Old Colstonians 1st XV v Old Elizabethans 1st XV
15th February 2025

Es Skipper George Burnie set the scene for this week’s battle away to Old Cs with the following statement: “Following on from some big wins we come to face an old enemy the Old Colstonians. The return of a number of players from either injury or the Alps gives us a hell of a team. Up the Es!”

Having won the home fixture 37-29 against Old Cs earlier in the season, Es were looking to secure the double with the following squad:

1st XV SQUAD: Greg Foord, Fergus Blyth, Jack Houlder, Adam Skyner, Tom Bendall, George Burnie, Liam Bailey, Will Tobin, Wil Patterson, Alex Potts, Charlie Collar, Sam Brewer, Arthur Mills, Ollie Lunt, Alex Copinger-Symes, Andy Adams, Tom Cole, Alex Lee
LATE Squad Changes: Jack Houlder sent in a Sick Note and Andy Adams stepped up in his place at Tight Head Prop. Andy’s place on the bench was taken by Archie Walker.
SPECIAL Mention: Goes to Dan Taylor who gave up his Saturday afternoon and turned up as the 19th man just in case he was needed. It should also be mentioned that this game gave Charlie Collar his 1st XV debut.

MATCH REPORT:
A cold drizzly afternoon welcomed Es to Colstons School (Now known as Collegiate School) the home of Old Colstonians RFC with Es playing the first half up the slight slope. Old Cs kicked off and the ball bounced off the foot of an Es’ player and picked up instinctively by mistake by another Es’ player and thus the referee had no other choice than to award Cs a penalty, but Es’ blushes were saved as the kick for posts floated wide! Afterwards ‘Frank the Tank’, our linesman said he had signalled the kick as successful but that the Cs’ linesman signalled otherwise and the Referee agreed.

A good first scrum by Es seemed to have been knocked on at the base of the scrum but the referee either chose to ignore it or missed it, so a good blindside break by Will Tobin followed, offloading the ball to skipper George Burnie who showed Cs’ defence a clean pair of heels and scored a try in the far left hand corner, not converted (0-5).

Soon after the restart a cross-field kick by Sam Brewer was received by winger Alex CS who slipped the ball back inside to Arthur Mills who unfortunately lost the ball forward in contact!

Es’ scrum with an all changed front row were very much on top giving Cs real difficulties in the tight. The Es lineout was also going well with Es stealing the first of a number of Cs’ lineouts during the game. The Es’ attacks were emerging from all directions with some good interlinking between the forwards, with one such move leading to a good try from Tom Bendall, converted by Ollie Lunt (0-12).

The next attack from Es saw an exciting move involving Charlie Collar from well inside his own half he caught the Cs kick and beat several players passing the ball to Arthur Mills who then re-found Charlie Collar with a return pass to give him a debut try under the posts duly converted by Ollie Lunt (0-19).

Despite the scoreline Old Cs were getting the majority of both possession and territory but continued to come up against a determined Es’ defence. Es next try and bonus point score came following an Es’ lineout just inside their own half which led to centre Sam Brewer bursting through the Cs’ defence before offloading to George Burnie who ran in for his 2nd try of the afternoon, not converted (0-24).

Once again from the restart the assured hands of Lock Adam Skyner set Es off on another, but this time, unsuccessful attack. A clearance kick by Cs landed in the arms of Sam Brewer who broke forward to add to Es scoreline with a further try with Ollie Lunt once again adding the extras (0-31).

Half Time score (Old Colstonians 0 - 31 Old Elizabethans).

Early in the second half Es kicked through for the Es backs to chase but Cs got to the ball first safely touching the ball down!

Wil Patterson replaced by Tom Cole at scrum half, Alex Lee replacing Alex CS in the backs and in the back row Archie Walker coming on for Liam Bailey.

A good run by prop Greg Foord was snuffed out as Cs stepped up their defensive line. The game then became rather sloppy and neither side made much headway for a significant period of time. The referee was having a good afternoon allowing the game to flow wherever possible.

Winger Ollie Lunt relieved some pressure on Es as he broke out of defence but was stopped around the half way line. However, Es then mounted a good attack through Locks Adam Skyner and Tom Bendall then onto Charlie Collar before Tom Bendall managed to break through and score his well deserved 2nd try, successfully converted by Ollie Lunt (0-38).

Ollie Lunt was then replaced by Alex CS. An interception by Sam Brewer nearly came off as Es attempted to turn the screw. Further lineout steals by Archie Walker and Adam Skyner helped relieve growing pressure by Cs. A further score came about as Es’ Arthur Mills kicked through and Sam Brewer followed up to score before the try was converted with a good touchline kick from Charlie Collar (0-45).

Former Player Rich Bevan was heard to say “Hoping for 50 points this afternoon “ but unfortunately he was to be disappointed as the only other score was a consolation try for Old Cs under the posts, duly converted (7-45)

And that’s the way the game ended. Not a great second half and as Alex Potts stated the wet pitch had become very sapping of energy but nevertheless a good win for Es, earning the first double over a side for the season and further securing their position in 6th place in the league.

With Dursley RFC having played and lost a rearranged game against St.Marys OB RFC on Thursday night, a win next Saturday in a rearranged game for us against Bristol Saracens could actually take Es up into 5th position, but let’s not assume the result, Saracens will be no pushover and a victory will need to earned.

FINAL SCORE: Old Colstonians 7 – 45 Old Elizabethans

Man of the Match: Andy Adams

Supporters Man of the Match: Charlie Collar

SCORERS:
Tries: George Burnie (2), Tom Bendall (2), Charlie Collar, Sam Brewer (2)
Conversions: Ollie Lunt (4), Charlie Collar (1)

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

CLICK for the Old Elizabethans RFC website