 BUZZARD Colts 29 v OLNEY Colts 24
East Midlands Referees Cup Pool Round
Buzzards were due to play Bugbrooke in the league, but were very fortunate to rearrange at short notice with Olney, in the Referees Cup pool round.
The “new“ Olney pitches were extremely water logged and were suffering from a massive number of stones coming through to the surface, with drowning and laceration equal probabilities!
Buzzards started much the stronger of the two sides and endeavoured to move the ball, poor technique and difficulties under foot, saw the backs make a number of uncharteristic handling errors. The forwards although dwarfed in the pack, were dominating the opposition, particularly at the set scrummage and supplied the backs with a steady stream of possession. Olney disappointedly infringed at ever opportunity in order to stop Buzzard making progress and were very fortunate not to loose a number of players for repeated offences.
Winterburn on the wing broke the deadlock, when yet another penalty was moved and he raced into the corner for a well deserved score. Tom Cormie the youngest of the “hooking” clan was next top score when he barrelled over up the short side from 10m, both difficult conversions were narrowly missed and Buzzards were cursing 10-0 after 15 minutes.
Olney strove hard to make ground, but were struggling for possession, they opted to kick at goal when Buzzards were adjudged to have infringed 35m out and a well stuck kick in difficult conditions brought them back into the game at 10-3.
Buzzard’s response as almost immediate and Whitehouse cut through the Olney defence to cross under the posts and convert his own try, 17-3. It was all one way traffic at this stage, but the heavens opened and the heavy driving rain made Buzzards handling game extremely difficult to say the very least!
Olney were in big trouble in the scrummage, but competed well at the breakdown and line out. Buzzard’s dominance was almost complete as Olney gave away literally dozens of penalties in order to prevent further scores. Scrum half Esdon was the next to cross the line as he sniped though the struggling defence wide out. 22-3
Braithwaite completed the scoring for the first half when he scythed thought the Olney backs and with some great illusive running dotted down under the posts , conversion Whitehouse 29-3.
Buzzards made seven half time changes in order to give the whole squad some much needed game time and some of the less experienced players were given the opportunity to challenge for places. Unfortunately for all, the game as a spectacle was ruined by the wind, driving rain, flooded pitch and the inability of either side to play error free rugby. The match was a procession of penalties, free kicks, scrums and line outs & Olney were leniently allowed to opt out of the set scrummage, giving them possession for almost the first time in the game.
Olney to their credit took on the challenge and set about the Buzzards with a passion and hunger clearly not evident in the Buzzards side. Their limited game plan was ideal for the conditions and they were spurred on when they made ground by keeping things tight. Buzzards were guilty of a lack of commitment to the breakdown in the second half and Olney prospered. Buzzards looked cold & disinterested and in sharp contrast Olney were very focused.
Olney were rewarded with a well deserved converted try under the posts after 15m when Buzzards failed to defend close to the breakdown, following some excellent loose work by the Olney pack 29-10.
Buzzards were questionably penalised at repeated scrummages, when their opponents were guilt of failing to engage correctly on numerous occasions, or wheeled out of contact, or shot backwards at a phenomenal rate of knots. As a consequence, Olney dominated territory with the benefit of the strong wind.
Olney continued to press the Buzzard line and were putting the defence under real pressure. Buzzards defended well, but were totally thwarted when the match official blew for an Olney penalty and then bizarrely allowed Olney to play on and score under the posts, with the crowd and Buzzards both looking extremely confused. 29-17.
Buzzards themselves made some good breaks and only some good defence by Olney and odd handling errors that prevented the score that would effectively end their resistance.
Olney heads were up and they threw everything they had into the final moments of the game. They were justly rewarded when they broke though the middle of a very poor Buzzard midfield defence, to score a converted try, again under the posts 29-24.
Buzzards played out the last few minutes under no threat, but Olney showed that passion, commitment & effort are all important traits in this game, regardless of the score! A proverbial game of two halves, well played Olney for a valiant second half fight back. Buzzards clearly have some work to do.
Congratulation to Conrad Braithwaite on his debt selection to the 1st XV for next weeks League encounter away at Matlock. Joining Colts Messum, Janes, Lingard, Overton & Hamper in the squad.
Congratulation to Colts squad man George Messum, who has been a constant in this season East Midlands U20 side that has progressed undefeated to the Midlands Divisional finals. Good luck v Notts, Lincs & Derby, Twickenham, we all hope, beckons!
East Midlands Referees Cup Pool Round
Home v Stewarts & Lloyds Corby
Saturday 13th February Meet 1:45 KO 3:00
All Supporters very welcome.
Training Tuesdays & Thursdays 7:00 to 8:30.
New players of all abilities are very welcome.
http://www.buzzardrugby.co.uk
|
