Olney beat S&L in game of attrition

Olney welcomed Stewarts & Lloyds to the Rec. on Saturday for a match that included plenty of effort , not all of which was entertaining.
The host side kicked off and had the better of the early encounters, producing a try for lock forward Cam Kok, who charged through the S&L defence. The conversion attempt was just short, giving Olney a slender lead 5 - 0 after 10 mins. This advantage was short lived when a penalty against the home side was kicked to touch 10m. from the Olney goal line. S&L won the ball at the lineout and their forwards forced over for a try, not converted, to level the scores at 5 - 5 (13 mins.)
The score line reflected the pattern of play and both sides managed to defend their lines, although tempers, at times, were a little frayed. The next change to the scoreline came from a penalty against the visitors, converted by Jordan Letts, edging the home side in front, 8 - 5 (25 mins.).
As the match progressed so the penalty count increased, and from an offside infringement, against Olney, the visitors gained a lineout in the home '22'. Winning the ball S&L drove the maul to the goal line and touched down for an unconverted try, taking the score to 8 - 10 (38 mins.).
Olney had to replace their No.8, Adrian Teckoe, Charlie Harris coming off the bench.
From a spectator's point of view the match was marred by a lack of discipline, when a series of penalties awarded against S&L resulted in an ill tempered brawl. Half time came with the score unchanged.

HALF TIME SCORE: OLNEY 8, STEWARTS & LLOYDS 10.
Olney replaced skipper Jim Osborn with Jake Ashton for the second half.
S&L kicked off to start the second half and had possession from a series of five penalties awarded against Olney in the first ten minutes, mostly for 'offside'. They eventually turned this into points, their pack scoring a pushover try in the corner, not converted, score 8 - 15 after 11 mins.

Olney's numbers were depleted when Harris was yellow carded. This did not give the visitors any advantage in numbers, as they had a player yellow carded at the same incident. This was soon replicated when Letts and an S&L player were yellow carded. Olney took advantage of the extra space and the lightened load in the set piece. Their pack won possession at a scrum and fed the ball to the backs. Sam Spruce, on the wing, seized the opportunity and ran in a try in the corner, not converted, score 13 - 15 (23 mins).

Olney made another substitution Player Coach, Phil Powell coming on for Elliot Hales.
From the restart Olney were awarded a penalty and they kicked to touch for a line out in between the visitor's 10 and 22 m. lines. Olney won the ball and were able to keep play in that area and set up a move that culminated in full back, Brandon Kerr, forcing over for a try. Again the conversion attempt just failed and Olney took the lead 18 - 15 after 36 mins. (not including added time). Olney lost the services of their substitute, coach Phil Powell, yellow carded! But they managed to defend their score and emerged with a narrow victory.

FULL TIME SCORE: OLNEY 18, STEWARTS & LLOYDS 15.
TEAM: Jeremiah Shields, Jim Osborn (capt.) Graham Smith, Mark Austin, Cam Kok, Mungo Ryan, Ryan Hammett, Adrian Teckoe
Elliot Simpson, Sean Mulvey, Elliot Hales, Jordan Letts, Hamish Bull, Sam Spruce, Brandon Kerr.
SUBS. Jack Ashton, Charlie Harris, Phill Powell.
TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J.SMAIL LTD.