Match Report

Despite a resurgence in the league in recent games the Old Boys were unable to convert this form into the cup & were defeated narrowly by visitors Ilford by 11-7.

It was the visitors that started the brighter. Their early pressure gave their fly-half 2 early chances for drop goals from the Brentwood 22 meter line. Both were missed but a penalty soon afterwards from a similar distance was converted to give them a deserved 3-0 lead after 5 minutes.

The Old Boys were finding it difficult to get into the game & this coupled with a high penalty count gave Ilford the impetus to drive home their advantage.

Good defense from all prevented any further scores and gradually the game began to settle down into a more even contest . Mid- way through the half a collapsed scrum saw prop Charlie Raymond leave the field injured & despite the resulting scrum being better contested the home team were unable to prevent Ilford's winger from going over in the right corner.

This score kicked The Old Boys back into life & they were to enjoy far more of the ball for the remainder of the half. The lineouts work from Ed Gooday & Pat Stroud started to sharpen up & good running from Billy Mullen, Tom Williams & Paul Buchanan gave the home team more territorial gains. This helped provide the backs with further more ball to work from. The half drew to a close with the score at 8-0 but with the Old Boys showing encouraging signs for the second period.

The signs proved true as within 5 minutes of the restart the Old Boys cut the lead to 1 point with a finely worked try. Ed Gooday won the ball from the line out & the ball was taken up from Alistair Rigden to Perry Reeves & on to Neil Tetner. The centres' scything run cut through the Milford defense & zig-zagged across the field towards the oncoming support from John Demaray who went over for a fine try. Alex Hughes converted from an acute angle to make the score 8-7 to the visitors.

The next 20 minutes saw the Old Boys continue to dominate in the pack with Gary Barton, Pete Womersley & Paddy Bache helping to give the backs further opportunities. Both Neil & Ian Hannaway came more into the game & powerful runs exposed Ilfords defenses resulting in further scoring chances. 2 penalty chances mid way through the half were squandered & the lift that the home team had initially gained slowly seemed to ebb away.

This seemed to kick Ilford back into life & it was they that slowly began to assert their authority on the game. The home team slipped back into panic mode & the combination of the ever rising penalty count & the visitors resurgence brought Ilford a penalty opportunity that they duly converted. Another penalty minutes later was missed but the writing was already on the wall.

With minutes to go Paul Buchanan was badly injured in a ruck & despite 5 minutes of injury time being played & the home team dominating possession their frantic efforts were to no avail. The final score line of 11-7 was probably a fair reflection on the balance of play but The Old Boys will know that a little more concentration & discipline at critical moments could have given them the edge.