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Salisbury v Olney - Match Report
(January 21, 2012)SALISBURY vs. OLNEY, Sat. 21.01.2012
Team: D. Rainbow, A. Barrick, K. Jones, G. Stanton, C. Belcher, W. Parkin, G. Cahill, R. Edwards R. Cowen, R. James, J. Brice, C. Parnham (capt.), J. Padfield, A. Deaks, J. Hannah
Subs. O Brackenbury, L. Salsbury, J. Harris.
Olney made the long trek to Salisbury suffering the usual problem of a side disrupted by non availability of players. This was further compounded by meeting Salisbury turning out what their supporters considered the best fifteen they had been able to field this season.
Olney kicked off and the home side running the ball, on the counter attack, soon gained advantage in Olney's half. Inside ten minutes they were in front 12 - 0, from two tries, one converted. Olney managed to gain the advantage of a line out from a kick into touch off a Salisbury defender. Winning the ball they set up a promising attack but were penalised giving Salisbury a chance to clear their lines. Olney were playing on the back foot and the opportunities that came their way resulted in break downs, the referee punishing both sides for ruck infringements. The conditions were quite windy and the option to kick for touch was somewhat chancy. From a penalty Salisbury gained a line out on Olney's 5m line and despite some determined tackling by the visitors the ball was eventually in the hands of Salisbury's full back who touched down, the conversion was added and the score was 19 - 0 to the home side.
From the restart Olney were awarded a penalty with 10m added for Salisbury refusing to surrender the ball. The line out option took Olney into Salisbury's 5m. and a further penalty to Olney was taken short and driven for the line. Salisbury managed to hold off the attack and worked their way out of defence. Exchanges of touch kicks erred in the favour of the home side and they set up a move resulting in a try wide out, not converted, Salisbury 24, Olney 0. At this stage Olney were struggling at the set pieces, able to win their ball but being pushed about making life difficult at the base of the scrum. They absorbed the pressure until just on half time when Salisbury added a further converted try .
HALF TIME SCORE: SALISBURY 31, OLNEY 0.
The energy draining defence taking its toll Olney substituted Brackenbury and Salsbury for Edwards and Jones.
Salisbury kicked off to start the second half and immediately made their intentions clear inside five minutes their number 14, Pottage went over for a try, with the conversion, extending their lead to 38 - 0. The pattern of play resembled the first half with frequent stoppages and Olney's depleted contestants picking up some knocks, Belcher was hampered by a leg injury obviously impairing his effectiveness. However they stemmed the scoring for the better part of the next 30 mins. until the Salisbury 14 went over again. The conversion was missed and the score to the home side proceeded to 43 - 0. Harris was brought on for Rainbow.
Salisbury intent on making the most of the situation were using their backs, supported by lock and number 8 forwards, inflicted further damage, two unconverted tries and one converted try racked the score up to 60 - 0. Adding insult to injury, Salisbury clocked up another seven pointer in the dying minute of the game.
FINAL SCORE: SALISBURY 67, OLNEY 0.
It's a pity that some of our very young players, some still Colts, had to be on the end of a score like this. On the plus side they didn't drop their heads (that also goes for the rest of the side)
