This week’s guest reporter: Drew Peacock

Olney travelled to Aylesbury who are at the equivalent level in the South west leagues so this pre-season friendly would be a good indication of how we would perform for the upcoming season. The Aylesbury artificial pitch and set up bore a slight resemblance to a racecourse with the rails and gates and when the players emerged to the paddock it was clear the Aylesbury side looked more experienced and slightly heavier all round.

As the game kicked off, Olney had the wind advantage and showed their attacking intent with the first ten minutes spent in the Aylesbury half. Some good interplay between backs and forwards kept the Aylesbury defence working hard and Olney were unlucky on a couple of occasions not to cross the line for the first score. Aylesbury did find their forwards could gain some ground though, and having worked their way up the field a number of infringements led to Gareth Cahill being singled out to receive a yellow card. A kick to the corner and the resulting catch and drive gave the Aylesbury pack the opportunity to drop over for the first try, possibly against the run of play. More was to follow when Cobie Chapman received his yellow card for a ruck offence and, similar to the first try, the Aylesbury forwards had the upper hand to score the second. This was not converted but the home side were now 12 points to the good.

Olney then had prop Josh Lawson leave the field with a minor injury to be replaced with a man whose head appeared to be on upside down. It turned out to be Graham Smith! Olney were not giving up their attacking style and midway through the half a chip kick over the defence by Ash Elvers saw Samir Ali Mohamed gather well and gallop over for a try close to the posts making the conversion a formality for Elliot Simpson. Towards the end of the half the ball was eventually shipped along the line to Phil Bowden who is back from being extremely clever at university. He showed he still has considerable pace and out ran the defence to dot down on the left, again converted by Simpson. There was still time left in the half when almost from the kick restart, some marvellous support and direct running involving backs and forwards alike gave winger Marcus Goss a chance to run in for a fine try making the half time score 12-19 in Olney’s favour.

Aylesbury kicked off the second half with the wind in their favour and made it count, spending a lengthy amount of time camped in the Olney 22. Despite a lot of noise, chatter and clatter they were unable to touch down due to some resolute defending by the boys in cerise and grey. Eddie Goss, Sven Meiland and Harvey Dunn (slimline after a summer of tugging with Jim Osborn) all had a hand in a try attempt being held up over the line. Complaints about this resulting in a yellow card (another one) for the Aylesbury side. They still kept pressure on Olney though, and this was finally rewarded when moving the ball to the right of a midfield scrum, the overlap created allowed the full back to sprint for the corner and score. A well taken conversion drew the scores level at 19-19.

As the game neared its final stages the Aylesbury hooker also fell victim to the yellow disease and would take no further part. A kick to the corner and a couple of minutes of good possession and recycling gave Struan Brooks a sniff of an opportunity when he found a gap and scampered over for a well deserved try. The conversion by Simpson was the final action of the match and Olney finished as victors 26-19.

Back in the winners enclosure both sets of coaches and players would agree this was a fine test of their squads and a good trial to lead into what will hopefully be a successful season for both clubs. Just a reminder to all supporters that many of the away games this season will be not many miles away and the players always appreciate a good number of familiar faces on the touchline.