Olney's second league fixture was at home to Leicester Vipers and changes in their line up allied with better conditions resulted in a better all-round performance from the hosts.

Olney kicked off into the wind and followed up but were penalised for entering the ensuing ruck in front of the ball. This gave the visitors the opportunity to gain territorial advantage but their kick to touch only advanced them 10m. into the home half. Play continued midfield until Olney were awarded a penalty for offside; and kicked for a lineout just inside the visitor's 22. Olney won the ball, but not cleanly, a maul developed that resulted in a scrum, Vipers put in, they won the ball and kicked long into the home in goal area.Both sides were defending well and though there were some promising breaks by James Padfield and Phil Bowden they were smothered by the visitors back row cover. The opening score came in the 9th. minute, an attempted clearance kick from Vipers was gathered by Bowden who fed inside to Charlie Belcher started a move involving the forwards and backs, to put Ollie Simmons in for a try. Jordan Letts added the conversion and Olney were first on the scoreboard; Olney 7, Vipers 0.

From the kick off, Olney counter attacked and at the breakdown on the halfway line Vipers were awarded a scrum. Olneys forwards defended well but conceded a penalty on the halfway line, they were able to prevent the ball going into touch from the kick and Cam Kok made a break through. Euan Walker carried the move on and the forwards joined in to feed the ball to Simmons for his second touchdown. Letts kicked the conversion and the home sides lead was extended; Olney 14, Vipers 0, after 14 mins.

The kick off was followed up by Vipers but bundled into touch giving Olney a lineout 30m. into their half. There followed a period of play that was punctuated by stoppages, The scrum count being 3:2 in the visitors favour and penalties 6:2 to Vipers. This resulted in some protracted discussion between the ref. and the skippers. Probably none of the spectators and few of the players could understand what this was all about.

From the final penalty ,in this half, to Vipers, the home side counter attacked putting the ball through the hands and taking the visitors defence first one way then the other. The move finally broke down near the Vipers goal line and resulted in a scrum to the home sides advantage. The ball was won and the pack drove for the line. It was finally released and Will Edwards on the right wing ran in the try. Again Letts added the extras and the ref blew for half time. Strangely, no time was added for the interruptions.

HALF TIME SCORE: OLNEY 21, Vipers 0.

Olney faced the kick off with Mungo Ryan replacing Belcher. Receiving the ball Walker was on the charge carrying into the visitors half. The Vipers pack retaliated and from a penalty kicked to within 5m. of the home goal line.

They won the ball and fed the short side for Joel Wilson to score a try converted ,well, by Robbie Carr. This reduced the deficiency to OLNEY 21, Vipers 7. (4 mins)

From the restart Vipers were awarded a penalty, and opted to kick for touch 5m. into Olney territory. The visitors won the ball and kicked to gain territory but it was charged down. It was retrieved by Vipers who kicked directly to touch and were awarded a lineout, The home forwards won the ball and set up an attack combining with the backs and culminating in a try for Letts, not converted, OLNEY 26, Vipers 7.

The game continued to stutter along, the close up defending stifling open play. Olney rang the changes to bring their subs into play, as did the opposition. As the match moved into the last quarter, the home side raised the tempo, the ball was won from a lineout throw by Vipers and passed through the threes to Mungo Ryan backing up. He carved through the defence and scored, Letts converted, OLNEY 33, Vipers 7. (30 mins.).

Not taking things lying down Vipers followed up their kick off and won a scrum on Olneys 10m. line. They fed to their short side and put Jake Hudson in for a try, not converted, OLNEY 33, Vipers 12. (33 mins.).

Vipers attacked from the kick off. Running the ball well, they conjured a try for Kit Sullivan , converted by Carr to achieve a respectable, final score. FULL TIME SCORE: OLNEY 33, Vipers 19.

TEAM: Jeremiah Shields, Jim Osborne (capt.) Euan Walker, Mark Austin, Cameron Kok, Gareth Cahill, Charlie Belcher, Isaac Shields, Harry Warn, Jordan Letts, Will Edwards, Ollie, Simmons, James Padfield, Will Durden, Phil Bowden.

SUBS: George Stanton, Mungo Ryan, Dave Smith.

A good result for Jim Osborne, confirmed as Club Captain.

TEAM SPONSOR: DESMOND. J. SMAIL