21/09/08 Match Reports from OA's

Bicester ‘A’ 7 v Old Albanians ‘A’ 29

The Foxes put in an excellent all round performance for which they can be proud of, they knew the quality of OAs and took the field determined to give them a game, and a very entertaining game it proved to be played with good discipline and a lot of skill from both sides.

The first 20 minutes were tightly fought with both sides showing full commitment. OAs broke the deadlock from a line break by their excellent winger whose finish under the posts was converted. Mats Venning put up a near perfect restart kick which Tom Burrell and Cameron Fortin-Smith followed up, caught the receiver and created turnover ball form the ensuing ruck. Quick ball gave Dan Rowland the opening for a break and feed Henry Gayler who with Tim Price outside him dummied the pass to step inside and score. Dougie Haynes kicked the difficult conversion and Bicester were back level. Both sides threatened before the break, Bicester clearing up nicely at the back and OAs stopping good a break from Dan. HT 7-7.

OAs winger showed great strength and pace to power in to make it 12-7 early in the second half. The game was well balanced with possession shared with good attacks from each side being countered by committed defence. Bicester took 2 scrums against the head. With 5 minutes left it was still 12-7 very much to the Bicester players credit. But OAs showed their class and managed 3 late tries as Bicester tired, providing a final score that did not reflect the closeness of the match.

Try Scorer: Henry Gayler

Conversion: Dougie Haynes

Players Man of Match: Cameron Fortin-Smith

Coaches Man of Match: Henry Gayler – Good captaincy and a high tackle count.

Bicester ‘B’ 45 v Old Albanians ‘B’ 14

What a performance! The Hounds played very good 15 man rugby showing a lot of skill and effort together with some excellent finishing. The pack, led by Ollie Cavey, were excellent creating real forwards dominance particularly at the set piece. The backs created much and defended strongly, Will BH had a fine game.

Bicester opened the scoring when Ollie took a scrum against the head, the first of many. Ed Mawdsley picked up at No 8 and set off on a strong run for the line to score on his debut (jug -2). Connor Brooks kicked a fine conversion. Their second was first worked through the forwards with the ever busy Robson Connor taking the ball up and setting, Jordan Hirons good work at the ruck gave the platform for quick ball to Will Brett-Harding who showed his great pace to round the defence on a run from inside his own half to score under the posts. Wills first try for the Club was followed by his second, finishing off a well executed move off the back of a scrum with a well timed pass by fly-half Harry Court to Joel Miller at pace and on a good line, Joel found Will who was not going to be stopped. Before the break OAs raised their game and looked certain to score until Joel put in a try saving tackle. Bicester managed to survive a period of pressure close to their try line. When Harry Court received the ball in front of his posts he made a quick decision not to kick and stormed through the opposition up to the 22, Giles Baldwin was first to support taking Bicester upfield to find Ed in support who broke cross field feeding PJ out on the wing. PJ was stopped short of the line but kept possession and Ed picked up to score his second (jug-1). HT 24-0.

Bicester continued to take the game to OAs, and when defensive pressure caused OAs to kick down field, Harry collected covering full back counter attacked up to the 22 where he set well, once again Giles was first to the ball to pick up and take a straight line charge to finish under the sticks. Ed Mawdsley completed a memorable debut hatrick (jug) when he picked up off the back of scrum 10m out and broke two tackles to finish. Brooksy added the extras. Ellis had a good break but was stopped short. Bicesters last try came form 2 pieces of differing skill, first the pack displayed great timing to turn over another scrum, PJ at scrum-half gave a good pass to Harry who took a beautiful line inside his defender to sprint to the line.

To their credit, OAs continued to battle and were rewarded for their efforts with 2 late tries.

Well done to all of the boys.