Old Elizabethans 1st XV v Old Colstonians 1st XV
9th November 2024

Following the home defeat to Dursley RFC, and after a week’s rest from rugby this fixture gave Es the opportunity to bounce back and the usual rivalry between the two teams would certainly add some spice to the game.

The supporters had a good feeling about Es chances of securing their second victory of the campaign so far!

1st XV SQUAD: Jack Houlder, Fergus Blyth, Toby Wilcox, Tom Bendall, Adam Skyner, Matt Bailey, Angus Clifford, Will Tobin, Tom Cole, Sam Hygate, Ollie Lunt, Pat Dore, Tobias Burden, Arthur Mills, Will Monro, George Burnie, Gilbert Blocksidge, Charlie Smith

MATCH REPORT:
Old Colstonians probably started the stronger of the two teams and Es conceded a kickable penalty inside the first minute but fortunately the kick hit the post and bounced wide. Es had a good solid first scrum and indeed would enjoy this part of the game much more than in previous weeks, probably having the better of these set plays throughout the afternoon which gave Es a good base to work off, especially with the ever impressive Will Tobin at No.8. An early injury to an Old Cs player, as Es attacked, saw him having to leave the field.

Old Cs then conceded a penalty on about the 22m line and the consistent boot of Sam Hygate slotted Es in front (3-0).

Old Cs came back strongly and a good move could have led to much more but a dropped ball on the Es’ try line certainly helped Es who following a charge down from Adam Skyner, then counter attacked and a good inside kick from Arthur Mills on the wing saw Pat Dore touch down for what looked like a good try but the referee judged that he had knocked the ball forward in grounding it!! Further Es pressure led to a further penalty kick which Sam Hygate converted (6-0).

The young New Zealand referee was being hot on high tackles and an Old Cs’ player saw a Yellow Card for such an infringement. Then came a nightmare of a scenario, a quick lineout taken by Es on the halfway line looped in field only for an Old Cs player to snap it out of mid-air and run in a converted try under the posts (6-7), a gift to say the least!

Old Cs added to their lead almost immediately with a good try and conversion (6-14) and what had looked like a promising start for Old Es started to look like a turning point in the game.

Cs attacked again and if not for the quick feet of Will Monro Es could have been punished again. However, Es’ scrum continued its dominance shoving Cs backwards, a sight for sore eyes and one not seen recently, and to add to Cs' misery another of their players was Yellow Carded.

Es finished the first half strongly and a 5m line out and drive saw Jack Houlder, back scoring one of his trade mark tries helped Es recover. The try was not converted so the score stood at (11-14).

The last action of the first half saw a further good three quarters move by Es that really should have led to a try had the full width of the attack been used but as it happened Old Cs snuffled out the threat to go into half time still in the lead.

Half Time score (Old Elizabethans 11 - 14 Old Colstonians).

Es started the second half well with a strong break involving Adam Skyner and Fergus Blyth, and then Es forwards drove over the ball for a strong driving ruck to recover the ball and the ball popped out to wing Ollie Lunt who impressively skipped his way down the left hand touchline narrowly avoiding being tackled and avoiding putting a foot in touch by mere millimetres to score a great solo try set up by the resurgent forwards. Sam Hygate gave Es the extras with a good touch line kick (18-14).

A side can be at their weakest just after scoring and for Es once again this proved to be the case as Old Cs ran in an unconverted try to regain the lead (18-19).

Es supporters welcomed the return of Club Skipper George Burnie to the field replacing hard working Matt Bailey. Es centre Tobias Burden showed determination in a strong run out of defence. Old Cs however continued to mount pressure on the Es’ defence that had looked a little flaky recently but signs of the Es Blue Wall were reemerging. Despite this the Cs’ pressure told with another unconverted try (18-24).

Old Cs then really questioned Es resolve as straight from the restart they ran in a further try in the far corner. Fortunately, as had been the case all afternoon, the Old Cs’ kicker was not having a good afternoon and missed another chance to take Cs further into the lead (18-29). But could Es recover from this latest setback?

This question was soon answered as a weaving run from Will Monro set up Ollie Lunt for his second try of the day and another conversion from Sam Hygate (25-29).

Charlie Smith came on for his 1st XV debut.

Es earned themselves a lineout 8m out but the driving maul was not successful this time, however Es’ forwards kept up the pressure and pounded the Cs’ line with attack after attack and putting Es back in front came from a good forwards try from second row Adam Skyner (not converted) (30-29).

Es however definitely seemed to be in the ascendancy and a great Es’ three quarters move and good hands from Athur Mills and Will Monro gave Ollie Lunt the opening for him to score his well-deserved hat-trick try, a really impressive performance from this young winger and with Sam Hygate converting, it put Es two scores ahead in the last five minutes (37-29).

Old Cs were not done though and as Es’ centre Tobias Burden was Yellow Carded, Cs were awarded a penalty just outside of the 22. Sensibly they went for the posts thinking that the 3 points this would give them and a restart that would have to be kicked to them giving them the only chance of a win by overcoming the two score lead that Es had.

However, the Cs kicker sealed his miserable afternoon with another missed kick and denying them the losers bonus point, whilst with the final whistle Es had earned themselves maximum points, a hard earned victory that will have surely given Es some confidence heading into next week’s fixture against high flying St.Marys Old Boys.

A tough afternoon but with Es No.10, Sam Hygate having the better of the Fly-Half kicking contest this no doubt had a huge contribution to the win and with Es having a low penalty count improvements could be seen all around the park, well done lads!

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 37 – 29 Old Colstonians

Man of the Match:  Ollie Lunt - A good afternoon shift from this young improving winger with a great hat trick of tries

Spectators Man of the Match:  - Sam Hygate, his successful kicks certainly made the difference in the scoreline

SCORERS:
Tries: Jack Houlder, Ollie Lunt (3), Adam Skyner,
Conversions: Sam Hygate (3)
Penalties: Sam Hygate (2)

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

CLICK for the Old Elizabethans RFC website