Derby day.

There were a few last second personnel changes which had to be made, which tested the mettle, then there were delays to getting full access to the pitch, however, there was still time and a bit of space for a warm-up, albeit one which was out of sync.  Lesson learned, make best use of the time available.

OP’s came out hard from the get go, putting pressure on 1871 and pinning them back in their half.  After the initial shock of this, 1871 fought back and had two clear opportunities to put scores on the board, but fluffed their lines, giving OP’s a way out.  They immediately applied pressure again and secured the first points of the game at 13 minutes after winning a lineout, a hard carry and a tip ball.  OP’s also took the conversion.

OP’s ill-discipline let them down across the whole of game and this contributed to the first score for 1871, who took a quick tap penalty at 16 minutes, moved the ball down the line with some quick hands and Alex Tarrant (13) on the end accelerating through a gap to score.  No conversion.  Seven minutes later, Marquis Daly-Vidal (14) held his width well and was on the end of a 3 phases long passage of play, which gave him the opportunity to test his opposite man (something he repeatedly did throughout the game) and on this occasion his speed and power got him over the line, with a couple of players trying unsuccessfully to stop him.  A really good score.  Conversion again missed.  The game then went backwards and forwards with neither side wanting to give in, but at 32 minutes after managing to turn over the ball OP’s used their big ball carrier to drag in players, then he deftly off loaded the ball in contact, freeing up outside runners who used the basics of draw and pass and breaking tackles very well, to score out wide.  They also missed their conversion.  The final score of the half came at 36 minutes after 1871 played the ball out wide, then rewound and seeing a gap Harrison Slater (10) deftly stepped in and out of players and sped through the space to score under the posts, then he converted the points.

The second half started fast, this time for 1871, who scored after just 2 minutes.  1871 won a lineout, went into contact and to ground then started picking and going repeatedly before Theo Szweda (6) smashed his way over the line.  Harrison Slater converted.

Once again, the game went backwards and forwards and after 15 minutes and another high tackle, OP’s were given a yellow card, having previously been warned by the referee.

At 21 minutes, Mihai Boian (16) went over to score after a similar chain of events to the earlier score, as 1871 repeatedly used the pick and go to good effect with Mihai, playing at scrum half, used his quick thinking in the small space to put the ball over the line.

At 27 minutes there was a little bit of a scuffle, which fizzled out, however, it appears that this may have started by something that the referee saw and he penalised OP’s with another yellow card, this time for a neck roll.

At 28 minutes, after winning another lineout, then mauling and once again using the pick and go play, Theo Szweda smashed his way over the line.  Harrison Slater converted.

At 34 minutes 1871 received two penalties, one for backchatting the referee and then not retreating 10 metres and this one resulting in Theo Szweda receiving a yellow card.

The final score of the game came at 37 minutes from Danny O’Sullivan (15) after a great carry by Afzaal Ijaz (12), then a follow-up carry by Alex Tarrant and some deft footwork and speed from Danny, which carried him over the line.  Harrison Slater once again converted.

In the main, a very strong performance, against a determined OP’s side.  Lots of learning to be continued with and more good building blocks being added.

Still a little way to go before the season closes, but we’re in the right direction.

Let’s continue.

#BleedGreen!