Olney pick up first league win with strong performance against Oakham

OLNEY vs. OAKHAM Sat. 14th. Oct. 2017.
Olney welcomed the team sitting one place above them in the league to the Rec. on Saturday. The visitors, Oakham, kicked off and Olney were penalised immediately. Oakham's kicker, Calem Krelling made no mistake and opened the scoring. 0 - 3.
This gave Olney the wakeup call and they retaliated following the restart kick and gained a scrum in the visitor's '22'. They won the ball and Gareth Cahill, at '8', picked up and set up the backs for a score by Elliot Simpson. Kieran Manson added the conversion to put Olney ahead, 7 - 3, after 2 mins.
From the restart the visitors were penalised in the host's '22'. Olney used the wind and kicked for a line out in Oakham's '22'. Isaac Shields won the ball and Olney's pack drove for Oakham's goal line. The ball was fed back and scrum half Manson touched down for a try that he converted to stretch the lead to 14 - 3 (8 mins ).
From the kick off Oakham gained a scrum midway into the home side's territory. Olney's attempt to clear to touch failed to leave the field of play and the consequence was a try to the visitors, scored by Nick Houghton and converted by Krelling. This closed the gap to 14 - 10 (16 mins).
A spate of penalties and indecisive lines out kept play in mid field until Lloyd Sweeney, at full back for Olney, broke the pattern fielding a long kick and gaining good ground before setting up the the backline. Will Edwards on the left wing ran in the try and Manson added the extras. The home side's lead was 21 - 10 after 28 mins.
Oakham gained a lineout in Olney's '22' from the restart but the home side managed to claim possession and a long kick from Jordan Letts took play into the visitor's '22'. Olney put on pressure from the lineout and drove the ball in the forwards. The Oakham backline were caught offside and Hanson added the penalty conversion to his tally, extending the lead to 24 - 10 as halftime approached.
Olney were guilty of some wayward passing losing possession, and wasting the effort put in to gain it!
HALF TIME: OLNEY 24, OAKHAM 10

Olney made substitutions for the second half, Cameron Kok replacing George Stanton and Jake Deighton coming on for Will Edwards. Olney kicked off and Oakham, receiving, with the wind at their backs kicked long into Olney territory. Olney were penalised for accidental offside a scrum being awarded to the visitors on their 10m. line. The home side managed to claim possession and attacked down the left wing for Deighton to score wide out. Hanson added the conversion and Olney's lead moved on to 31 - 10, 5 mins. into the half.
Charlie Harris came on for Olney, replacing Ryan Hammett.
From the restart Oakham followed up and soon cut the deficit with a try by Charlie McKie converted by Krelling. Score: 31 - 17 (6 mins.)
Olney kicked off and the visitors ran the ball back, gaining ground into the home '22', a knock on halted their progress. Winning the scrum Olney kicked to touch and Oakham's throw in was not straight. This gave Olney the advantage at the scrum. A further exchange of penalties resulted in Olney's Lock forward, Tom Short, being yellow carded. Olney brought back Stanton for Jake Ashton. Oakham converted the penalty and closed the score to 31 - 20.
Oakham were short on subs. and were reduced to 14 men when a forward had to leave the field, injured. This influenced the play and there was no further score before Short returned. Olney were able to exploit their advantage and attacked into the Oakham '22'. The forwards gained ground and fed to the backs where Manson broke through the visitor's defence for an unconverted try taking the score to 36 - 20 after 30 mins.
Oakham had to soak up some pressure before they eventually fell to a well taken try by Deighton converted with a good kick into the wind by Jordan Letts. Oakham kept trying but time was against them and this proved to be the final score
FULL TIME: OLNEY 43. OAKHAM 20
TEAM: Jim Osborn (capt.) Jake Ashton, Graham Smith, George Stanton, Tom Short
Isaac Shields, Ryan Hammett, Gareth Cahill
Kieran Manson, Elliot Simpson
James Vine, Jordan Letts, Marcus Goss, Will Edwards, Lloyd Sweeney.
SUBS: Charlie Harris, Cameron Kok, Jake Deighton.

TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL LTD.