After a break with no game in the previous weekend Olney returned to action at home to old rivals Towcestrians who have had a fair start to the season and sit just above us in the table. Over the last few years Tows have been one of the stronger sides locally but this league is fairly wide open so anything could happen.

Olney started the match with the wind in their favour but found themselves on the back foot early on and after a couple of 5m lineouts Tows prop showed good strength to force his way over for a 5-0 lead. Olney then started to use the wind effectively to work their way up the field but got turned over a couple of times. Soon though, Olney were rewarded after some good handling and support play, Struan Brooks levelled the scores. Things then became a tad scrappy for a while until a deft kick from Stu Livesey was gathered by Ben Duke who scored under the posts, converted by Elliot Simpson. Olney then spent the majority of the half in Tows territory to no avail and possibly could have scored again were it not for some minor errors. Half time score 12 – 5 to the home side.

From the second half kick-off, Olney harassed and pressured Tows into mistakes, allowing the Olney backs to capitalise and Livesey finishing the move with a try wide on the right. More pressure and a testing low kick meant Tows had to concede a penalty which captain Eddie Goss took quickly and drove over himself for the bonus point try. Shortly after, a clearance kick from Tows was gathered by Brooks and some good interplay between wingers James Gardner and Lloyd Sweeney gave Gardner enough space to run round under the posts to score. Tows were far from out of the game though and on their next visit to the Olney 22, some indifferent tackling allowed them a score wide on the left. Tows then had a man in the bin for 10 minutes for a deliberate trip to stop a quick penalty. Simpson opted to take the 3 points to extend Olney’s lead to 34 – 10.

The final action of the half belonged to Olney when a good backs move was finished by Gardner dotting down in the right hand corner to the delight of the crowd gathered in front of the hut. Final score of 39 – 10 was reward for the performance and the crowd assembled on a day when we remembered absent friends were all in agreement that a good time was had by all both on and off the pitch.

Olney ladies have been enjoying successes of their own so far this season and whilst celebrating over a few drinks around the table their conversation turned to their partners. Overheard in the dialogue was the question, “Do you look at your husband’s face when making love?” “I did once and he looked very angry” admitted one of the group. “Why was that?” Came the response from the others. “Because he was watching me through the window!” she replied.