Olney played Biggleswade at the Rec. on Saturday in front of a good turnout of supporters following a lunch to celebrate the longevity of two life members: President Mannie Howkins and Publications Guru 'Haggis'. The lunch was very good but the game started less so.

Biggleswade kicked off and true to recent form Olney had conceded a try in the first two minutes, scored by Alex Borg, under the posts and converted by Luke Haverly to give them an early lead 0 - 7.

Things then settled down somewhat though the home side were under pressure in the scrums, due to a front row line up including players unaccustomed to the role. Good carries by James Hawken and Euan Walker gave the home side some forward momentum. But it was halfway through the session before Biggleswade, awarded a penalty, kicked long and followed up to score a try by Liam Dunn, converted by Haverly. This extended the visitor's lead to 0 - 14.

Olney attacked from the kick off and took the ball to the visitor's goal line, a forward pass gave a scrum to Biggleswade but Olney regained possession benefit of a free kick. Olney opted to run the ball and Euan Walker drove over the line to put points on the board. There was no conversion Olney 5, Biggleswade 14, after 25 mins.

Receiving from the kick off, Walker was in the action again, another good carry took play up to the visitor's 22. Olney were awarded a penalty for 'offside' and kicked to touch. They lost the ball from the lineout but regained from a breakdown in the visitor's backs. A foul tackle lead to a yellow card for a Biggleswade player and Olney kicked to touch for a lineout on the visitor's 5 m. line. They won the ball from the lineout and drove over the goal line. The ref. declared the ball 'held up' and the visitor's gained some relief, winning the ball at the ensuing scrum.

Olney made a substitution Jake Deighton being replaced by Will Parkin.

Olney were gradually taking control having the edge in the lines out and improving at the set scrums. Gaining the ball from broken play the forwards, through Peter TG then Craig Smith, carried the ball to the visitor's 5m. line. Olney were awarded a scrum that they won to give scrum half Rich Cowan the opportunity to break through for try, converted by Hawken to close the deficit to 12 - 14 (35 mins.).

Olney bolstered by their score counter attacked from the kick off and Hawken made good ground. the ball was lost in a tackle and Biggleswade used the wind advantage to kick deep into the home sides territory. Their forwards won the ball at a line out in Olney's '22' and drove the maul to the goal line. This time the 'held up' decision favoured Olney and the ref. whistled for half time. HALF TIME SCORE: OLNEY 12, BIGGLESWADE 14.

Olney kicked off for the second half having replaced Craig Smith and Joby Soloman with Matt Boddy and Charlie Harris. They followed up and skipper Jack Sutton caught the ball directly from the kick, the move was spoiled when the ref penalised Olney for offside. The visitor's put the ball into touch for a lineout on their 10 m. line they won the ball and attacked. Olney were penalised again, this time on their '22' and Haverly kicked the goal, extending the lead to 12 - 17, 5 mins. into the half.

From the kick off Olney were awarded a penalty between halfway and the visitor's 10m. line? With the wind now in their favour Olney kicked for a lineout on the visitor's 5m. line. They won the ball and attacked the Biggleswade goal line, the ball was carried over but the ref. deemed 'held up'. This gave Olney a scrum 5m. out and Sutton picked up off the back to split the defence and touchdown, Hawken added the conversion and the home side gained the lead; 19 - 17, (10 mins.).

Olney counter attacked from the restart but another penalty against them, gave the visitors the chance to take play back into the home side's half. A knock on gave Olney the put in and the half time changes had helped to ease the pressure on the front row. They won the ball and attacked the visitor's goal line. Awarded a penalty 5m. out they ran the ball, first left then right to put Charlie Harris over for a try. Hawken added the conversion. Olney extended their lead 26 - 17.

The home side were on the charge, from the kick off Charlie Harris made a good carry handing on to Harry James who was forced over the line near the visitor's '22'. The ball went loose from the lineout and Olney picked up to run the ball. This caught the visitors offside and Olney were awarded a penalty. Hawken was on target again and after 28 mins. Olney were leading 29 - 17.

Biggleswade kicked off to restart and following up were penalised for a high tackle. This was put into touch for an Olney lineout near the visitor's 10m. line. Tempers were getting a little frayed and Olney were penalised with a further 10m. being added for 'chatting'! The kick was put into touch near the home '22' and play then was a series of stoppages culminating in a in a try for Biggleswade scored by Will Sims but not converted, to make the score on 35 mins. (plus injury time) 29 - 22.

The improvement in Olney's scrum was evident when from the kick off Biggleswade were awarded a scrum, for a knock on, and Olney won the ball against the head. The ball was fed through the backs and Hawken made inroads into the visitor's defence. Biggleswade cleared to touch near their 5m.line. Olney won clean ball in the lineout and Cowan threaded through for a try, converted Hawken. Score OLNEY 36, BIGGLESWADE 22. The time incl. injuries - 45 mins.

The visitor's kick off failed to go '10' and Olney won the scrum on their put in, the ball was put through the hands to Hawken at centre. He broke through the close defenders and ran over half the length of the pitch to score near the posts. To this he added the conversion, at 43 - 22 the ref. called No Side.

FULL TIME SCORE: OLNEY 43, BIGGLESWADE 22.

TEAM: Chris Parnham,Craig Smith, Euan Walker, Kayne Anderson, Peter TG., John Robinson, Joby Soloman, Jack Sutton(capt.), Rich Cowan, Kane Middleton, Harry James, Ollie Simmons, James Hawken, Jake Deighton, Will Durden

SUBS: Charlie Harris, Will Parkin, Matt Boddy.

TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND J. SMAIL