OAs vs Croydon
(31st March 2007)

Croydon RFC 12 (0) [2T; 1C]

Old Alleynian RFC 20 (8) [3T: Burris, Bradshaw, Mead; C: Docherty; P: Docherty]

Old Alleynian’s recorded their fifth consecutive league win away at Croydon on Saturday, completing the season double over their promotion counterparts of last season. With the home coach admitting before kick off that they were at full strength despite recent injuries and unavailability, Old Alleynian’s produced a clinical first half display against the howling wind to lay the foundations in a well deserved win.

Having won the toss Croydon opted to take first use of the elements but quickly found themselves 3-0 adrift following a close range penalty for killing the ball. Old Alleynian’s adapted better on the firm, expansive pitch by refusing to kick the ball and building phases from deep. They were rewarded when a half break led to a rolling maul, with Burris diving over to score.

Strangely Croydon opted to kick very little given the strength of the wind and with the Croydon pack not the dominant force of last season, the strong, but unimaginative, home backline struggled to gain any ascendancy against a resolute Old Alleynian defence. Richardson was prominent in the line out, stealing or disrupting, while the back row continually exposed the isolated Croydon runners on the wide pitch.

The disciplined first half display yielded a 8-0 interval lead but straight from restart Old Alleynian’s gifted Croydon with a try in front of the posts after a couple of passes went amiss. Despite the set back Old Alleynian’s responded when a half break in the centre allowed Bradshaw to receive an offload and score unopposed. With the conversion successful Old Alleynian’s, taking advantage of the wind, looked to force Croydon to attack from deep through their kicking game.

Midway through the half Croydon squandered an overlap when a pass was intercepted by Mead who chipped over the covering full back and dribbled over to score a well taken try. Old Alleynian’s were soon down to fourteen men when Juuko was sin binned for some cynical play, but during this time Croydon were unable to take advantage of the extra man.

In what proved to be a consolation, Croydon scored a try through their forwards a few minutes from time following a knock on deep in the Old Alleynian 22. With the conversion short Old Alleynian’s maintained an eight point advantage, safely closing out an enjoyable and well refereed game.

Team: Woodford, White, Van der Westhuizen, Juuko, Richardson, Mahoney, Burris, Hartley, Kent, Docherty, Mead, Sandars, Bradshaw, McElduff, Hollyer.

Subs: Jaanimagi, Thomas.