Veseyans brought along a strong side which reflected
their current position as joint league leaders, having only lost once this
season, and the match was to be a stern test for the OY’s determined to continue
their recent improvement in form. The match proved to be tight and defensive
with few real scoring opportunities, with the OY’ powerful pack dominating up
front, but having to cope when possession was lost with the very well organised
and mobile Veseyans backs.
Veseyans took the lead after ten minutes with a penalty,
but it was not until four minutes from half time that the OY’s resistance was
finally broken by a fine Veseyans threequarter move originating from an unforced
error during an attack by the OY’s, and culminating with the left winger going
over in the corner for an unconverted try.
The second half started well for the OY’s, but an early
long range penalty attempt by Walker was narrowly wide. OY’s upped the pace through the forwards,
with Grainger, Painter and Lazenby putting in strong performances. The resulting
pressure increased on the visitors, with the result that twelve minutes into the
half a hurried clearance kick was charged down by OY’s left wing Pearce, who
collected the ball for a fine converted try under the posts, bringing the score
to 7-8 to the visitors
The game continued with pace and intensity, both sides
being evenly matched, with OY’s getting on top after twenty two minutes, to camp
on the Veseyans line. At this point both sides were indulging in a little off
the ball activity and the referee took steps to defuse the situation. OY’s
reapplied the pressure, but unfortunately the OY’s scrum half, about a minute
after the general warning took the law into his own hands and was sin binned for
ten minutes. The OY’s, with the pressure reversed were forced for the next ten
minutes, to defend deep in their own territory, and it is a credit to all on the
field that they did so, only conceding one penalty, for offside in midfield,
converted by the visitors to bring the score to 7-11
Back to full strength, with about five minutes to go,
OY’s attacked to gain a scrum on the visitors 22. A powerful drive sent Veseyans
back to within five metres of their line, and they conceded a penalty. The scrum
was reformed with the OY’s to put in, and a pushover try was anticipated. In the
event, and despite having good control of the ball at the base of the scrum all
match, the ball shot out of the side of the scrum, was hacked upfield by the
Veseyans scrum half, and the chance, and the match was lost.
OY’s can take much from a good performance against a
strong side in a match that could have gone either way right to the end, the
final score being 11-7 in favour of the Veseyans. This coming Saturday sees the Yards visit
Bishops Castle for a league match.
Old Yards Development xv 39 v Alcester 2nds 0