OAs vs Old Emanuel RFC
(11th November 2006)

Old Emanuel - 8 [T - P]

Old Alleynians - 18 [T: Ross, Docherty; C: Docherty; P: Docherty (2)]

Old Alleynian's recorded their third consecutive win on Saturday as the mini revival in fortunes continued.  Facing their fifth away league fixture in the opening seven outings, Old Alleynian's controlled the majority of the game which the scoreboard failed to ultimately show. 

Opting to play into the elements in the first half, Old Alleynian's started strongly against a committed Old Emanuel pack.  It was the Old Alleynian's who opened the scoring when after a number of forward phases a penalty was awarded for handling in the ruck.  The penalty was converted from the left of the posts.  0-3.

Shortly afterwards a reality check was provided when after an intercession of passes in the backs the Old Emanuel centre broke through and touched down unopposed.  The conversion was missed.  5-3. From the restart the away pack started to assert their control on proceedings and provide the platform for the backs to attack.  A miss pass to Ross saw him round his opposite man and power through to cross for a well taken try.  The conversion was successful and Old Alleynian's opened a five point lead.  5-10.

Fresh from his holiday, Thomas started to cause problems for the Old Emanuel line out with continual disruption on their throw.  In defence the Old Alleynian's were resolute and provided scant reward for the Old Emanuel attack.  Having played into the cross wind and slope in the first half, Old Alleynian's were happy to head into the interval ahead.

The half time team talk revolved around taking the game to their pack further and securing territorial advantage. With the wind at their back and the pack providing a stable platform, Old Alleynian's started to kick for position and put pressure on the home line out.  With the
lineout being disrupted and scavenging play by the back row trio of Mahoney, Hartley and Harding, Old Alleynian's secured sufficient possession to pressure the home defence.  Buckley was twice denied in the corner and combined with a few frustrating handling errors and turnovers, OE's remained in the match.

Old Emanuel's reduced the scoreline to 8-10 when they did venture into the Old Alleynian half with a penalty from in front of the posts for handling in the ruck.  With the game arguably in the balance, Old Alleynian's continued with their kicking game and it soon paid dividends, with Wood and Pass forcing an attacking line out in the home 22.  From the lineout and a few close drives the ball came wide to Wood who released Docherty to score wide in the right hand corner.  The conversion missed to the left upright.  8-15.

Despite a brief scare when the Old Emanuel's broke through the midfield to the Old Alleynian 22, the match was safely closed out with a penalty from in front of the posts to extend the lead to ten points and a deserved win 8-18.

Old Alleynian's return to cup action this weekend, in the London third round of the Junior Vase, with a visit to Old Merchant Taylors of Herts/Middlesex League One.

Team: Woodford, Franklin, Van der Westhuizen, Juuko, Thomas, Mahoney, Hartley (c), Harding, Kent, Docherty, Pass, Ross, Agnew, Buckley, Wood.

Subs: Yearwood, Richardson.