Olney beat the Badgers

Report by Jim Ford

OLNEY vs. BUGBROOKE Sat. 08.12.2018
Bugbrooke were the visitors for Olney's last home game before the Christmas break. They faced the home side resplendent in 'Pink', or should I say 'Cerise', to mark the 'Olney Ladies lunch, a fund raiser in support of the Breast Cancer campaign.
Bugbrooke kicked off and were on the attack, they kicked for territory but the ball went too long giving the home side relief with a '22' drop out. The visitors continued to apply pressure and Olney struggled to sort out their lineout, faced by a big set of forwards. Olney opened the scoring when Marcus Goss put in a scorching run down the right wing, to touch down in the corner. This was backed up by a fine conversion from Jordan Letts. Score: Olney 7, Bugbrooke 0. (13 mins.)
From the restart Goss was in the action again kicking down the wing and following up to tackle the receiver in the Bugbrooke '22'. The visitor's cleared up and there was a period when Olney were committed to defending and keeping play around the halfway line. With the wind at their backs Olney used the touch line to keep play in the visitor's half, although this gave possession to Bugbrooke, who were capable of winning the lines out. The next score came from a penalty against the visitors giving Olney a lineout about halfway between Bugbrooke's '10/22' lines. The forwards won the ball and fed their backline Dave Smith, at centre, made the breakthrough and fed out to Stu Livesey who jinked through the cover to score under the posts. Letts added the conversion extending the home side's lead to Olney 14, Bugbrooke 0. (21 mins.)
Bugbrooke kicked off and Olney counter attacked taking play into the visitor's half. Olney's forwards and backs combined to retain possession and stay in the visitor's half. They capitalised from this purple patch (or maybe 'pink' patch) Stu Livesey 'stepping' the Bugbrooke defence and scoring his second try. Letts added the extra points with another successful conversion Olney 21, Bugbrooke 0. (24 mins.)
Although the score was all one way, this didn't reflect the endeavour of the visitor's. From the restart they were awarded a penalty on the home side's '22' and kicked for a lineout on the Olney 5m. line. They won possession and kept up the attack their forwards finally scoring wide out. The touchdown was made by a player who will remain nameless (asked the visitor's supporters but they couldn't remember ). The try was not converted.
Olney 21, Bugbrooke 5. (29 mins.)
Spurred on by their success Bugbrooke counter attacked from the kick off and accomplished a period of play inside the home '22'. Good defending by the Olney forwards, and backs, managed to prevent the visitors from scoring and a trademark sprint down the wing by Goss ensured that Bugbrooke keep alert. There was no further score before half time. HALF TIME SCORE: Olney 21, Bugbrooke 5.

Olney kicked off to get the second half under way and the visitors kicked to return, the ball was knocked on by Olney. Bugbrooke won the ball from the scrum and kicked to the home '22', the wind being in their favour this half. The ball went out of play and Olney won the lineout, they fed the three's, but a knock on gave the visitor's a scrum on their 10m. line. Bugbrooke attacked and split the Olney defence to score a try, Alex Sims making the touchdown and John Palmer adding the conversion . Olney 21, Bugbrooke 12. (8 mins.)
Olney kicked off to restart and the visitors put the ball into touch. The home forwards won the lineout but the visitors claimed it at the breakdown. They were awarded a free kick and kicked it out of play. Olney won a lineout on the visitors '22'. they won the ball and attacked down the touchline but were pushed into touch. Olney made a change Will Edwards coming off the bench to replace Jake Deighton. From a scrum inside the visitor's '22' Olney mounted an offensive on the left hand corner. They managed to achieve a short range try touched down by Glen White. Letts was on target again, Olney 28, Bugbrooke 12. (16 mins.)
Olney made further substitutions Ollie Fearis and Euan Irwin on, Lloyd Sweeney and Kyle Brown off.
Play continued to fluctuate with Olney having to defend their lead against the probing Bugbrooke forwards. The break came when he visitors found space to evade the home defence on their right flank and run the ball under the posts. Adam Pepper scoring and Palmer kicking the conversion. Olney 28, Bugbrooke 19. (35 mins.)
The final score also came from the visitors, awarded a penalty on Olney's '22' line they kicked for goal and Palmer was successful. Olney 28, Bugbrooke 22.
Olney kicked for the restart and when the visitors were penalised, just outside their '22'. Olney kicked to touch, the referee called "No side"
FINAL SCORE: Olney 28, Bugbrooke 22.

TEAM: Jim Osborn, Matt Boddy, David Rainbow, Joseph O'Connor, Charlie Harris, Kyle Brown, Glen White, Gareth Cahill (capt.)
Rhys Gregory, Jordan Letts Jake Deighton, David Smith, Stu Livesey, Marcus Goss, Lloyd Sweeney.
SUBS. Ollie Fearis, Will Edwards, Euan Irwin.
TEAM SPONSOR : OSBORN & SONS/DBF CONSTRUCTION