A BLISTERING display of attacking rugby coupled with a strong defence fired Old Leamingtonians to a decisive seven-try victory over Manor Park in Midlands Three West (South) on Saturday.
The first 15 minutes of the game saw OLs dominating the territory and keeping Manor Park firmly rooted in their own half of the field.
On the quarter hour mark strong forward pressure by OLs resulted in hooker and captain Reece Jones forcing his way over for the opening score.
The try was converted by fly half Henry Reynolds.
Manor Park came back strongly with a game plan of forward dominating rugby.
OLs were put under strong pressure and after 22 minutes the home side drove the visitors back over the goal line to touch down and reduce the deficit.
The try went unconverted but from the kick off the ball was sent straight into touch to give the home side the advantage of a scrum on the half way line.
The Manor Park forwards again took the game to OLs and it was only strong defensive play that prevented further tries.
However, from a penalty conceded in front of the posts Manor Park took the lead.
OLs came back into the game and their faster three-quarters began to make ground well into the home side half of the field.
Manor Park’s defence was penalised and from a kick into touch, the OLs forwards moved the game in field where flanker Felix Heath broke from the pack to force his way over for try number two.
Reynolds kicked the extras.
The remainder of the first half was all OLs with the backs dominant and it was only handling errors which prevented more tries until the stroke of half time.
A sweeping move from left to right ended with winger Liam Wellings forcing his way over for try number three.
The try was converted by Reynolds to give OLs a half time lead of 21-8.
After the break OLs were playing up the slope and the half was only a few minutes old when another sweeping move led to full back Ciaran O’Connor cutting through the Manor Park defence for try number four.
Reynolds’ conversion followed.
Manor Park came back into game using the heavier forwards to try to dominate the game but the lighter OLs pack held firm.
With Manor Park slowly gaining ground into the OLs half a loose pass was intercepted by centre Simon Hemming who ran the length of the pitch to touch down under the posts.
The conversion by Reynolds was successful.
From kick off Manor Park established good territorial advantage and managed to force the ball over for a second try that was converted making the score 35-15.
With the game going into the last ten minutes OLs forwards began to take control over the home pack in both set and open play.
It was only desperate defending which prevented further tries.
But after a sweeping cross field move by OLs, scrum half Toby Lord bagged try number six for OLs.
OLs continued to dominate and the final try went to left winger Ryan Dee who completed another sweeping three-quarters move by overlapping on the right wing to score.
The conversion from Reynolds followed and OLs finished the game with a 47-15 win to keep them in second place in the league.
On Saturday, OLs entertain Old Coventrians in what could be a promotion decider.
