Plenty to work on as two bonus points only consolation from opening league game

Match report by Jim Ford

MARKET BOSWORTH vs. OLNEY Sat. 8th Sept. 2017.
Olney took the Roman Road to Market Bosworth on Saturday for their first league game of the season. They took to the pitch with a team depleted due to injuries in pre season, warm up, games. They looked like 'worn out' rather than 'warmed up'. Their performance failed to dazzle, against newcomers to the Midland 2 East, (South) League. Market Bosworth.
The host side opened the scoring, 10 mins. after the kick off. Both sides were guilty of conceding penalties but the points came when Mkt. Bosworth's scrum half, Guy Goodman wrong footed the Olney defence to touch down for a try converted by their '10' Jon Randon. 7 -0.
The restart failed to go ten and Mkt. Bosworth had the put in at a scrum on halfway. They won the ball and took play to the visitor's '22'. A penalty was awarded first to the visitors, then reversed in favour of Mkt. Bosworth. Randon was on target extending the lead to 10 - 0, after 15 mins.
Olney's forwards raised their game and the reward came via a try down the left flank. Isaac Shields touching down and Jordan Letts adding the conversion. This closed the score to 10 - 7, after 20mins. play. The celebrations were short lived, a penalty against Olney on their 10 m. line was well converted by Randon 13 - 7 (23 mins.)
Olney's pack were gaining an edge on the home side, who were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card. They carried the ball to the home goal line and were awarded a penalty. The ball was 'run' and a long pass to the wing found Letts who touched down. No conversion, 13-12 (28 mins.)
The restart produced another penalty, near the visitor's 10 m. line. Randon was again successful, extending the 'home' lead to 16 - 12 (31 mins.)
Mkt. Bosworth used the touch line to their advantage and their next score came from winning the ball at a line out inside Olney's '22' Their forwards won good ball and they fed Randon who planted a drop goal to post the half time score.
HALF TIME: MARKET BOSWORTH 19, OLNEY 12.
Mkt. Bosworth kicked off to start the second half, receiving, Letts cleared to touch, 5m. from the home goal line. The visitors took advantage from a poor throw in and Sam Spruce ran in, caught the ball and stepped over the line for a try. Letts added the conversion to make it all square after 42 mins. 19 - 19.
Letts claimed territory again from the kick off and the home side were under pressure. The situation was reversed when a loose ball was kicked through the Olney defence and Randon touched down, added the conversion and took the score, after 45 mins., to 26 - 19.
Another error by the visitors opened a gap for Henry Parks to intercept, touching down for a try in the corner. No conversion but the home side went further ahead, 31 - 19. Ten minutes into the half.
The game continued to be a scrappy affair, with little or no pattern to the play. Olney rotated their subs., all getting some game time. The visitors failed to capitalise on having, for 30 mins. of the game, fourteen men against them due to 'yellow' cards!
Olney had the last word when in the final minutes of the match George Stanton charged through the opposition to touch down. No conversion, but closing the deficit to 31 -24. Securing two bonus points!
FULL TIME: MARKET BOSWORTH 31, OLNEY 24.

TEAM: George Stanton, Jim Osborn (capt.) Jeremiah Shields, Cam Kok, Mark Austin, Isaac Shields, Ryan Hammett,
Gareth Carhill.
Rich Cowan, Kieran Manson.
James Tapley, Jordan Letts, Hamish Bull, Lloyd Sweeney, Finn Bloxson.
SUBS: Graham Smith, Sam Spruce, Alex Ward.

TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL LTD.