OAs vs London Exiles
(Home - 29th September 2007)

Old Alleynians - 10 (0) [T: Murungi; C: Docherty; D: Docherty]

London Exiles - 0 (0)

Old Alleynians extended their unbeaten home league record to eight games over the last ten months with a hard fought victory over London Exiles at Dulwich Common on Saturday. The result served to send the Old Alleynians to the top of the Surrey One league table after this very close encounter.

Strong defence largely cancelled out the attacking capabilities of both sides, and along with a couple of missed penalties apiece, the match remained scoreless for 70 minutes. Old Alleynians had started strongly with the pack dominating the scrummage for most of the afternoon, but the home side failed to assert itself on the match due to the Exiles’ sturdy midfield defence and creative running from their back three.

Old Alleynians did well to rebuff a number of penalties on their own line in the closing minutes of the first half and turned around confident of executing their game plan in the second period. It took however a further thirty minutes for the deadlock to be broken, when Old Alleynians managed to get deep into the London Exiles’ half. A line out and a number of forward surges took play to the middle of the pitch, where Docherty dropped back and kicked a drop goal to give the Old Alleynians a slender lead.

The kick appeared to galvanise the Old Alleynians and they were soon on the attack again. With an improvement to the kicking game, London Exiles tried to force proceedings from deep in their own half. A quick line out on their 5m line was intercepted by the alert Murungi, who strolled in unopposed to win the game.

Overall not the prettiest of wins but the home side dug in when needed and retained their composure in the closing minutes to come out on top. The dominance in the scrum bodes well but clearer execution the game plan and an improvement to the kicking game is required to win the harder fixtures to come.

Old Alleynians now take a two week league break – this Saturday they entertain Askeans in a friendly before travelling to Chiswick for their first appearance in this season’s EDF Energy Junior Vase.

Team: Woodford, Topham, Van der Westhuizen, Martin, Thomas, Wright, Hartley, Hood, Kent, Docherty, Barnes, Barrett, Robertson, Wood, Ayres.
Subs: Murungi, Orr, Stevenson.