Under 13's

The game started at a pace with both teams guilty of dropped catches and knocking forward; then in the next few minutes the grittiness that is becoming a mark of this team showed through. Big Oundle boys were throwing themselves at the Olney team only to be repelled, tackle after tackle. Olney pressed forward with the ball moving at the back to Jamie and Ollie on either wing. Finally a try right between the posts earned 5 points with Guyon knocking another 2. A few minutes later down the side Olney came, breakaway, led by Noddy, Rufus and Max moving the ball about.  Great try and conversion close but now 12 points. Oundle continued to push and Guyon had a make sure 1 on 1 at the back. A couple of monstrously big opposing players pushed the Olney team but strong tackles kept them back.

The scrum had a new makeshift hooker in Connor who excelled in his 1st time in the role; supported by Charlie, Andrew, Robbo, Otto, Jake, Danny and Wilko and in the 2nd half by Joseph, the Olney scrum remained its resolute self winning scrum after scrum after scrum. "Whippet Will" was on his opposite number so often that it unnerved them and Charlie's fearlessness was always there at the centre of the breakdowns. In defence the backs took their men 1st time with Jamie and Olly holding their lines.

A final try just before half time and with their heads down Oundle looked beaten.

The second half was a different story; Olney took the pressure off, were missing tackles and generally dropped down a gear just as Oundle raised their game and showed what a good team they were. Some firm tackling continued but in the space of 3 or more minutes 2 tries were scored by Oundle.  Both conversions were close and if they had converted them,  then the game might have turned;

4 minutes to go and it looked a trifle squeaky and then Olney turned it back on and stopped the Oundle team getting any more possession and remembered the best place to play the ball is in the opposite half.

The whistle blew eventually and after a well fought game Olney had earned a good win against worthy opposition, and a quarter final against Bugbrooke.

Final score

Olney 17   Oundle 10

Tries:  Wilkinson (2) Ollerhead

Conversions : Bedward.

 Sometimes you have a game of 2 halves. This was more a case of 2 stone-per person difference on the Peterborough side  Peterborough were a team of 15 forwards who were well drilled.  Olney started the game well, but Peterborough charged down a clearance kick on our line, causing a Peterborough try. The conversion was missed. No heads went down but despite a well drilled defence 10 minutes from the O's, Peterborough broke through the back line and scored another try.  The Olney pack was a lot lighter (!) than the P'Boro pack who won more scrums. When it came down to the breakdowns and the rucks it was different with the O's being more than a match and continuously gained ball. The backs defended well despite getting frustrated at the correct decisions going against them. Olney went into half time 12 points down but feeling the game was winnable. The second half quickly became 1 scrum after another with little advantage being given, which suited the P' Boro team. The rain came down and it became a battle of the packs gaining inches.  There were countless try attempts from P'boro' held up by the backs. P'Boro finally broke the line with a converted try after being held up on the line and kept out for almost 10 minutes 5 metres from the line. Otto was injured  after this, meaning that we were down to 14 men for the last 10 minutes, Danny went to flanker and Connor moved to no.8. After winning a Peterborough scrum Rufus took off from the wing and ran a kilometre before falling 5 metres from the borough try line  to set up a series of rucks. Glover got an unconverted try from these pouncing over the line. Guyon was close with the kick but not close enough.  The team should be proud of their defending with everyone tackling, even opponent legs! Now go and eat a lot of pies before the next meeting the Peterboro' team.