First Half
A misty and damp Sunday set the scene for Olney RFC Colts’ Round 4 game in the National Colts Cup against Gordano RFC Colts. Gordano must have been up early to combat the three-hour drive up the M5 and M4 to reach East Street for the 13:45 kick-off.

A bumper crowd greeted the Gordano team and their travelling support, and that crowd was clearly expecting a huge performance from the highly successful Olney RFC Colts.

Kick-off was slightly delayed due to traffic issues, but even with that delay the game started with a bang. A big carry from the Olney pack showed early intent, only for them to quickly come back down to earth with a knock-on, gifting Gordano an early advantage. Gordano played instantly out the back, but Olney came flying back at them with a ferocious double hit that would become the marker for the day. Oliver Surley and Charlie Constantine smashed the Gordano forward, sending him back five metres. Gordano scrambled to the blindside but were double-shotted again, this time by Monty Lee and Ronan Perkins, with Lee ripping the ball for good measure. However, the referee adjudged Olney to be offside and brought play back for a Gordano scrum.
The Olney scrum absolutely annihilated the Gordano lads a worrying early sign for the visitors. Gordano’s backs tried to generate some go-forward but were quickly gobbled up by the blitzing pace of the Olney defensive line. Gordano recycled under advantage and showed some nice attacking intent, but once again ran into a double shot, this time delivered by brothers Ferdi and Howie Barnett-Vincent. Gordano scuttled their way across the pitch, but the referee had seen enough sideways movement and pulled play back for an earlier high tackle. Penalty and lineout to Gordano on the 10-metre line.
Unfortunately for Gordano, the throw wasn’t straight and Olney were handed another scrum. It was yet another pounding in the pack, and scrum-half Alex Bickers found Sammy Inman flat to the line. Inman lifted the ball beautifully into the barnstorming “General” Justin Fasanya who powered 40 metres into the Gordano half. Ruck speed was blink-and-you-miss-it quick as Bickers whipped the ball away to Beau Stenson in the 15-metre channel.
Amazingly, Howie Barnett-Vincent making his Olney Colts debut while playing up from the U16s had covered over 70 metres from blindside flank to support Stenson. Howie delivered a perfectly timed pass into the path of Joe Grainger, who was at full tilt and wasn’t stopping for anyone.

Try. Olney 5 – Gordano 0

The restart was sent deep into the Olney half but was well fielded by Howie Barnett-Vincent, who used his footwork to evade the onrushing defence and carried hard to make his own 22-metre line. The ensuing phases were a little flat and overrun by Olney, resulting in a clumsy knock-on that handed Gordano another scrum. Once again, the Gordano pack were put under severe pressure and shoved backwards at a rate of knots, making it almost impossible for them to generate any attacking momentum.

Another crunching double hit followed, this time from Howie and Connor Wright, driving the Gordano carrier back even further. This forced a kick through which took a wicked bounce and was knocked on by Olney, another scrum to Gordano. That scrum was pulverised, resulting in a deserved penalty to Olney. Olney opted for a quick tap and carried the ball away from contact well, but the pace of the attack caused Gordano to knock on in the tackle, leading to yet another scrum this time for Olney.

On this attack, Olney found themselves flat again and foolishly knocked on in midfield, much to the crowd’s annoyance.

Gordano showed some real grit and continued to attack under advantage, moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. Olney were caught offside, conceding an easy penalty. Gordano kicked to the corner for a lineout five metres out.

The lineout was easily pinched by Connor Wright and picked up by Constantine, who drove hard back up the middle into the Gordano forwards. An excellent carry by Wright gained vital distance and allowed Stenson to kick Olney into some much-needed territory, finding touch just short of the 10-metre line.

Gordano plugged away from the subsequent lineout but were steadily driven backwards by Olney’s defensive grit, eventually being forced back to halfway. A kick was launched but was gathered willingly by Maxton Hubbard in the backfield, his eyes lighting up at the space ahead. Attack he did beating not one, not two, but three defenders with ease before popping the ball to Fasanya, who had followed on a tight support line on his right shoulder.

Again, the ruck speed proved far too hot for Gordano to handle. Bickers sniped through the middle, making a break for the line before being ankle-tapped. Before hitting the turf, he offloaded brilliantly to the other Barnett-Vincent on the team sheet, Ferdi (Howie’s older brother). Gordano were not stopping this freight train.

Try. Olney 10 – Gordano 0

The restart was taken once more by Howie, who weaved and bounced his way 30 metres up field. Ruck ball was again fast and clean, with Bickers finding Stenson and Hubbard. Grainger finally got his hands on the ball as Olney marched back up to the Gordano 10-metre line. This time a shorter ball was taken by Ferdi Barnett-Vincent, who flattened the onrushing defender and drew appreciative “ooohs” from the crowd.
Stenson then spotted space and lifted the ball over the Gordano midfield. The kick trickled forward and bounced into the fullback’s hands, who did well under pressure from Fasanya and Perkins. However, the referee deemed the Olney chasers not to be releasing and awarded Gordano a penalty.
The kick was short but expertly collected by Sammy Inman, who immediately moved the ball to Hubbard. Hubbard carved his way beyond the 22, leaving several defenders clutching at thin air. Olney broke from deep inside their own half, with Bickers firing the ball to Charlie Constantine. Constantine, instead of dishing out more punishment, slipped a classy pass to Stenson, who released the marauding Ronan Perkins. Just short of halfway, Perkins offloaded off his left hand to Ade Adebayo, who lit the afterburners and surged deep into the Gordano half. The fullback managed to slow him just enough before Adebayo offloaded to Louie Brock, whose support line was sublime. A wonderful try.

Try. Olney 15 – Gordano 0

The restart went to Oliver Surley, who plucked the ball out of the air like an Aussie Rules player. He cut across two defenders and offloaded to a fully pumped Ferdi Barnett-Vincent, who then had the audacity to grubber ahead. Louie Brock splattered the unfortunate Gordano fullback, who regathered the ball somewhat suspiciously, but Olney soon regained possession after blasting through the ruck with ease. Play was halted for a knock-on by Olney, resulting in a Gordano scrum 10 metres inside their own half.
Another squeeze came on from the Olney pack and Gordano attempted to break down the blindside. A kick was charged down, leaving Gordano once again on the back foot. Olney’s defence at this stage was ferocious, knocking back every Gordano attempt until the ball finally spilled into Olney hands. Powerful carries from Monty Lee, followed by spiteful efforts from Perkins and Constantine, left Gordano reeling. A penalty was awarded to Olney.
They considered a quick tap but instead opted to test the Gordano lineout defence. Olney wasted no time: Ferdi threw to Connor Wright at two, and the forward machine went to work, head down and chewing up territory. The ball worked its way to the back and into Ferdi’s hands, who from five metres out used clever footwork to dot down for his second try.

Try. Olney 22 – Gordano 0
Conversion: Stenson

The restart was safely taken by Surley under heavy Gordano pressure. Bickers attempted a cheeky chip to find Howie but overcooked it and knocked on somehow missed by the referee. Gordano played on and found their centre, who had been tracked tightly by Connor Wright. Wright came in like an Exocet missile and absolutely boomed his target, drawing groans from the crowd in concern for the West Country man who thankfully dusted himself off. What a hit ?
Olney now had a clear appetite for big shots and hunted Gordano relentlessly, in twos, threes and more. Another scrum was awarded to Gordano, but energy was clearly draining from them. Forced to kick from deep, Gordano found Grainger, who took the ball beautifully over his shoulder and flicked himself into hyperdrive. He beat three defenders before offloading to Howie. The ball again flew through hands to Bickers, but a side-on tackle caused him to knock on. The referee awarded the scrum to Gordano.
Another scrum was the last thing Gordano needed, and Olney were quick to underline that fact perhaps too quick, releasing a bind early and conceding a penalty. Gordano’s kick was short, but Olney failed to secure their own ruck and were rightly turned over.
Constantine refused to be beaten one-on-one, putting in another crunching tackle. It was becoming clear that Gordano were struggling to create anything meaningful. Their fly-half was forced to kick, finding Hubbard, who used his boot to great effect and boomed the ball downfield. Gordano’s right wing gathered well and arched his run back to halfway before being shepherded into touch by Grainger.
From the lineout, Olney surged back into the Gordano half through powerful carries and rapid recycling. With the try line once again in sight, Bickers found Stenson, and the speed and timing of the hands allowed Maxton Hubbard to move the ball crisply to the right. He found Sammy Inman, who delayed his pass brilliantly before releasing the speedster Grainger for his second try of the afternoon.

Try. Olney 27 – Gordano 0
Conversion: Stenson

The restart was fumbled before being tidied up by Olney, and the inevitable followed. Olney’s forwards were simply too powerful, too skilful, and too relentless for Gordano to manage. Quick, clean ball allowed Stenson to exploit a glaring error in the Gordano midfield, gliding through to score and convert his own try.

Olney 36 – Gordano 0
Try & Conversion: Stenson

From the restart, Olney were unlucky not to score again after breaks from Dylan French, Hubbard, and Wright, but the referee called time on the half.

Half-time: Olney RFC Colts 36 – 0 Gordano RFC Colts

Second Half
The second half started with real edge, with the Gordano coaches clearly igniting some fire in their players’ bellies. Stenson struck a long kick-off straight down the middle, inviting Gordano to play from deep. The one-up carry was halted quickly by Donny MacManus and Constantine, though the carrier managed to free the ball. Gordano moved it wide before kicking through, with Hubbard sweeping up and finding Constantine, who delivered a direct, hard carry straight up the middle. Stenson attempted a cross-field kick, but Olney failed to stay on their feet, gifting Gordano easy territory inside the 22.
The throw went to the tail and Gordano’s tighthead carried hard, but Louie Brock and Alfie Mutuma were on hand to dish out some solid Olney defence, and the ball was well held up. The ensuing goal-line dropout was chipped in a bold attempt to create something, but it was swept up by the retreating Gordano centre only for him to be split in two by Fasanya. Gordano managed to move the ball wide again and the fullback put in a deft kick, with Stenson diving on it to restore some order. After absorbing pressure, Olney momentarily lost their composure.
The next dropout was banged up to halfway, again inviting Gordano to attack from deep. This time Olney were back on top defensively, pushing high up the pitch. Lewis Gardener took his turn to deliver another crunching tackle. Olney were perhaps a little over-enthusiastic and were pinged offside. Gordano went quickly, but their attack was again snarled up by Olney’s indefatigable defence, Darragh Fitzgerald hammering another carrier into the turf. Olney turned the ball over and went wide through Hubbard and French, followed by a strong carry from Jack Sivills. However, Olney again conceded a cheap penalty by going off their feet.
Gordano attacked from the resulting lineout, but Olney’s defence was clearly winning the day. Gordano were driven backwards, putting their wider players under severe pressure, and before they knew it they were attacking from inside their own 22. The fullback went down well but then attempted to run down Louie Brock, who picked him up and splattered him backwards to the delight of the crowd. A penalty was awarded to Olney, but an over-rushed kick was sent dead, much to the coaches’ frustration.
The 22-metre dropout was struck well but equally well covered by Dylan French, who found Stenson. Stenson immediately launched one of his trademark spiral bombs high into the grey winter sky. The ball was fumbled backwards, but Olney were penalised for coming in at the side. Gordano, now clearly creaking under the relentless Olney pressure, began to show some frustration as things grew a little heated among the forwards.
The Gordano lineout was executed well, but once again they found themselves attacking at least 25 metres behind the gain line. Under little pressure, they knocked on, a moment that would not have pleased their forwards. The game became slightly fussy for a few minutes before Olney restored some order with a lineout on the Gordano 22.
The lineout was well executed but illegally disrupted, allowing Hubbard to nudge the ball deeper into Gordano territory. The next lineout was overthrown but well collected by Will Light at the tail, who drove hard to set up a strong ruck. Frustratingly, the referee called the throw not straight, handing Gordano a scrum.
Olney’s scrum had been anything but charitable all afternoon, and Gordano’s forwards were visibly fatigued. Olney shoved them back the maximum distance allowed and were unlucky not to earn a penalty. The pressure told regardless, Gordano’s clearance kick was fluffed and charged down by Stenson, falling straight into the welcoming arms of Darragh Fitzgerald, who touched down under the posts.

Try. Olney 43 – Gordano 0
Conversion: Stenson

The restart was taken cleanly by Wright, who required five Gordano players to halt his progress. Mutuma then bounced off three more defenders as Olney cleared their lines and briefly engaged in some kick tennis. A strong carry from Grainger opened up the short side, which Perkins exploited with soft hands to find Fasanya in the five-metre channel. The passage of play became a little strange and eventually resulted in a lineout to Olney where a score had seemed likely.
The final lineout was well executed, with Bickers finding Monty Lee, who carried powerfully deep into the Gordano half with players hanging off him. Olney, however, fluffed their lines and knocked on five metres short. Replacements were introduced as Gordano’s forwards braced themselves for a pressured scrum on their own five-metre line.
To their credit, Gordano handled the scrum well and cleared to the 10-metre line with a decent kick, which was taken above his head by Ade Adebayo. Adebayo cut a diagonal line, beating an unreal number of defenders, but Olney failed to use his excellent work and were penalised for holding on just five metres short of the line. Gordano executed the lineout well and attempted to create space out wide, but Olney’s defence once again regrouped and forced them back inside. Fly-half Beau Stenson added his own defensive contribution with a solid hit, though Olney were again penalised for offside.
The game settled into an odd rhythm for five minutes as fatigue set in on both sides. Play ebbed and flowed around halfway, with Gordano attacking and Olney defending stoutly, before turnovers were undone by handling errors. This pattern repeated itself several times.
Eventually, Gordano were left hanging on the ropes as Olney probed from right to left. Space finally opened up for the slippery Dylan French, who sliced through a flagging Gordano defence like a sabre to cap a dominant performance.

Try. Olney 50 – Gordano 0
Conversion: Stenson

The referee brought proceedings to a close shortly after.

Full Time
Olney RFC Colts 50 – 0 Gordano RFC Colts

Post-Match Reaction
Beau Stenson – Captain
“From the minute the lads were in the changing room before the game, I could tell it was going to be a special performance. With the warm-up down on Doffs 2, everything was sticking for us.
Coming out to such a big crowd meant a lot to everyone, and we’re grateful for all the support on our National Colts Cup journey.
At 36–0 at half-time, we knew the job was to see the game out and stay hungry, and more points came in the second half. Heading into the quarter-final on February 8th, there are plenty of things to work on, but also lots of positives to build on.”

Chris Denoven – Head Coach
“Gordano came up here as a bit of an unknown quantity, but fair play to them, they kept getting up and showed real dog throughout.
We always focus on performance rather than result. We did enough today, but we know we can be better because our standards are that high. We probably ran the ball a little too much early on and could have been slicker in a few areas.
Massive credit to the scrum and our all-round forward play, both were off the charts. Credit to our forwards coaches Ben, Dai, JP and Stevie.”

Man of the Match
Connor Wright
“He’s making a habit of picking these awards up in big games this season. It was a complete performance in every aspect of rugby. He was helped by his fellow forwards also being excellent, but it was hard to think of a moment where Connor wasn’t involved.”

Pics here (credit: Jeff Bowden & James FIshwick)