Season 08/09
OCs 40 - Farnham 2XV 15, 13th Sept 2008
A slight struggle for players this week as a result of injuries, prior commitents and the inevitable onset of the wine tasting season. Nevertheless we managed to pull together 14 players which was conveniently the same number as the opposition.
Despite a few new faces and a few players playing their first game of the season, the OCs picked up where they've left off 3 weeks earlier, having the best of the early play and quickly going 12-0 up. Unfortunately, we sat back a little and allowed Farnham to get their big men into the game and begin to control the breakdown. As the fluency of the game dropped and momentum shifted slightly Farnham came back into the game and pulled back to within 2 scores just before half time.
Fortunately, this only served to make the OCs angry, and a few well strung passes allowed Chester Robinson to cut through the Farnham line on a number of occasions in the second half to pull the lead back out to a comfortable margin. Ball retention also improved, led by new boy Rufus Hack who was consistently first to the breakdown and put together a great first performance for the OCs
Ultimately the final scoreline was comfortable, but covered up for a dissapointing lack of quality and consistency. Plenty to improve on next week
Tries: Chester Robinson (2), Ben Squires (2), Rick Lakin, Olly DS
Chassette D'Or: Rufus Hack
OCs 56 - Battersea Ironsides 2XV 0, 13th Sept 2008
Glorious sunshine met the players at Spencer Park for the first game of the season vs Battersea Ironsides 2nd XV, perfect conditions for the OCs to ease back into their silky brand of total rugby. A strong side had assembled and we were happy to welcome a number of new faces to the squad for the new season.
Despite talk of the opposition having had internal trial matches, and the relative unfamiliarity of the new squad, the OCs actually made the better start, having the lion's share of the early posession and territory. Wtih the new new look pack showing an unusual amount of control and dominance it didn't take long before some steady build up allowed captain Lakin to send Chris Pople in under the sticks. This set the tone and before long Bryn Snelson, Dan Rose with a breakaway and Tim Gabelko had all run in tries. Richard Coatalen capped an outstanding first half of rugby for the OCs with a try to leave the score 35-0 at half time.
Early season fitness (or lack of) took its toll in the second half and the game began to resemble a game of touch rugby more than the real thing. However, determined finge defence from the pack, notably man of the match Adam Williams, ensured the OCs line was not crossed. The rangey Gabelko loped in for a second as did Pople to bring up the 50 point marker.
Tries: Pople (2), Gabelko (2), Rose, Snelson, Coatalen, Unknown
Chassette D'Or: Adam Williams