Old Elizabethans 1st XV v Lydney 2nd XV
30th November 2024

After the frustration of a narrow defeat away to St Mary’s Old Boys RFC, Es 1st XV were to play Lydney II XV, one of the bottom teams in the league, so a chance to bolster Es’ standing in the league.

Whilst, after a good win last week, the Es 2nd XV “Thundercats” travelled to Wotton-under-Edge RFC and secured a second win in successive weeks the final score being Wotton Under Edge 17-24 Es Thundercats

Es Thundercats Squad: Greg Foord, Andy Adams, George H, Archie Walker, Angus Clifford, Dan Taylor, Scott Tomlins, Dom Swann, Ben Simmons, Charlie Smith, Ned Lockwood, Cuan Arnold, Teddy Bristow and a few others

1st XV SQUAD: Toby Wilcox, Henry Oughton, Conor McGrath, Adam Skyner, Tom Bendall, George Burnie, Kiran Wright, Will Tobin, Tom Cole, Monty Nash, Will Monro, Pat Dore, Sam Brewer, Ollie Lunt, Arthur Mills, Fergus Blyth, Joe Watkins, Wil Patterson. The good news for the 1st XV was that after being shown a Red Card against SMOB RFC, prop Toby Wilcox was totally exonerated by the RFU’s disciplinary committee and was free to play, being joined by club debutant Conor McGrath as the opposite prop.

Es squad, sporting a strong bench, showed 5 changes from their last game, Conor McGrath coming in at prop, Kiran Wright slotting into the back row, Will Monro back for a run out at fullback, and a very warm welcome back from injury for both Wil Patterson and Sam Brewer. Despite this, disappointment occurred in the warm up, just before kick off as Adam Skyner pulled a hamstring and although he started he only lasted what can only be described as an amazing 5 minutes!

A warm almost spring like day, with a cross-field breeze, welcomed both teams for this 2pm kick off. For the first 5 minutes Es’ Will Tobin spent most his time probing the Lydney defence and the pressure with Lydney being penned in their own 22 led to a first Es try scored by Tom Cole (not converted) (5-0).

Within minutes of the restart a further Es’ move led to a second try with Arthur Mills running in for an unconverted try (10-0).

Es did not let up and from the base of the scrum a good move by scrum half Tom Cole set winger Ollie Lunt away for his first try of the day, which he then also converted (17-0).

Es’ scrum was working well against a big Lydney pack, maybe due scrummage practicing at training and a pre-match use of the scrummage machine. Es then got their Bonus Point try following a great move involving most players and finally Tom Bendall dropped over the line, with another great conversion from Ollie Lunt (24-0).

Es continued to attack and an excellent break down the left wing by Sam Brewer, inside pass to Athur Mills and then back to Sam, saw Sam score his first comeback try, not converted (29-0).

The next sizzling move saw Henry Oughton and George Burnie combining up the right wing, before a good steal by Tom Cole set props Toby Wilcox and Conor McGrath off on a good run together, but then almost out of nowhere, and I’m not sure what quite went wrong but Lydney stole in for a converted try (29-7)

And that’s the way the half finished, a good busy half for flanker Kiran Wright and centre, vice skipper, Pat Dore.

Half Time score (Old Elizabethans 29 - 7 Lydney).

Lydney started the second half as they finished the first with a great break down there right wing from defence into Es 22 for what looked like a certain score before a great covering, try saving tackle came in out of nowhere from Will Monro. Not to be outdone and winning a Lydney lineout Es then mounted a great attack from their own half finishing up with a try from Will Monro and conversion from Ollie Lunt (36-7).

Some great tackling was coming in from lock, Tom Bendall before almost inexplicably he was shown a Yellow Card, from where we were his attempt to steal the ball was totally legitimate but clearly the ref. saw something different. Lydney then had a scrum on the half way line and their No.8 came up with the ball but quick-thinking Will Tobin ripped the ball from his grasp and proceeded to gallop in for a score under the posts, with Ollie Lunt adding the extras (43-7).

Es then received a second Yellow Card shown to Will Tobin for throwing the ball deliberately at a Lydney player, a soft carding but nonetheless Es were down to 13 men, and perhaps giving Lydney a lift and a chance to get back with a few scores of their own. However, 13 man Es denied them initially with a smart scrum half move from the scrum base by Tom Cole who flicked the ball behind his back to Will Monro who ran in his second try of the day and again Ollie Lunt converting (50-7).

Es were now coasting and the next Es’ move saw Sam Brewer steal the ball and Es attacked through Conor McGrath and Will Monro and this passage of play led to a second comeback try for Sam Brewer, not converted (55-7).

Es now back up to 15 men and this allowed them to continue bombarding the Lydney defence, with Wil Patterson looking sharp in his first game for many weeks, and Wil kicked through for a follow up by Tom Cole for his second try of the game, not converted (60-7).

Straight from the restart Tom Bendall and George Burnie broke but the ball was recovered by Lydney only to see Ollie Lunt intercept a pass and run half the length of the pitch for his second try which he then duly converted (67-7).

Finally Tom Cole and George Burnie combined well in attack before an inside pass to Monty Nash saw him go in under the posts for a try again converted by Ollie Lunt (74-7). Full Time.

An easy game for Es saw a number of what could be described as tries of the season. An excellent performance by Es earning themselves the maximum of 5 points and taking them up to 8th in the league. A similar performance next week away to bottom club Chipping Sodbury could secure the clubs league standing and be the start of a push up the league.

The lads from both of Saturday’s team wins went on to celebrate at the club with a darts social being the last social in the old bar before we move into the new bar with a social (to be announced) on 21st December. This will launch a new chapter for OEs.

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 74 – 7 Lydney

Man of the Match: Debutant Conor McGrath - well done Conor look forward to seeing more of you in an Es shirt.

Spectators Man of the Match: Jointly to: Ollie Lunt, what a boot and skipper George Burnie

SCORERS:
Tries: Tom Cole (2), Arthur Mills, Ollie Lunt (2), Tom Bendall, Sam Brewer (2), Will Monro (2), Will Tobin, Monty Nash
Conversions: Ollie Lunt (7)

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

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