Match Report

OLD BOYS TAKE THEIR CHANCES

Saturday’s game at Ashwells Road was played in excellent conditions that enabled the home side to use their expansive game.

From the KO the Old Boys pack took the game to Westcliff, playing with a good mixture of determination and passion. The ability to secure loose ball and retain possession, which has been a main problem for the Old Boys earlier in the season, was not apparent on Saturday. Scrummaging was exceptional, especially from the tight five combination of Pete Wormsley, Chris Davies, Charlie Raymond, Kurt Bauer and Paul Buchanan.

Westcliff applied a lot of the early pressure and a number of try-saving tackles went in, notably from Paul Buchanan and Billy Mullen.   Westcliff did win two kickable penalties after some over zealous rucking by the Old Boys pack, but were unable to convert either of these chances. This was the main difference of the afternoon: each time the home side exerted pressure on Westcliff they came away with points.

When the Old Boys eventually forced themselves into the Westcliff half, following some excellent work by Chris Reah and Neil Tetner, Westcliff were penalized and Laurie Cutmore was able to slot his first kick of the day.

With points on the board the Old Boys looked dangerous in attack, especially when the ball was sent wide to wingers Neil Hannaway and Alex Hughes, but were thwarted by a steadfast Westcliff defence. As the game progressed the home side kept the pressure on, with Cutmore kicking another penalty and a drop goal.

The home side stayed calm and kept their shape well, rebuffing all of Westcliff’s attacks through the three quarters. The only time Wescliff made progress up the park was with their catch and drive in the line out, which they dominated, and which the Old Boys struggled to contain. It was following on of these attacks that the Old Boys conceded a penalty under their own post and Westcliff converted.

With 7 minutes remaining on the clock and score poised at 9 points to 3, it started to look like Westcliff could win the day.

It was at this point in the game that the Old Boys back row, of Billy Mullen, Ed Gooday and Mickey Laws played outstandingly and refused to give in any quarter. They chased every ball and refused to buckle under the Westcliff onslaught, taking the game back to the visitors, and camping in their '22', refusing to come away without points.

It was left to captain Neil Hannaway on the wing, to have his first run, with the ball, of the afternoon and score under the posts, with one of his trademark weaving runs, to leave Cutmore an easy conversion to seal the game.