St Mary’s Old Boys v Old Elizabethans
16th November 2024

Following an exciting home win for Es last Saturday against Old Colstonians (Rivals for 40+ years) Es travelled one junction up the M5 to Bradley Stoke with renewed optimism to take on St.Mary’s OB RFC (SMOB) who have had a strong start to the season earning a good away victory last week against Dursley RFC who had comprehensively beaten Es a couple of weeks earlier at Hallen. So, what would all this mean leading into this latest league fixture. The Es squad showed 5 changes from last week with Will Mortimer being restored to the Back Row, Monty Nash returning at Fly Half and a Bench existing of Henry Oughton, George Hollingberry and Scott Tomlins

1st XV SQUAD: Toby Wilcox, Fergus Blyth, Jack Houlder, Adam Skyner, Tom Bendall, George Burnie, Will Mortimer, Will Tobin, Tom Cole, Monty Nash, Ollie Lunt, Pat Dore, Joe Watkins, Tobias Burden, Arthur Mills, George Hollingberry, Henry Oughton, Scott Tomlins

MATCH REPORT:
The first 5 minutes was stalemate in the centre of the park and then with a penalty kick Es had a lineout which led to a catch and drive and Will Tobin popped up to score a well worked forwards try not converted (0-5).

Es kicked a 50/22 through Monty Nash from the restart and George Burnie won the lineout but dropped the ball backwards, scooped up by Will Tobin who raced through to score his and Es’ second try again unfortunately, not converted (0-10) but nevertheless a good start by Es.

Some good foot work from winger Ollie Lunt dribbling up the pitch could have led to another early try but SMOB recovered well. Further pressure followed from Es but in trying to force a pass a SMOB player intercepted and ran the length of the pitch for a converted try (7-10).

The Es scrum was working well but unusually the lineout was struggling to secure good ball. SMOB applied more pressure from an intercept and drive but were stopped 1m short of the try line but the Referee, inexplicably, out of the blue, awarded SMOB with a Penalty Try and Fergus Blyth was shown a Yellow Card, (14-10) so two tries gifted to SMOB had put them in front.

The referee was being assessed and soon criticism of his being whistle happy could be heard amongst the support. Good runs from Toby Wilcox out of defence and Ollie Lunt along with other good moves involving Will Tobin, Tom Bendall and Joe Watkins gave Es a brighter end to the first half where a further score looked likely and the only other notable action being the Referee showing a Yellow Card to a SMOB player.

Half Time score (SMOB 14 - 10 Old Elizabethans).

No changes at half time. Early second half attack from ES involved some good work from both forwards and backs and following a good scrum from Es a promising move led to a try from skipper George Burnie and conversion from Monty Nash (14-17).

Es reapplied themselves straight from the restart and Will Mortimore broke through the middle to gain some good ground before a mistake from Prop Jack Houlder saw the ball skew into the middle of the park where vice skipper Pat Dore was able to recover possession and score Es bonus point 4th try, converted by Monty Nash (14-24).

Es perhaps then showed over confidence by introducing in quick succession all three replacements, probably before having fully put the game to bed! It wasn’t long before SMOB were able to score a good converted try in the corner (21-24).

A Fisty Cuffs incident then occurred in the middle of the park which led to a player from both teams being shown RED, Toby Wilcox for Es! George Burnie then stepped up as prop. Es vice-skipper was once again holding the Es three quarters together with some impressive tackling but this could not be said for everyone and a number of first up tackles were being missed. That said Es then had some good possession and one good move involving Mills, Mortimer and Skyner unfortunately broke down before another SMOB player was shown Yellow.

A good break by scrum half Tom Cole broke down when he kicked straight into touch and soon after Es’ player Will Mortimore was shown a Yellow Card which meant Es were down to 12 men on the pitch! SMOB missed the chance to draw level through a missed penalty kick, but soon after they took the lead through a lineout, catch and drive try, duly converted (28-24).

Es had chances to regain the lead but a couple of these were squandered and so that’s the way it ended, Es gaining 2 points one for 4 tries and one for finishing within 7 points of the SMOB score. However, most if not all the players and spectators felt that this should have been an Es’ 5 point victory and that Es had given away the win rather than SMOB earning it.

There are no league fixtures next Saturday but Es Thundercats are set to have a fixture and everyone is asked to give them support - further details to follow.

The next League match is on Saturday 30 November with a home fixture against Lydney II, a chance to earn a further victory and hopefully bounce back up the table!

FINAL SCORE: St Mary’s Old Boys 28 – 24 Old Elizabethans

SCORERS:
Tries: Will Tobin (2), George Burnie, Pat Dore,
Conversions: Monty Nash (2)

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

CLICK for the Old Elizabethans RFC website