An away trip to the nether regions of Northamptonshire to the village of Long Buckby for another league game against our good friends in what is reputedly one of the oldest rivalries anywhere in the rugby calendar with fixtures between the sides dating back to the late 19th century. Rumour has it that Dave “Haggis” Atkins remembers the first match which is what got him involved with the club all those years ago and he’s still doing a lot of work behind the scenes. Good old boy. First and second teams both here so a good following of support despite the weather conditions not improving prior to the kick off.

With a few enforced changes from last week due to illness and unavailability, Olney started the game playing down the notorious Buckby slope which would prove to be not so much of an advantage on a gloomy and wet day in the shires. It was the Olney boys who had to defend for a considerable number of phases in the early part of the game and solid defence kept the home side at bay. On 15 minutes Olney won a 5m scrum and did something almost French by running from behind their own goal line. Impressive pace and support from Ash Elvers, Phil Bowden and Ethan Chambers stretched Buckby sufficiently for Chambers to score a fine try under the posts. Further pressure from Buckby resulted in a number of penalties, one of which gave the man with the whistle reason to punish Elliot Simpson with a 10 minute spell on the side. The man advantage told when, after more drives towards the line committed the defence, a gap became available wide out for the Buckby winger to score. The rest of the half drifted on in its own sweet way towards half time with not much more to set the pulse racing. Half time score 5-7
With Olney back up to 15 players, the aim was to get points on the board.

The first of which came from winger Bowden when good hands by the backs let him show his pace, jinking left then right to run in under the posts. A minor fracas then ensued with proper punches thrown. Unfortunately for Jacob DeMain, his was spotted and he would take no further part in the game. Shortly after, Bowden added to the score with his second try when afforded some space out wide, his arcing run outstripped the chasers and he touched down in the corner. The boys in cerise were enjoying a purple patch and after several minutes of sustained possession, Prop Josh Lawson sprinted in from 40 metres with 3 defenders on each leg for the bonus point try. (Reporter was in the loo at the time but reliably informed this is the truth). Buckby did make use of the slope advantage towards the latter stages of the game and a powerful scrummage followed by some forceful driving play resulted in a try. In the ever increasing darkness with nobody having a shilling to put in the meter for the floodlights, this was the last significant action and the match ended up with a win for Olney by 24 points to 10. Mention must go to touch judge Charlie Wells who had the misfortune to be involved in a collision and sustained an injury which left him unable to perform his duties. We wish him well.

The 2nd team also won 14-10 against a strong Buckby side and news came through that the 3rds won at home so another good day for the club overall.

Nothing to report from the Harris household this week for various reasons but we did hear a story on the wireless about a man who couldn’t explain a pun to a kleptomaniac because he kept taking things literally!