OAs vs Battersea Ironsides
(29th March 2008)

Battersea Ironsides RFC - 5

Old Alleynians FC - 17

OA's travelled to Battersea intent on putting a big score on a struggling Battersea side in the penultimate league game of the season.

Unfortunately the conditions didn't allow for the normal OA quick running game and merit goes to Battersea for a strong start.

Tight defending round the rucks was always key with Battersea determined not to put much width on the game. Big tackling led to the opening OA score with Battersea spilling the ball in the OA half. Stand-in skipper Thomas, who displayed good skills to pounce on the loose ball, found himself 50 meters out with a clear run-in ahead. Thomas pinned his ears back & visualized a swallow dive under the posts, but showing a deceptive lack of pace more akin to Robbie Williams than Shane Williams was caught within 20 meters (possibly by a prop but this is still to be confirmed). The now grounded and exhausted Thomas however showed good awareness to keep the ball alive & quick hands saw Rutteman cross on the left.

Growing confidence and a creditable effort to keep running the ball in the worsening conditions led to extended pressure on the Battersea line. The referee, clearly playing up to the watching assessor, harshly carded the Battersea blind side for killing the ball. Numerical advantage helped OA's increase the lead. Foster, after several near misses, was released on the right by a terrific offload from the evergreen Ayres, Foster as clinical as ever dived over in the corner.

The second half was barely minutes old when OA's effectively put the game to bed with Foster again dotting down in the right hand corner after good continuity & slick hands. Foster in this form will surely end the season with the highly coveted top try scorer award - I believe this year the skipper has offered a handsome cash prize? The conversion was amazingly nailed from the touchline by Rutteman - amazing due to the high swirling wind, comically small posts and bearing in mind the result of the previous two efforts!

Sensing the game was won OA's took the foot of the pedal and allowed a battling Battersea side to camp in the OA half for pretty much the remainder of the game. The all-round strong defence was breached only once when a strong scrummage and drive by Battersea allowed them to burrow over in the corner - the score being greeted by much football-esque woop-wooping from the players and fans alike. The fringe defence from the back row, Mahoney - still grinning from the recent Grand Slam win for the Welsh, Hartley and Wright - both still frowning from the recent Grand Slam win by the Welsh, was typically stout. Good use of the wind, a whistle happy ref and cultured left boot from Sandars helped keep Battersea at bay for the final 20 mins. The ever worsening weather meant it wasn't a great day to be on the wing so credit goes to No11 Wood who saw far more of the ball fetching it for the opposition hooker than he did in open play. Credit also to to the die-hard OA supporters who turn up come rain or shine.

OA's can take heart from a top all round disciplined defensive effort and move onto the remaining month of the season in high spirits.

Team:

1. Tom Woodford
2. James Franklin
3. James Wisson
4. Bart Thomas (c)
5. Rob Brown
6. Paul Mahoney
7. John Hartley
8. Jonny Wright
9. Phil Kent
10. Phil Rutteman
11. Tim Wood
12. Johnny Boyle
13. Tim Sandars (vc)
14. Tom Foster
15. Richard Ayres
16. Kobie Van Der Westhuizen
17. Paul Buckley