OC's 24 - 29 Old Hurst-Johnians

The bookies will have enjoyed this weekend, Tiger Woods did not win the Masters at Augusta and the OC's were proven mortal after all.

With the season over for the OC's and the domestic competitions drawing to a close, it is worth noting what a turbulent season it has been. Along with Leicester Tigers dominance of the domestic game and England's inability to win a Grand Slam decider, the OC's unbeaten spell that started back in February 2002 has now ended. Thankfully Northampton and Wales have managed to keep some semblance of normality to the season.

The team on Saturday were missing their two highest point scorers in Matt Mann and Paul Kellet, but remained confident due to the ever increasing squad with the welcome introduction of two former Cliftonians Steve Hartland and James Thompson into the fold.

The day was a hot one at Regent's Park but the temperature was to rise further within minutes of the start with the larger OHJ pack using South African tactics in an attempt to unsettle the OC eight. Unfortunately, Rich Butler (a man always in the thick of the action), seemed to be the initial target and soon had blood oozing from his nose. With very little thought of hygiene the referee used a piece of tissue that was floating around the park to douse the flow and Rich was straight back in.

The OC's were on the rack for the first fifteen minutes with OHJ twice crossing the line but unable to score, once from a strong tackle when the opposition flanker was obviously attempting to go under the posts and the other from a knock on. Good work from the pack in stemming the initial tide and the combined experience of Stu Muncer and Paul Chappel in the centres proving invaluable with the OHJ back line having numerous early attempts. Special mention must go to the front five of Nick, Henry and Steve, Dan and Josh for the strength shown against a more regimented and aggressive scrum.

This defence could not hold out forever and OHJ scored a converted try around the 15-minute mark to take a 0-7 lead.

Within five minutes however, and with possibly their first quality possession of the game, the OC backs had pierced the opposition line and with a clever switch Simmo set Matt Boardman up for his first OC try, which he duly converted. 7-7.

Before OHJ could gather themselves the OC's had scored a second try with Rich Mann finding himself in the backs, quickly off-loading to Paul Chappel were a series of quick hands led to Owen scoring in the corner, 12-7.

The rate of scoring in this stage of the game did not decline here with OHJ hitting back finding the OC's asleep to equal, 12-12, more good inter-linking play from Stu to set Owen away to make it 17-12, and then almost immediately 17-17.

With the pace of the game at its peak, it was only fitting that there should be a try in the dying seconds of the first half. Owen, ever the entertainer, intercepted a pass when OHJ had an overlap, and went on to score from his twenty two although appearing to have difficulty staying on his own two feet as he ran under their posts. Half time, 24-17.

Kev Ho (team captain) led the half time talk, and he emphasised the need to continue the good work in the pack. Realising the effect both the game and weather were having on the pack, Vasey came on for his debut at tight head to add fresh legs to the team.

The second half proved long and hard fought, especially for the forwards. Within the first few minutes of this half and we had the same result as the first. This time Josh taking a dangerous hand off to his nose, only to have this followed up with a cheap shot. Thankfully for Josh, the referee could not find that tissue a second time.

The OHJ forwards continued in this vein and only the quality of the tackling in the loose kept the scoreboard from registering more points. The OC's were not without their chances with only and unfortunate knock-on after a charged down kick preventing more pressure being applied. Dan and James continued to win good ball in the lineout to deliver much needed possession to the team.

The OC's lost Rich Butler 15 minutes into the second half, a victim of the rock hard ground, but was replaced by Tino who showed his flexibility by moving from right wing to flanker, Mark Snell came on to fill the wing spot.

OHJ eventually turned their pressure into points half way through the half, crucially missing the conversion to keep the OC's a nose ahead at 24-22.

At this stage it was all hands to the pump and Kev led the way with a number of tremendous breaks from the back of the scrum, almost sending Snelly away for a try. Henry managed to win a scrum against the head not far out from our try line to ease the pressure, and moments later ripped the ball from the opposition's hands when they were charging for the line.

The tackling was heroic to the last, but OHJ managed to score in the last phase of the game to win 24-29.

As for the man of the match award, I am happy to report that our wise skipper, Kev, has awarded man of the match to me, although I would like to share it out amongst the pack for a monumental effort.

Richard Mann