Match Report

On their home ground the Old Boys opted to play into the wind, and up the hill having won the toss..

Wanstead decided to keep the ball in hand and spun the ball wide in their early forays, only to be thwarted by resolute defence from the back three of Richard Mather, Luke Knowles and Rodrhi Pritchard.

Wanstead started punting the ball long in an attempt to use the conditions to their advantage, but Pritchard, playing at full back, tidied up well. When the home side forwards turned over Wanstead ball on the half way mark, Fly half Alistair Rigden spun a long pass (missing out the inside centre) wide, and released out side centre Charlie who scored a try with a great solo effort.

Wanstead responded to this score by using their big forwards to score two good tries, after the Old Boys defence was caught in disarray. Lack of communication and organisation gave the visitors an avenue back into the game.

With half time approaching The Old Boys used inside centre Perry Reeves, to score a good try after a switch in the middle of the park. This poised the scores at 15-10.

After some half time reorganisation the Old Boys took the game to Wanstead, and immediately conceded a soft try, that came from over commitment to the attack.

This was the wake up call the home side needed. The front unit of Steve Gorrod, Tim Croom and Dave Knapp won a great line out and Mickey Bristow tidied up and gave Hugh Godfrey good clean ball. Ian White then used his pace, and an excellent dummy to beat the Wanstead defence and score a try (which Reeves duly converted). The mid section of the second half was all one way traffic. The Old Boys inter passing and commitment in the tackling, notably from Bob Knapp and Dave Scott, left Wanstead (and the spectators) wondering why it had taken nearly 70 minutes of rugby for the Old Boys to show what they are capable of.

Ian White chased a long ball down field and after a fortuitous bounce, picked up and scored another good try, sealing this much needed victory for the Old Brentwood’s 2nd XV.

This report would be incomplete without mentioning the tackle of the day. Wanstead used their big second row to blast through the middle of the Old Boys defence, and only a superb cover tackle from Alistair Rigden (no less) stopped him from scoring.

Next week the Old Boys II XV travel to South Woodham Ferrers to play their second team (3.00KO).