Match Report

In near perfect conditions the Old Boys took on their very successful local rivals Stanford-Le-Hope, after a last minute fixture change.

The home side won the toss and played against the wind and up the hill in the first half, against a well drilled and physically much larger Stanford side. The team the Old Boys faced was very different to the one they played last season, showing commitment and fitness levels far above their predecessors.

It was clear form early on, that Stanford were beating the Old Boys to nearly every break down, and dominating the open play. Only through resolute defense from the backs division of Ed Gooday, Dave Poulton, Ian Hannaway, Perry Reeves and Clive Richards was the home side try line only crossed twice in the first half.

One try came from a well-worked move in the centers (converted), and the other from a thundering charge from a Stanford second row player.

At half time the Old Boys took stock of the situation and made some substitutions. On came new center Mick Vanlliani, and blind side Matt O’Connor. Simon Peace dropped to his favored full back position and the Old Boys kicked off.

Number 8 Paddy Bache immediately secured the ball for the home side helped by Michael Ashby, and fly half Reeves popped the ball to Mick Vanlliani, who, with a great turn of pace slipped through the Stanford defense and scored under the posts. This was duly converted, and the home side started to gain confidence.

The Old Boys started to pass the ball around, retaining possession well, and took the game into Stanford territory only to have a try disallowed.

Another home side attack was set up following some excellent scrummaging from Steve Gorrod, Jamie Davis, David Knapp, Scott Ingles and Tim Croom. Paddy Bache popped the ball to Matt Istead and the ball went right through all the three-quarters hands until Peace was able to pop the ball back inside to Vanlliani, who went over for his second try. The conversion attempt from near enough the touch-line fell short and the score was poised at 12 all.

The Old Boys then spent the next fifteen minutes camped inside the Stanford ’22, but through unforced errors and some excellent defense from the visitors, the home side could not score the points they so desperately wanted.

The last set piece of the match, saw the Old Boys skipper make some tactical changes in attempt to win a Stanford lineout. Moving Gooday into the forwards and bringing Ashby out into the backs, seemed a good idea at the time! Stanford however, won the line out, and spun the ball wide to their wingers, attacking the Old Boys from inside their own ’22 (not for seen by skipper Hannaway). After some great interplay they scored a try in the last seconds of the game. Then to add insult to injury, Stanford converted.

This was a great game to play in, and a draw would have been a fairer result, but the Old Brentwoods II XV must learn from this, and that pressure means nothing without points.

 The Old Brentwoods II XV entertain Upminster III’s at home this weekend, and the 1^st are away to Barking III’s in a friendly.