OC’s out-gunned, out-muscled and ultimately outplayed by Old Cranleighans 2nd XV

Saturday 18th saw the League debut for the OC’s, taking on the pre-season favourites Old Cranleighan 2nds at Old Deer Park. Despite a thorough warm-up and meticulous Bernhard Langer style tactical preparation, the OC’s were taught a painful yet potentially valuable lesson in the harsh world of league rugby as they went down 22-0, conceding four tries to nil.

The early season optimism was quickly quelled as from the kick-off, the opposition caught, drove and produced perfect ball for their backs to produce a move of such simplicity with the full back hitting the line at slightly less than searing pace. This stunned the OC’s back line into mild deference, allowing their speedy winger to gallop in at the left corner despite a brave yet ultimately futile attempt to cover tackle by Paul Kellett. The conversion was missed, 5-0 to the Old Cranleighans.

The shock of this early breach of the defensive line spurred the OC’s into action, with Rich Mann and Matt Boardman leading the way, inspiring their teammates by taking on the opposition head on. This unfortunately led to Matt having to leave the field after falling awkwardly on his shoulder, thus depriving the OC’s of a potent attacking threat from fullback. This meant a re-shuffling of the back line, with Bruce Kenworthy moving to full back and Gareth Lewys-Lloyd coming into the midfield.

The next 20 minutes were spent getting to grips with the Old Cranleighans pack (some of whom seemed have a flimsy grasp of the rules at breakdown, ruck and maul), especially with the top heavy yet surprisingly mobile No 8 and their dynamic and racy open side. At the set piece, the OC’s were living on scraps in the lineout, with their own throw being disrupted on regular intervals, faring little better in the scrums where the opposition was making excellent use of their heavier front five. Where the OC’s did make an impact, was in their level of fitness, and were often quicker to the breakdown, forcing a number of penalties. With a strong westerly wind blowing across Old Deer Park, touch was not found and the ball was returned with interest, testing the back three allowing the opposition respite from pressure. The Old Cranleighans were too good not to capitalise, and five minutes before oranges, the opposition No 8 flopped over the line after relentless pressure despite some heroic defence. Conversion missed 10-0 to the Old Cranleighans.

Half time saw more reorganisation, with the Captain being forced from the field with strained knee ligaments to be replaced by Andrew Dean in the 2nd Row, with Euan Kenworthy taking over the captaincy. Immediately, the substitute made his presence felt, linking well with his fellow Antipodean the nuggety scrum half Rob Walkington. These two dovetailed superbly, to allow Matt Unwin the space to break well into the Old Cranleighans half, being brought down by a ragged defence just inside the 22. First on the scene was Ali Turner, who showed good wheels on a determined rumble towards the opposition line. Brought down just yards from the line, the ball was recycled out to the left, where an overlap of such speedsters as the Kenworthy Brothers and Chris Parkinson lurked with menace. However, before the ball reached them it was crucially dropped by Tom Drummond-Wilson, and with that went the chance of the OC’s breaking their scoring duck for 2004/2005 and quite possible any chance of clawing their way into the game. A try then, the OC’s would have had their tales up, and with their undoubted fitness telling in the last quarter, who knows what would have happened?

As the game became more stretched, and fitness levels were sapped by a mixture of the humid conditions and bone-hard pitch, the Old Cranleighans broke up the field, almost squandering a 4 to 1 overlap, with the left winger scoring his second try. There was a slight question mark as to whether a stray foot had wandered over the dead ball line, but with the absence of TV replay and the touch judge 30 yards up the touch line, a try was given. Conversion again failed 15-0 to the Old Cranleighans.

Soon after this, Rich Mann left the field with a shoulder injury, forcing the already-weakened Captain back on. The mistake quotient rose as tiredness set in, with minds wandering to the first beer in the clubhouse afterwards. Andrew Dean, who had put himself around with gusto, was then pole-axed by a smother tackle of such force and precision that he was forced off, later to learn that he had broken his collarbone. We wish him a speedy recovery.

With Rich Mann back on, the OC’s pack resembled A & E on a Friday night, with lots of hobbling, staggering and general lack of movement. All that was left was for the Old Cranleighan No 8 to break through some half-hearted defence to bag his second score and put the final nail in the OC coffin. Insult was added to injury as the conversion was made – 22-0 to the Old Cranleighans. Despite desperate attempts to register a score in the final five minutes, the OC’s were denied the consolation score that their endeavour and bravery had deserved.

Overall, despite the score line, the OC’s can take many positives from their performance. All the backs oozed danger when they had the ball, with Matt Unwin and Euan Kenworthy linking well at fly half and inside centre, Chris Parkinson, Matt Boardman, Gareth Lewys-Lloyd, Bruce Kenworthy and Paul Kellett looking hungry for action. Rob Walkington was a good foil for his pack, sometimes acting as a 9th forward and relishing the physical stuff. The front row of Ali Turner, Henry Brace and Steve Hartland kept going until the end in the face of some ferocious scrummaging from their Old Cranleighan counterparts, and they got around the paddock right until the end. Likewise, the back five of Al Evered, The Captain, Don Dewerson, Tom Drummond-Wilson, Rich Mann and Andrew Dean were tough and mobile, encouraging signs for the future as match fitness gets sharpened, pitches get softer and opposition get weaker.

Man of the match this week goes to an Honorary OC who defended with conviction and effectively used what little ball he was given in attack: Matt Unwin.

Tom DW