I will start this report by saying I make no apologies to fans of Reading Rams, Old Albanians or the French in general when I say that this mornings B-team performance completed a hat-trick of fantastic rugby results this weekend!
Disappointingly, we were left with little option but to concede the cup fixture to OA's before a ball was kicked in anger due to player eligibility, injuries and availability but both teams were keen to play a friendly fixture and what a fixture it was.
The first half ebbed and flowed evenly, OAs opening the scoring with a converted try only for Stortford to respond immediately from the restart when Nathan (Capt) kicked deep into the OA half and Jacob lead the charge putting the opposition under pressure before carrying the ball over the line to score out wide before slotting home a difficult conversion. The next converted try went the to OA's following strong running from their number 8 and good support from the hooker, but once again we responded instantly, playing good offensive rugby, our forward pack hitting rucks with aggression and intent with Paidi and Nathan working well together to recycle the ball from every break down and eventually get the ball into the hands of Joe for him to score our second try driving over beneath the posts to give Jacob an easier kick to bring the score level. An un-converted try from OAs gave them a 19-14 lead at half time but our lads were on the front foot once more when the half-time whistle blew.
We were caught slightly off-guard at the start of the second half and after just a minute OAs stretched their lead to 26-14, but once again heads did not drop and after the half-time tactic chat we managed to take advantage of the pace of our backs and Ali M was able to power himself through the defence and get up to full speed down the wing scoring out wide leaving Jacob a kick that even he could not convert (26-19), but it was game on and we had found the way through. On the hour mark some fantastic rugby in the centre of the field saw forwards taking turns to make powerful carries to gain yard after yard before the ball was quickly sent through hands out to Jacob who ran over his second try of the game which he duly converted (26-26). The OAs restart was straight down the throat of Sam W who caught it like a full back put his head down and ran it straight back up the field taking it into contact, support from the forwards arrived un-characteristically fast (for us) and the ball was sent rapidly out to the hands of Ali M, finding space on the left, he had the option of Dillon L outside him but cut inside, found a gap and ran half of the pitch to score the try of the match, Jacob once more kicking the extra two points to leave OAs in need of a converted try to draw level with just a few minutes left. Almost inevitably their try came, but the kick was missed and we still had a two point lead, the tension was palpable!
OA's gathered the ball from our restart but they were closed down quickly, Dylan S hitting the ruck and performing a perfect jackal to turn the ball over and start a counter attack which finally resulted in us winning a penalty, easily within kicking distance for Jacob and giving us a five point lead. There was just about time for the restart but once it was in Stortford hands it was duly hoofed over the touchline and the referee blew to end the game.
A fantastic, competitive game, played in great spirit by both teams and our lads left the pitch knowing that they had all performed to the best of their ability and more importantly as a team.
Ali M was nominated as Star Player by the OAs lads but it could honestly have gone to any one of the squad today, they should all be very proud of themselves indeed.
Special award, 'Wally of the Week' goes to coach Ben Millard after he was sent back to his technical area to consider his behaviour when repeatedly 'consulting at high volume' with the ref about the oppositions repeated offside positions, according to Mrs Millard this is not the first time he has been told to 'get back in your box!'