Olney outstrip Southam

OLNEY vs. SOUTHAM 24.09.2016

Olney played Southam in their third, consecutive, home fixture in the group stage of the Midlands Intermediate Cup. They kicked off into the wind and were immediately brought back to the centre spot for a scrum to the visitors. Winning the ball the visitors attempted to make use of the wind and kicked into the home 22. Olneycleared to touch between their 22 and 10m. lines. The visitors won the lineout and delivered the ball to their 10 who landed a good drop goal to take the lead, after 3 mins. OLNEY 0, SOUTHAM 3.

The home side made their game plan clear and from a kick to touch, by the visitors, Jake Deighton made a good catch to keep the ball in play and set up a move inside the Olney 22. Will Durden joined in from full back to take play into Southam territory. From a penalty, Ollie Simmons was held up just short of the goal line and the home pack piled in to produce good ball. Lock Cameron Kok charged over the goal line and scored close to the posts. Jordan Letts added the conversion to take the lead. OLNEY 7, SOUTHAM 3.

From the restart Skipper Jim Osborn claimed the ball and fed George Stanton, he forced through the visitors defence and Cam Kok was on hand to gain the line for his second try in two minutes under the posts and knocked over by Letts. OLNEY 14, SOUTHAM 3.

Olney were building on their improved performance in the previous week and served up some entertaining rugby. Will Edwards had a good run down the left wing and was denied a try by a very close margin. The centres Simmons and James Padfield were combining well and the forwards were putting the visitors pack under pressure on the loose ball. From a scrum the ball was fed to Padfield who forced through to score under the posts, converted by Letts with Olney stretching their lead to OLNEY 21, SOUTHAM 3. (30 mins.).

A lineout on Olneys throw was won by the visitors and cleared to touch some 30m. from the home goal line Olney won the ball and Steve Harrison, backed up by Gareth Cahill took play back into the visitors half. Olney won the ball at a scrum and set up their threes, at the breakdown the forwards had arrived in numbers and Kok was again on hand to crash over for his hat trick, converted by Letts OLNEY 28, SOUTHAM 3. (40 mins.).

HALF TIME SCORE: OLNEY 28, SOUTHAM 3.

Olney faced the kick off with the wind at their backs and everything to play for. Following up it was Southam who were in control they gained territorial advantage and capitalised with a try by Steve West, not converted, to take the score after 4 mins. to OLNEY 28, SOUTHAM 8.

For the next ten minutes Olney tried to recover their form and the game became a series of scrums and penalties not amounting to much. Southam put the ball into touch and Olney won good ball , fed to the backs and Letts cut through to score and convert. OLNEY 35, SOUTHAM 8.

Fielding the ball from the restart Isaac Shields made ground and put the ball out to Deighton on the wing who showed some searing pace hugging the right hand touch line and outstripping the defence. He touched down under the posts. Letts converted and Olney moved ahead OLNEY 42, SOUTHAM 8. (14 mins.).

The pack then achieved a classic forwards try, flanker Cahill peeling off the back to score near the posts, Letts converted OLNEY 49, SOUTHAM 8 .

Olney were now taking offensive action at every opportunity, from a scrum on the visitors 5m. line winning good ball, Simmons made a half break and offloaded to Cahill for his second try. Letts continued his unbroken success at conversions landed his seventh from seven to break 50 points at OLNEY 56, SOUTHAM 8.
Olney worked to a scrum 5m. from the goal line, the ball was fed out to Letts and he passed on to Walker, backing up, who scored. Another try, this time Letts leaving the honours to Walker .....who missed with a drop goal attempt!

FULL TIME SCORE: OLNEY 61, SOUTHAM 8.