Second half comeback get Olney a draw

Match report by Jim Ford

Olney travelled to South Leicester on Saturday, for their penultimate league fixture, against Oadby Wyggestonians.

Olney kicked off and were awarded a scrum just inside the home team's half. The early signs were slightly in favour of the Wygg's pack but the scrum was reset and the visitors won the ball. Olney's '9' Cam Keenan made a break on the blind side but the ball was lost. A scrum, this time to the home side, produced the ball for their wing three-quarter to carry the ball into the visitor's '22'. Wygg's attacked the Olney goal line and some desperate defending was required by the forwards and backs combined. An attempt to clear the ball resulted in a line out, for the home side on Olney's '22'. Olney were penalised and the kick gave the home side a line out close to the visitor's goal line. The ball was won by Wygg's second row who crashed through the Olney forwards for a try, converted by their full back, to open the scoring after 8 mins. Wyggestonians: 7, Olney: 0.(With the home side players bearing numbers that were obviously 'squad' numbers bearing no relation to their position, and no team sheet available, it was impossible to name their players!)

Olney were on the back foot for most of the first 30 mins. They were on the wrong side of a number of penalty decisions and were not sure, at times, why.

From a line out Cameron Keenan made a break and Olney were awarded a penalty at the breakdown. Wygg's '10' was denied involvement for the next ten minutes by way of a yellow card. Olney won the ball from the ensuing line out and Olney carried the attack to the home sides left corner of the pitch. Wygg's managed to steal the ball and attacked using their efficient three-quarter line . Olney managed to defend their goal line by some good team work. The inevitable occurred just on 30 mins. when a penalty was converted with a fine kick by Wygg's '19', taking their lead to Wyggestonians: 10, Olney: 0.

Olney made their first substitution, Cam Kok being replaced by Keegan Anderson. The visitors were unable to make much headway and after a period of their line being under siege they suffered the cruel blow of conceding a penalty try. It was converted via the trusty boot of their '19' and after 42 mins (incl. injury time) the home side eased ahead, Wyggestonians: 17, Olney: 0. The referee signalled half time.

HALF TIME SCORE: Wyggestonians: 17, Olney: 0.

Wygg's kicked off for the second half with Olney having substituted Peter T.G. for Chris Sumner-Smith. It looked like there would be 'more of the same' Wygg's were awarded a penalty. They kicked to touch on the visitor's 5m. line, won the ball and fed their three's. They knocked on, Olney won the ball from the scrum and attacked. At the breakdown Olney claimed the ball from the ruck and kept it in the forwards. Jeremiah Shields crashed over for a try, converted by Patch Adams, to put the visitors on the score board, Wyggestonians: 17, Olney: 7. (15 mins.)

For the second half Wygg's substituted their full back and from the restart Wygg's attacked into the visitor's '22'. They were awarded a penalty that was kicked to touch on the visitor's 5m.line. Olney took the ball from the line out, and at the breakdown were awarded a scrum. They replaced lock forward, Mark Austin, Cam Kok coming off the bench.

From a scrum near the Olney goal line the visitors won a scrum and ran the ball. They were awarded a penalty, for offside, but lost the lineout. Olney made a change in the front row Jeremiah Shields being replaced by Jake Ashton.

From a penalty, Wygg's put play back into the Olney danger zone claiming a line out near the visitor's goal line. They won the ball and scored a try by their three's, converted by their '19' to extend their lead, Wyggestonians: 24, Olney: 7.

Thirty minutes gone, but Olney were not finished, Jeremiah Shields returned, replacing Graham Smith. From the restart Olney took play to the home in goal, they were denied a try the referee calling 'held up' . Olney attacked from a line out and fed the ball to the threes Jordan Letts broke the Wygg's back line and fed Isaac Shields backing up. He touched down but the conversion attempt was just wide. Wyggestonians: 24, Olney: 12. (40mins incl. injury time)

Wygg's kicked off and were awarded another penalty, they kicked for touch but lost the ball at the lineout. Olney counter attacked, Cam Kok using his strength to break through, everyone on the visitors side joined the party that resulted in a further score for Isaac Shields, not converted, Wyggestonians: 24, Olney: 17.

Following the restart Wygg's were again awarded a penalty and kicked to touch, A maul developed from the line out, Olney won the ball and winger Phil Bowden ran the ball into the home '22'. He was tackled but made the ball available, there was plenty of hungry support, even Jake Deighton from the other wing. The ball ended in the hands of full back Brandon Kerr who ran in a try converted by Patch Adams. Score: Wyggestonians: 24, Olney: 24.

FULL TIME SCORE: Wyggestonians: 24, Olney: 24.

TEAM: Graham Smith, Jim Osborn (capt.) Jeremiah Shields, Cam Kok, Mark Austen, Gareth Carhill, Isaac Shields,
Chris Sumner Smith.
Cam Keenan, Patch Adamns, Phil Bowden Jordan Letts, Hamish Bull, Jake Deighton .
SUBS.: Jake Ashton, Peter Tokarski-Grasby, Keegan Anderson.
TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL LTD.