OC's 46 - 14 Old SOASians

Another non-appearance on the paddock by 'player' manager Ian Jones saw the OCs extend their winning start to the season against a SOAS side that featured a few familiar faces. The sterling efforts of the combined OC management had ensured that despite awful conditions and potential player shortages the game could go ahead. That is not to say that the pre-match build up could be described as textbook though.

With only two minutes until kick off, the OC kit arrived with skipper Matt Mann, flanked by prop Nick Cussen and centre Jim Breeze. When they arrived, they could only marvel, as the rest of the players had, at the state of the Regent's Park pitch - shocking. A sprinkling of grass in each corner reminded the teams that this was in fact a rugby pitch not a mud flat. The referee was satisfied though and it was "game on".

The first half was a tough encounter with little to choose between the sides. It was OC pressure that told first though as debutants Jim Breeze and 'Bingo' in the centres asked enough questions of the SOAS midfield to force a spillage. Lively winger Owen Verrier-Jones was at hand to hack the ball on, showing the value of his white boots, and it was lock Dan Unsworth who had the presence of mind to pounce on the loose ball and run in under the posts for the OC's opener.

SOAS fought back to level the scores with a well worked try, but before long it was again pressure from the centres and a dropped SOAS pass which was hacked on. A footrace was on between centre Bingo and winger Verrier-Jones. Both players dived on the ball as it lay just under the posts. Both players felt they had scored the try. Sadly for Bingo he did not write the match report so Verrier-Jones claims his first OC try.

SOAS fought back with another fine try, this time instigated by regular OC captain Kev Ho who was representing his university side on the day.

With the second half though, came the fruits of the OC's labour on the training ground. A stern team talk at half time, led by the typically fiery prop Chris Cowan and dummying guru and captain Matt Mann, had armed the OC team with fire in their bellies and a game plan of short passing to the big men to drive the hard yards. The game plan was taken up from the kick off with Henry Brace taking the ball on a blockbusting 20 yards drive showcasing the hooker's arsenal of powerful running and clever footwork. Before long, the pattern of play had been successfully repeated and the ball was in the hands of Chris Cowan and he burrowed over from ten yards to restore the OC lead.

The OC's did not take their foot off the gas as they have done in previous games, and the back row of Don Dewerson, Charlie Mansour and Rich Mann were stepping up their game popping up to recycle the ball and win anything loose on the deck. Jun, continuing at scrum half despite half the mud from the pitch ending up lodged in his contact lens, was providing the ammunition for Matt Mann at fly half to pull the strings. As the OC's revealed their multi phase game though, it was unlikely link men who came to the fore in midfield as prop Nick Cussen, second row Josh Galaun and the ever present Mansour provided the link between forwards and backs in the Matt Dawson style. Indeed, the best try of the match was sparked by Brace, catching the ball in his own half, running and setting up the pacy Verrier-Jones on the wing. Drawing his man before a well timed offload, Verrier-Jones then set up the charging Mansour who was hauled down just yards from the line.

Richard Mann was then at hand to pick up the pieces and cross the line. The OC's were now beginning to really go for the jugular, and it was no surprise when points machine Matt Mann shimmied his way over for a try of his own. Debutant Pat Chatterton was next on the score sheet, with a flying dive over the line that belied his RAF background. Former SOAS player Paul Kellet was next over, and the groans from the SOASians as Kellet rounded their full back were loud and clear. Chatterton completed the rout late on with his second and his blistering pace was all too much for the flagging opposition. This was just reward for the OC fullback who had spent much of the first half digging out offensive SOAS kicks from the mud and clearing them in the nick of time.

Special mention must go to OC Dougal Kerr who generously played for SOAS in the front row to ensure a game could take place, to Kev Ho who also turned out for SOAS despite an injury (Kev - we wish you a speedy recovery in advance of the Oundle game) and Andrew 'Shandy' Fieldhouse who lined up for us against LBS and against us for SOAS.

Finally, the skipper, Matt Mann, has given the richly deserved man of the match to Charlie Mansour for his tireless work and inspirational link up play - the secret of Charlie's success? Going out clubbing the night before till 5am and then turning up without any shorts - good work!

Owen Verrier-Jones