Old Elizabethans v Frampton Cotterell
1st October 2022

Before the match report there are a few thanks to be said, (1) Thanks to everyone attending for making it such a successful day at the rugby club. It was a truly great day. (2) Thanks to Simon and James Tarasuik, Phil and Kaz Cheek for what was a very enjoyable and memorable Old Boys lunch before the match. (3) Thanks to Malcolm Davies for effectively managing and Refereeing the Old Boys Walking Rugby which was great fun. (Editor's note: Never have I had to referee such an unruly bunch of players with every trick in the book for trying to hide foul play from the referee. But it was great fun – I have never laughed so much in a game of Walking Rugby.)
Team Blue Miscreants: Dave Langdon, Paul “Frank” Arber, Ian Kembery, George Frater, Malcolm Davies, David Langdon, Roger Edwards, Nick Heath vs Team OEs Badge Scoundrels: Dan Werz, Peter Abel, Barrie Darby, Sam Phillips, Andy Brooks, Blakey. If it hadn't been for a dropped ball by Mr Ian Kembery when clear through for a try then it wouldn't have ended in a draw, one try each including an outrageous dummy by David Langdon!!!

Before the 1st VI match started a minute's silence was held in memory of our deceased OEs' President David Perkins.
An expectant crowd were excited by the prospect of this fixture following two good wins against Dings II and Dursley.

1st XV SQUAD: Lucas Sadler, Matt Bailey, Jack Houlder, Adam Skyner, Matt Hudson, George Burnie, Jake Perry, Rhys Edwards, Jamie Halpin, Will Appleton, Pat Dore, Alex Potts, Sam Brewer, Tobias Burden, Luke Jagger, Tom Brewer, Matt Carr, Will Patterson

MATCH REPORT: Es started strongly and should have taken the lead but for a couple of missed penalty kicks by Luke Jagger, maybe the nerves of the big occasion were getting to him? Frampton put in an early big hit on Old Es' No.10 Will Appleton and that was his game over and done. Matt Carr took to the field as a replacement for his first game of the season following injury. Frampton were using the wind well in the first half and were pinning Es back and the pressure that followed saw them score first, with a good move from a lineout and scrum and a converted try more or less under the posts (0-7).

What followed was a lot of to and froing for both teams but it was Frampton that capitalised again with a well worked try and conversion (0-14).

Es once again were making mistakes when promising moves broke down and there wasn't much to shout about in the first half and Frampton extended the lead with an excellent backs move including a great loop and Es were down (0-19) at the end of the first half.

For the second half Will Patterson was introduced and Tom Brewer had his debut but hopefully not the last time we see him pull on an Es' shirt, an excellent game from him! An Es' penalty kick seemed to have given them three points but despite Frank raising his flag the Frampton linesman didn't and the referee sided with Frampton so the score stayed unchanged! Es were still struggling to string moves together losing the ball in contact and making mistakes which relieved the pressure on Frampton but you could see the belief was there!

Following a series of penalties against Frampton, Es' forwards bullied there way forward and Rhys Edwards scored a deserved try with Luke Jagger adding the extras (7-19).

Will Patterson “Patty” had introduced some real urgency to the game which was putting Frampton on the back foot and following a quick penalty involving Patty and Alex Potts “Pottsy”, somehow Patty twisted and turned and squirmed his way over the try line and with Luke Jagger adding two points the score reached (14-19)

Es were really back in it. Sensing this Frampton stepped up a gear and pushed Es back and due to a poor clearance kick from Es, Frampton renewed their attack and from a good lineout their driving maul put them further ahead (14-26).

Belief started to show as Es would not give up and very soon found themselves attacking in Frampton's 22 and from a 10m penalty Es went over for a score from George Burnie (I think!!) anyway, converted by Jagger (21-26).

Frampton looked tired and Es continued to believe in themselves with good work from Adam Skyner and the two Brewer brothers! A great Es' attack then ended in a superb try by Adam Skyner drawing them level with a conversion kick from Luke Jagger to follow, never in doubt, well done Cool Hand Luke and Es stole a victory from the jaws of defeat (28 – 26) and the referee blew his whistle for full time.

Wow! What a game!, everyone was excited by what they had seen, witnessed or participated in. Well done lads another great victory, let's keep up the good work which has now seen us move into 5th place in the league table. There's no league match next week for the 1st XV - we are at Fortress Hallen v Whitehall on the 15th Oct 3:00pm KO.

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 28 – 26 Frampton Cotterell

SCORERS:
Tries: Rhys Edwards, Will Patterson, George Burnie, Adam Skyner
Conversions: Luke Jagger (4)

Spectators Man of the Match: Will Patterson for his second half performance.

Full Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul “Blakey” Barrington

CLICK for the Old Elizabethans RFC website