Old Elizabethans v Bream RFC
22nd November 2025

After a good away win vs Cheltenham North last week, OEs 1st XV were at home to face old rivals Bream RFC.

1st XV SQUAD: Greg Foord, Jack Houlder, Connor McGrath, Matt Bailey, Toby Wilcox, Callum McCarthy, Kieran Wright, Jakob Harding, Monty Nash, Alex Potts, Harrison Nash, Pat Dore, Sam Brewer, Arthur Mills, Freddie Williams, Tom Cole, Fergus Blyth, Ollie Lunt

A wet, cold and windy afternoon greeted Bream RFC to Fortress Hallen. Bream had not won a game as yet in the league this season but despite that had managed to accumulate 6 bonus points so had obviously played their part in some previous games. The conditions were no doubt bound to affect both teams, not least because of the cold, and indeed that’s the way it proved with much positional kicking to one another, dropped balls and poor passes affecting both teams. In such games the reward often comes to the team that digs deepest with grit and a steely determination.

MATCH REPORT:
Es kicked off facing the clubhouse, the wind blowing cross field towards the clubhouse. A good early positive start from Es had its reward when Skipper Pat Dore kicked through and despite the Bream defender seemingly in control Pat came up with the ball and skipped through to score the opener with the conversion added by Monty Nash (7-0).

As is often the case the team that have just scored are vulnerable and that is the way it proved with Bream moving into Es’ 22 with a penalty kick to touch after an Es high tackle. From the lineout they had a good cross field three quarters move to score in the corner and with an excellent touchline conversion brought the scores level at (7-7).

Es’ scrum was operating well but the forwards were struggling a little in the lineout and lost a few lineouts to Bream as a result. The positional kicking to and fro was not benefiting either team but the tactic continued to be deployed by both teams rather than keeping the ball in hand. Bream were then reduced to 14 men after a no arm tackle on Jack Houlder. Es punished Bream when a penalty kick to a 6 metre lineout was followed by a good catch and drive with Jack Houlder going over the whitewash for a good forwards effort, not converted (12-7).

Bream responded immediately piling on pressure in Es’ 22 when a drop goal attempt struck the bar and Es cleared their lines with a good one man break by Arthur Mills. Bream continued to apply the pressure and had the better of the possession, however as Es broke into the Bream half an unfortunate injury happened to winger Harrison Nash with a suspected broken ankle, we wish Harrison a quick and speedy recovery.

Just before half time Es were completely caught out by a well drilled front of the line move by Bream which took them over in the corner for their second try, not converted and the scores were level.

Half Time score (Old Elizabethans 12 – 12 Bream).

Fergus Blyth came on for Es as did Ollie Lunt in place of Harrison Nash.

The same sort of mistakes continued in the second half again, brought on by the conditions, so who would come out on top at the 80 minute mark? Bream were next to score with a Penalty Kick in front of the posts (12-15).

The conditions were no doubt having an impact and as a result it seemed as if Es could not muster any concentrated pressure! With that, centre Sam Brewer carved his way through the Bream defence with a trademark run to score a one man try, the conversion kick floating wide (17-15).

Bream once again nearly punished Es immediately but a good clearance run by No.8 Jakob Harding and a good kick from Ollie Lunt twice relieved the pressure.

Bream were then penalised and Es took advantage of its position with Monty Nash stepping up to slot the ball between the uprights to take the score to (20-15).

Bream again pinned Es back in there 22 and Es worked extremely hard defensively to keep Bream out and were rewarded with a penalty on their own line followed by a great defensive run out by Alex Potts.

Es again made their way into the Bream half and again were awarded with a penalty which Monty Nash again successfully converted (23-15).

Another great run by Alex Potts from the restart and again Es were rewarded with a further penalty kick in front the posts, Monty Nash further extending the Es lead to two scores (26-15).

Bream though, were not done and with about ten minutes to go converted some good pressure into an unconverted try (26-20) to once again apply the pressure on Es in the closing minutes.

However, a further penalty by Bream gave Es a further chance for Monty Nash to extend the scoreline to two scores and his clean kick gave Es a (29-20) lead.

Bream could have scored again in the dying seconds only to see a long floated pass drift into touch and that was it the final whistle sounded and Es had won a hard fought victory against the old enemy. It was a well contested competition between the two teams and despite the position Bream find themselves in they gave Es a tough match. The conditions were probably the winner on the day in what was not a great spectacle but sometimes grinding out a result like this is more important than Joue!!

FINAL SCORE: Old Elizabethans 29 – 20 Bream

SCORERS:
Tries: Pat Dore, Jack Houlder, Sam Brewer
Conversions: Monty Nash
Penalties: Monty Nash (4)

Man of the Match: Monty Nash. An impressive performance out of position at scrum half and sealed the victory with his place kicking.

Es travel up to Bradley Stoke next Saturday to take on high flying St.Mary’s, be there to give them some support!

Full League Table and Fixture List below

Report by: Paul ‘Blakey’ Barrington

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