Olney overcome Oakham to extend lead at top of league

Report by Jim Ford

Oakham vs. Olney 02.02.2019. Midlands 2 East (South).
Olney travelled to Rutland for their league match against Oakham on Saturday. Conditions were not inviting, a bitterly cold wind was blowing straight down the pitch.
Oakham kicked off with the wind behind them and they followed up to claim the loose ball. Their pack drove into the visitor's '22'. They were awarded a penalty, for the defenders straying offside, and kicked to touch on Olney's 10m. line. The visitors won the lineout but didn't convert to points.
The underfoot conditions were causing some problems and Oakham were first to make a substitution, replacing one of their centres. Play was resumed and Olney won the ball at a scrum for a knock on by the home side's threes. Olney won the ball but were penalised. Making use of the wind, Oakham opened the scoring. Calum Keeling successfully slotting his kick to goal. Oakham 3, Olney 0. (8 mins.).
Olney kicked off and Oakham returned the ball to touch between their 10/22 m. lines. The visitors won the lineout and attacked to Oakham's goal line. Olney's forwards drove the ball to put prop Thomas Godfrey in for a try, not converted. Oakham 3, Olney 5. (11 mins.).
The visitors had to substitute Craig Smith for Charlie Harris, aggravating an ankle injury picked up in the warm up! Oakham kicked off to restart and a series of handling errors proved the effect of the wind chill. The play was mainly around midfield and principally in the forwards, with the backs happy to be engaged trying to keep warm. The next score came when the home side were awarded a penalty on Olney's '22' and Keeling successfully converted. Oakham 6, Olney 5. (22 mins.).
The restart kick was followed up by Olney and they gained further advantage when Oakham were penalised. They ran the ball and put pressure on the home side's defence. Another penalty against Oakham was run through Olney's backs, winger Marcus Goss forced over to touchdown, wide out . The try was not converted; Oakham 6, Olney 10. (27 mins.).
Oakham kicked off and Olney were forced onto the defensive, they were guilty of a series of penalties, one just before half time that was knocked over by Keeling to close the deficit to, Oakham 9, Olney 10.
Olney substituted prop Godfrey, replaced by Matt Boddy, and scrum half Rhys Gregory, replaced by Dan Frossell. This required some positional juggling, Brendan Burke taking over the '9' duties.
HALF TIME SCORE: OAKHAM 9, OLNEY 10.

Olney kicked off for the second half with the benefit of the following wind. Oakham returned the ball to touch and Olney had the lineout throw in, on Oakham's 10 m. line. The visitors kept play in the home side's half and gradually gained ground until they had a lineout inside the home '22'. The forwards won the ball and carried to within a few metres of the goal line. They fed their backline and the ball reach Goss who squeezed over for his second try. No Conversion. Oakham 9, Olney 15. (5 mins.).
From the kick off the home forwards were awarded a scrum for a knock on. They won the ball, picked up, and drove the maul over the visitor's 10m line. From the melee Olney's flanker, John Robinson emerged. He carried the ball over the halfway line, into the home '22', up to their 5m.line and stopped! The Oakham defence stopped. Robbo changed his line of attack and ran in a try under the posts. Jordan Letts converted; Oakham 9, Olney 22. (15 mins.).
Oakham kicked off to restart and Olney returned the ball deep into the home side's territory. They retained possession and progressed when the home side were penalised. A knock on gave Oakham put in at a scrum, but they were penalised again. Olney ran the ball and forced over the Oakham's goal line but the ref decreed 'held up'. This gave the visitors a scrum'5' they won the ball and fed the back line. Goss received and made the touchdown, Letts added the conversion. Oakham 9, Olney 29. (20 mins.). (Goss's third I bet that cost him!)
The home side kicked off and the ball ended up in touch. Oakham mounted an offensive and gained a lineout inside Olney's '22'. Oakham won the ball and scored a try by Thomas Eassen, not converted. Oakham 14, Olney 29. (24 mins.).
Olney kicked off long, too long giving Oakham put in at a scrum on the centre spot. Oakham won the ball and kicked to touch on Olney's 5 m. line. They won the ball and drove for the line, their efforts were rewarded with a second try scored by Angus Collett, not converted. Oakham 19, Olney 29. (30 mins.)
Following the restart the home side continued to threaten Olney's defence but the visitors repelled them. The closing minutes were spoiled when Olney's Skipper was yellow carded.
FULL TIME SCORE: OAKHAM 19, OLNEY 29.
TEAM: Thomas Godfrey, Jim Osborn, David Rainbow, Charlie Harris, Ollie Fearis, John Robinson, Glen White, Gareth Cahill (capt.)
Rhys Gregory, Jordan Letts, Harry James, Euan Irwin, Brendan Burke, Marcus Goss, Lloyd Sweeney
SUBS: Matt Boddy, Craig Smith, Dan Frossell.
TEAM SPONSORS: S.R.OSBORN & SON LTD. DBF CONSTRUCTION