Olney beat league leaders with great team performance

OLNEY vs. OADBY WYGGESTONIANS. Sat. 13.01.2018
Olney were hosts to top of the table side, Oadby Wyyg's at the Rec. on Saturday. Wyyg's, having been beaten only once this season, were a daunting prospect. They kicked off and Olney counter attacked but knocked on. The visitors won the ball but also knocked on, which gave the home side put in at a scrum on Wygg's 10m. line. Olney attacked into the visitor's '22' and were awarded a penalty on Wygg's 5m. line. They took the scrum option and drove to the goal line. Prop, Jeremiah Shields, touched down for a try. Kieran Manson added the conversion for a great start, carrying on some of the performance improvement from the last game. Score: Olney 7, Wygg's 0. (8 mins.).
From the restart Olney counter attacked and were awarded a penalty for offside. Wygg's were also reduced to fourteen men, their No. 8 yellow carded for stamping. The kick to touch gave Olney a lineout inside the visitor's '22'. Winning the ball the home eight drove for the goal line and lock Christian Caswell touched down for a try, not converted, Olney 12, Wygg's 0. (12 mins.).
Wygg's attacked from the restart but were again penalised for entering a ruck from the side. The touchline kick gave Olney a lineout in the visitor's '22' but this didn't result in any score.
The game was primarily a forwards contest and when the ball was in the hands of Olney's backs it was usually 'route one', with Dave Smith to the fore! Wygg's were using similar tactics but the home defence was secure and Wygg's anxiety to break their duck resulted in them conceding penalties for offside.
Olney substituted George Stanton for Cameron Kok to put some fresh legs into the Olney pack.
The next score, again to Olney, came from the forwards winning a line out on their 10m. line. They drove the maul and when the ball went loose Wygg's cleared to the touch line inside the visitor's '22'. Olney won the lineout and the forwards put flanker Isaac Shields in for a try, no conversion, Olney 17, Wygg's 0. (34 mins.)
As half time approached the visitors upped their game and claimed more possession, Olney lost some discipline and conceded some penalties. They managed to prevent the visitors scoring until the last play of the half. Wygg's took the scrum option at consecutive penalties close to Olney's goal line. Finally they put Arthur Redfern in for a try, Jack Elliott added the conversion. The referee blew for 'half time'.
HALF TIME: OLNEY 17. OADBY WYGGESTONIANS 7.

Olney kicked off for the second half, Wygg's having put a bit more bulk into the side with their substitutions. The game plan was much the same for both sides, though Olney did try to run the ball in the backs on occasion. It was ten minutes into the half when Wygg's broke the Olney defence. They scored through the same duo Redfern - try, Elliott - conversion. Olney 17, Wygg's 14.
The home side used their subs. Cam Kok replacing Jeremiah Shields and Henry Clarke coming on for Gareth Cahill.
Olney kicked off to restart following an infringement were awarded a penalty for Wygg's 'not ten' taking them well into the Wyggs half. They kicked for touch inside the visitor's '22'. Olney won the ball at the lineout and Wygg's infringed again. Manson kicked for goal and increased the lead to Olney 20, Wygg's 14. (15 mins.)
In the following period of play Clarke was injured and Cahill returned, for Olney. Wygg's were awarded a penalty for a scrummaging infringement and Elliott was successful with the kick. Olney 20, Wygg's 17. (30 mins.)
Elliot Hales came off the bench for Olney, replacing Dave Smith, who had put in a great performance at centre. Olney's score line was at its most vulnerable and another change brought Jeremiah Shields back for Graham Smith.
Another penalty, for offside, gave Olney a kick to touch near the visitor's '22'. They won ball and drove for the corner. Wygg's were penalised again and Olney took the scrum option, they won the ball and after a series of drives, George Stanton forced himself over for a try. No conversion. Olney 25, Wygg's 17.
There was little time left on the clock and Olney survived any final attempt from Wygg's to get a bonus point. The referee called time.
FULL TIME: OLNEY 25. OADBY WYGGESTONIANS17.
A good all round team performance, building on recent improvements, for a well earned win (and a Try bonus point too), against a side who were starting to put daylight between them and the rest at the top of the league and coming off the back of a very long winning streak. The forwards should take a lot of credit for a very sound set piece and a huge amount of effort in the loose. Luton in the rearranged fixture from pre Christmas (another in form side so need to get as much support down as possible).

TEAM: Jim Osborn (capt.) Graham Smith, Jeremiah Shields, Christian Caswell, Cameron Kok
Isaac Shields, Ryan Hammett, Gareth Cahill, Kieron Manson, Elliot Simpson, David Smith,
Hamish Bull, Marcus Goss, Rob Matthews, Lloyd Sweeney
SUBS: Henry Clarke, George Stanton, Elliot Hales

TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL LTD.