Page 53 - Phonebox Magazine March 2011

OLNEY RUGBY CLUB NEWS
OLNEY v OAKMEDIANS home win 33-14
Olney welcomed the Bournemouth side expecting a tough encounter after a close win away early in the season 30-32. It was good to see a number of travelling supporters for Oakmedians, something Olney have been lacking at away games this season.
It was the home side that were keen to get back into winning form and within minutes from the first whistle Olney’s Full Back, Mark Marwood went over in the corner after some quick recycling of the ball. This was converted by a drop goal by James Hawken giving Olney the 7-0 advantage. The Olney forwards were next to make an impression from a lineout where they drove forward and Flanker, John Robinson scored a try, this conversion re-bounded off the post taking the score to 12-0.
Oakmedians obviously not happy with the early score line, they began to get involved and make a couple of clean breaks themselves, though there were some great tackles being made by the Olney players. On one occasion the visitor’s were right up to the try line, only to give away a penalty to the home side which was cleared up field by James Hawken. Some great support play in the Olney side saw John Robinson go over for his second try, which was converted by James Hawken extending Olney’s lead to 19- 0 for a few minutes before James Hawken added to his tally of points by scoring a try after Mark Marwood took a high ball and fed Hawken the ball before he jinked through the mid-field to score the try and then convert, taking the score to 26-0 where the score remained at the half time break.
Oakmedians definitely came back from the break looking determined to get onto the score board and threw everything into their attack, and finally got their first try of the afternoon which the full back converted 26-7. Olney made a substitution at Full Back as Mark Marwood was replaced by Jordan Letts. Olney however continued to look in control of the game, and John Robinson made a clean break from just inside half way all the way up field to score his hat trick, which James Hawken converted stretching Olney’s lead to 33-7.
With both teams making further substitutions and Oakmedians lost a player with a blood injury after a clash of heads with his own team mate, fresh legs on both sides ensured the high tempo game continued. It was the visitors however who completed the tries, after a long kick up field their winger managed to touch down for the try, and with the full back converting took the final score to 33-14. A deserved win for the home side, with Fly Half, Dave Smith awarded man of the match for a good overall performance, despite John Robinsons hat trick! With the weather allowing games to go ahead once again, the first XV have had a mixed bag of results, with a superb victory over local rivals Bletchley 35-26, completing the double against them this season after winning away 19-20 before Christmas. Despite changes in the side due to injuries and player availability resulting in some away defeats, Olney remain fourth in the league.
OLNEY v BLETCHLEY home win 35-26 29/01/11
Olney welcomed Bletchley on what had to be the coldest day of the season to date expecting nothing more than a long hard game of rugby against the local rivals, particularly as Olney won 19-20 early in the season away at Manor Fields.
The game began with a high tempo and only minutes in Olney’s flanker, John Robinson went over for the first try of the afternoon, which James Hawken converted giving Olney the early lead 7-0. The Bletchley side however tried to stamp their mark on the game by repeatedly sending their inside centre on some strong breaks, sliding through tackles midfield leaving Olney’s Full Back, Jordan Letts to work hard in defence. The Bletchley side, showing some desperation for possession gave away silly penalties by going over the top at rucks consistently and with James Hawken kicking from just inside the half way mark, it was pleasing to see the kick go straight through the uprights extending the lead to 10-0.
Bletchley were however able to get on the score boardafterOlneywerepenalisedforcrossing, and
over for a try, unfortunately not converted but extendedtheleadto28-14. Bletchleyhowever, never giving up for a second, deservedly scored their second try for which the conversion was not successful, taking the score to 28-19. John Robinson, soon to be the highest try scorer in the Olney side, completed his hat trick which James Hawken converted giving With these two sides it always goes to the whistle so there was no surprise when the Bletchley side managed to score another try and convert it to bring the final score to 35-26. A true battle as always, though the Olney players can celebrate in doing the double over their local rivals. Though after every match there is plenty to reflect upon in preparation for Olney’s next league fixture away at Maidenhead thisSaturday. ThiscomingTuesdayisthefirst round of the Lewis Shield where Olney will welcome Buckingham.
The Annual Olney Rugby 7’s is being held on Saturday 9th July 2011, see: www.pitchero.com /clubs/olney7s/ oremailanyqueriesto: olney7s@live.co.uk
The Main Function Room is available for private hire, see the website for further details: www.olneyrfc.co.uk
for being off side at a ruck bringing the score closer 10-6, before James
Team PW
Maidenhead 16 13
D L F
0 3 436 1 4 364 0 5 358 0 6 320 0 5 405 2 4 357 1 6 307 1 6 329 0 12 366 0 9 304 1 11 257 0 10 247 0 12 310 0 12 230
A Diff
B Pts Pts Adjust
226 210 11 63 0
Amersham & Chiltern
16 11
202 162
377 -19 5 45 0 245 75 7 43 0
Hawken stretched Olney’s Olney 15 10
9 55 0
lead to 13-6 after another penalty was awarded after a Bletchley player made a dangerous tackle on Olney’s Fly half, Mark Marwood. The continued persistence from the visitors paid off as they broke through some weak defence from the home side with the Flanker scoring a try, which was then converted by the Fly Half bringing the score closeto13-11. Olneywere then awarded another penalty which was missed on this occasion, but with John Robinson out in the three quarters he was in for his second try of the afternoon, which was converted by James Hawken giving Olney the 20-11 lead at half time.
Ollie Brackenbury was replaced by Dave Rainbow after a good performance in the front row, and Scrum Half, Richard James came off with a slight injury, therefore James Hawken moved to scrum half and Jake Chalmers went onto the Wing with James Hannah moving into the Centre. This saw the forwards step up a gear.
With both teams converting another penalty each taking the score line to 23-14, it was pleasing for the Olney supporters to see James Hawken go
Reading 15 9
High Wycombe
Swanage & Wareham 16 10 Witney 15 8 Marlow 15 8
15 10
290 115
299 58
240 67
272 57 6 40 0
12 42 -10 3 42 -5 7 41 0
Reading Abbey
Buckingham 15 6 Wallingford 16 4 Bletchley 15 5 Oakmeadians 16 4 Wimborne 15 3
384 -18
351 -47
387 -130 6 24 0 337 -90 7 22 -5 562 -252 5 21 0
16 4
14 30 0 4 28 0
418 -188
5 17 0
Phonebox Magazine 53