SAT 9TH DECEMBER
OLNEY 4th Team Specials 17 AMPTHILL II 12
The Occasionals had a tight win over a youthful, organised Ampthill 2nd team on Saturday. The veteran Olney side consisted of some 'old favourites' like Dobbo, Jock, and Brocky to name a few and were captained by the ever present Pete 'nice but dim' Kemble. In the first half Olney dominated the forward battle driving Ampthill over for 1 pushover try and another that was disallowed, much to the disgust of Ben Brock. The referee made up for this by allowing himself to get talked into sin binning 2 Ampthill players at the same time by Brocky. At half time Olney turned around 12 nil up, but the more mature members of the team were starting to flag.
In the second half, the Occassionals made a number of enforced changes due to a couple of cases of severe exhaustion, and started to struggle. The youthful Ampthill side came back with a couple of tries but Pete Kemble sealed the win with a marvellous solo effort from the tail of the line out - using his natural speed and footballing skills to touch down in the corner. (EDITOR - I could have sworn it was Bennett!)
Some highlights of the game were Basher being sinbinned for being a general nuisance, a gut wrenching tackle from Chris Smith, a good scrap and seeing Ben Brock being stripped of the ball by a fly half. A good day all round that resulted in the Occasionals remaining unbeaten now for 3 years!
Olney Team (from at any one time!): Steve Dobson, Barry Elderton, Si Bonner, Jock Weatherup, Basher Rawlings, George Graham, Del Hullet, Charlie Parkhouse, Pete Kemble (capt), Ben Brock, Ian Bennett, Lloyd Warn, Keith Plummer, Paul Winter, Chris Smith, Ed Harper, Frank Livesey, Ade Chapman, Simon Mynard, Johnny Wardley, Dave Hurley
A lookalike from the game!
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Paul Mariner The Ref - Andre
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SAT 11TH NOVEMBER
OLNEY III (4th Team Specials) 49 STOW-ON-THE-WOLD III 0
An Olney 3rd team hosting Stow 3rds has traditionally been a tough and difficult fixture in this league with some close results. With various drop-outs in the 1sts and 2nds many of the usual 3rd team players were called up to the 2nds and Basher’s “All Star Vets Team”, with a few regular 3rds, took this fixture on.
The tone was set for the game when, pre-match, Basher ordered Sherry for the entire team to warm up with! When the ref came into the Olney changing room before kick off and asked for the captain, he was told Basher was in the bar drinking Sherry – you’ll find him there!
The game started well for Olney taking the kick off with the wind behind them. Some excellent supporting play from the pack and strong running from Chris Smith and Muller in the centre saw Olney control the ball in the Stow 22 within the first 5 minutes. Good rucking and mauling by Olney saw Ben Brock crash over in the corner for the first try.
Right from the kick off Bonner caught the ball and set off up pitch at a gallop. The back row of Kemble, Rambo and Brock were all on hand to drive play again to the Stow 22 with Brock crashing over under the posts to score.
Already Stow heads were beginning to drop and they could not contain the surging runs and quality support play from the whole team. Paul “dancing bear” Winters was having a fine game at 15 with some trademark dummies to run any kicked possession straight back at Stow. A smooth backs move saw the Stow defence completely bemused as Winters scorched over the line out wide for his first score.
Some more good support play then saw Frank crash over the line after some fine bulldozing work from Rambo.
Half time came and Stow were already dejected. To give them credit however they battled away and never really gave up the fight.
The 2nd half saw a similar pattern with Olney taking the ball straight to Stow from the kick off. A number of tries were scored in the next 20 minutes with Olney looking comfortable and running every ball they got, even from inside their own 22.
To rub salt into the Stow wounds, Chris Smith who had an outstanding game at inside centre, made way after 10 minutes for Will Edwards, returning after injury for his first game in 6 weeks. Will made an immediate impact with some quality runs through the Stow defence, just when they were tiring most.
Tries by Dave hurley, Will Edwards and Tony Surley in the last 10 minutes effectively sealed the game for some good league points for the 3rds.
Special thanks must go to Andy Sharpe, Richard Farrell and a prop (don’t know name) who turned out for Stow. Well done guys.
Olney Team: Si Bonner, Jock, Basher (capt), George Graham, Dell Hullet (Pete Greenall), Rambo, Kemble, Brock (Dell Hullet), Dave Hurley, Tony Surley, Frank Livesey, Chris Smith (Will Edwards), Muller, Ade Chapman, Paul Winters.
