Confident Olney overpower Oadby Wyggs

Olney hosted their last home fixture this year against Leicester side Oadby Wyggestonians at the Rec. on Saturday. The conditions were windless but definitely not rainless. The persistent heavy drizzle was responsible for turning my notes into a pad of papier mache upon which my quartet of ball pens failed to function. This was not conducive of a passing and running game and the two packs of forwards handled the underfoot conditions at the set pieces remarkably well. Both sides were conscious of the drubbing Olney were administered at the corresponding encounter at the visitors home game last season, although for the majority of the Olney side this was hearsay only.

Olney kicked off and Wygg's returned the ball giving the home backs the opportunity to counter attack. The play continued in this vein for the opening ten minutes with the home backline probing for openings. The confidence and pace of Olney's young backs took them close to the visitor's goal line and finally resulted in the first score of the game. Marcus Goss at 12, opened up the Wygg's defence to touch down wide out. Patch Adamns added the conversion, with a fine kick, putting Olney in front, 7 - 0, after 11 mins.

Wygg's used the touchline benefitting from a number of penalties, but the home lineout was operating well, jumpers Mark Austin and Charlie Belcher both denying possession on the visitor's throw in. Wygg's were penalised, under attack from a combined forwards and backs foray. The kick was within the range of Olney's ten, Adamns who slotted the goal, increasing the home side's lead to 10 - 0 (20 mins.).

The visitor's made their mark on the scoreboard just four minutes later, a penalty against the home side in front of goal, converted by their full back. Olney 10, Wygg's 3.

Olney's forwards were mainly responsible for Increasing the 'dampener' on the visitor's afternoon they were resolute in defence and probing in attack. Their opponents were frustrated and failed to have the ability to overcome the conditions or Olney's fifteen! Thus the situation at the ending of the first half.

HALF TIME SCORE: OLNEY 10, OADBY WYGGESTONIANS 3.

Wygg's kicked off for the second half and play was mostly a replica of the first 40 mins. The visitors striving to make the breakthrough and Olney looking the more likely to add to their score. Olney used their substitutes to advantage, changes in the front row, George Stanton on for Jes Shields kept the pressure on the opposition front row. From a scrum to Wygg's, 30m. out from the visitor's goal line, Olney's scrum half Rich Cowan kicked the ball through before his opposite number could pick up. Charlie Belcher at '7', showed awareness of the situation and chased the ball to collect and go over for a try. Adamns added the conversion to extend the home sides lead to 17 - 3. (about 29 mins into the half).Cowan left the field for attention to a hand injury, replaced by Harry Wynn.
Wygg's were awarded penalties in kickable positions but continued go for the lineout option, though not being able to ensure they could win the ball.

The next score came to the home side when Olney attacked into the opposition '22'. The ball was loose following a tackle and Olney's '8', Ollie Francis, claimed the ball and burst through the defence to touch down. The try was unconverted and Olney progressed to a 22 - 3 lead.

Olney were within sight of the elusive 'bonus point' try but were reduced in numbers when Gareth Carhill was requested to leave the pitch by virtue? of a yellow card ( elevated tackle). Wygg's had some consolation scoring an unconverted try as the match proceeded to its conclusion.

FULL TIME SCORE: OLNEY 22, OADBY WYGGESTONIANS 8.

TEAM: Jim Osborn (capt.) Jake Ashton, Jeremiah Shields, Keegan Anderson, Mark Austin, Gareth Carhill, Charlie Belcher
Ollie Francis,
Rich Cowan, Patch Adamns, Jake Deighton, Marcus Goss, Hamish Bull, Phil Bowden, Brandon Kerr.
SUBS. George Stanton, Isaac Shields, Harry Warn.
TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL LTD.