Old Elizabethans RFC v St Mary’s Old Boys RFC
25th October 2025

With a break in the league until 7th November, OEs faced St Mary’s Old Boys at home in the first round of the Combination Cup.

A bright sunny day with a breeze blowing away from the clubhouse. Plenty of support from both sides to enjoy the sun.

1st XV SQUAD: Toby Wilcox, Fergus Blyhte, Greg Foord, Angus Clifford, Matthew Bailey, Liam Bailey, George Burnie, Jakob Harding, Sam Hygate, Alex Potts, Alex CS, Pat Dore ©, Arthur Mills, Ollie Brown, Freddie Williams, Andy Adams, Tom Cole, Will Munro

MATCH REPORT:
A confident St Mary’s took the field, currently sitting 4th in the league having won 4 out of 5 and it wasn’t long before they showed their form and ran in 2 converted tries in the first 10 minutes. Es had to dig deep, with a scrum going backwards under huge pressure and St Mary’s interfering at every lineout.

Es started to string some phases together. Sam Hygate launched a box kick from halfway, landing just outside of St Mary’s 22, Mary’s fumbled and from the resulting scrum, Arthur Mills ran a superb line cutting back from outside centre to go in under the posts to take the score to 7-14.

Captain Pat Dore had meanwhile left the field with a blood injury. Will Munro on at full back and Freddie Williams into the centre.

It wasn’t long before St Mary’s were under the posts again after some juggling in the centre (that confused everyone), but they held onto the ball to go over 7-21.

Sam Hygate was unusually off target with a penalty but was given another shot minutes later as Es continued the pressure 10-21.

Es were trying to up the pace and St Mary’s were giving away penalties. A quick tap and go from Alex Potts and a 50/22, Es were in the red zone. Another penalty for Sam.

Half Time score (Old Elizabethans 13 – 21 St Mary’s Old Boys).

Halftime and a chance for Es to regroup, having clawed their way back to a converted score. Changes saw Tom Cole on for Sam Hygate at 9. Andy Adams into the front row (not 10 despite the baying crowd), Toby Wilcox into the 2nd row and Angus Clifford off (from a baptism of fire in the 2nd row).

Unfortunately, the penalty at the end of the first half was Es last score of the game. Mary’s let loose and scored 34 unanswered points. Es didn’t give up, and the highlights were a number of last-ditch tackles stopping certain tries, namely Sam Hygate (back on), Will Munro (several), Alex Potts and Toby Wilcox turning the ball over on his own line to gallop to the 22 with St Mary’s players left in his wake was a late crowd pleaser!

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 13 – 54 St Mary’s Old Boys

Next league game on 8th November is away at Cheltenham North, who sit one below OEs in the league.

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: David ‘ Morgs ’ Morgan

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