Olney fail to contain Peterborough pressure

Match report by Jim Ford

Olney travelled to Peterboro' on Saturday facing the daunting prospect of meeting the side topping the league table on their own turf.

Peterboro' kicked off and from an early scrum to Olney's advantage they ran the ball close to the home goal line. However the home side soon retaliated and their three's worked the ball to their left wing who touched down for an unconverted try. This activated the scoreboard 5 - 0, after 6 mins.

Olney were performing well in the line out but had their work cut out containing the Peterboro' pack in the loose and in the set scrums. Peterboro's backs were more than a handful. Despite this Olney were the next to score, Patch Adamns nailed a well kicked penalty, wide and 30m. from goal, to close the gap 5 - 3, halfway into the first period.

The next score was to the home side, they claimed the ball in a ruck on the halfway line and fed their three-quarter line, breaking down the visitor's defence for another try, not converted. Score: 10 - 3 23 mins.

Peterboro' continued to put the pressure on the Olney defence and added two more unconverted tries, extending their lead to 20 - 3, within the next 15 mins.

Olney made a substitution bringing on Will Edwards for Jake Deighton.

The visitors were rewarded when, awarded a penalty, they ran the ball to the home goal line. Peterboro' were penalised and a front row forward yellow carded, for a high tackle. Olney elected to take the scrum option and won the ball, scrum half Rich Cowan touching down, Adamns added the conversion. This pulled the difference back to 20 - 10, just on half time.

HALF TIME SCORE: PETERBOROUGH 20, OLNEY 10

Olney kicked off, for the second half and Peterboro' counter attacked but lost the ball allowing the visitors to clear to touch in the home '22' . Peterboro' won the ensuing line out and kicked the ball into the visitor's in goal area. Their left wing won the race to touch down. The try was not converted and 5 mins. into the half Peterboro’s lead was 25 - 10.

Olney's prospects had a major upset, when their flanker Charlie Harris was injured and it was serious enough that he had to be immobilised. An ambulance was called for and he could not be moved. This caused play to be held up and necessitated the match being transferred to another pitch. The delay in sorting things out added time of approx. 20mins.

Before the final whistle Peterboro' added four more tries, two of which were converted. Olney scored a try by Phil Bowden, not converted. Peterboro' had another player yellow carded, for a high tackle, again!

FINAL SCORE: PETERBOROUGH 49, OLNEY 15