-Read, Hood, Kent, Docherty, Mead, Sandars, Hill, Judge, Robertson.

Subs: Fison, Hartley, Obaro.