Match Report

The home side won the toss, and opted to play into the driving wind and rain for the first half. The Old Boys spent long periods inside the May & Baker ’22, and were rewarded with two fine tries, one by Perry Reeves, and one by Simon Peace.

Both of these tries came from ball stolen in the line out, by excellent work from the front unit of Steve Gorrod, Tim Croom and Bob Knapp. With the ball secured, scrum half Hugh Godfrey was able to spin it wide, away from the May & Baker forwards who were beginning to dominate much of the loose play. Following great interplay in the three-quarter line involving Alistair Rigden, Paul Jacobson and new winger Dylan, overlaps were exposed, and the two tries scored (one converted).

May & Baker were however not without reply, and using their physically much larger back row, and even bigger inside centre crashed over for a try, taking the score to 5-12. This score galvanized the home side defense, and the Old Boys could not score the points they desperately thought they needed. Needless penalties were given away, and the conditions started to take their toll, as simple passes were spilled forward.

With the scores stuck at 5-12 and half time looming, it was looking ominous for the Boys in Blue (only two of which are actual Old Brentwood's)

At the half-time whistle you could almost see the look of relief on the home sides faces, as they prepared to play with the elements.

The half started as expected with May & Baker winning an early penalty after some over zealous rucking by Bob Knapp, and punting the ball downfield to within five yards of the Old Boys try line.

Unusually Tim Croom didn’t win the ensuing line out, and May & Baker got the drive on but couldn’t penetrate the robust defense. With all the forwards committed May & Baker sent the ball out to their inside centre, who evaded three tackles and carried two defenders over the try line with him, to score a great solo effort (which was converted). This was the last time he was given more than a yard of space by the visitors.

Against the run of play, and the wind, and the rain Scott Ingles was able to win good ball from a May & Baker ruck and the ball was sent wide. Much to the amazement of the home side, the Old Boys sent the ball down the line without error. Ian White popped the ball back inside and Alistair Rigden finished off a great team effort, with one of his now customary swan dives (last seen three seasons ago when he last scored).

This score demoralized the home side. With the Old Boys back row of Ian Hannaway and Johnny Davis snuffing out the threat of the big centers, by playing the off side rule as close to the mark as possible, May & Baker never threatened again.

Further tries came from a quickly taken penalty, and another resulting from a rumble up the park from the Old Boys forwards finished off the home side.

This was a well-contested game, in terrible conditions that brought out some great handling skills from the Old Boys three-quarters line. With Tim Croom securing more than his fair share of the line out ball, and the tireless work around the park from the back row, May & Baker were always going to find this a difficult game to win.