RUGBY UNION: AN early try inside five minutes had raised expectations for Old Leamingtonians away at Evesham but the home side took advantage of some ill-disciplined play to run out 39-12 winners in Saturday’s Midlands 3 West (South) league clash.
The match was less than five minutes old when OLs drove Evesham back into their own 22 metre area and from a catch and drive from a line out they forced the home side back over the goal line for an unconverted try touched down by hooker Reece Jones.
From the deep kick from the re-start, OLs fumbled the collection gifting Evesham the ball to score in the corner.
The try was converted but it was OLs that again forced the home side back and from another strong forward push the visitors forced the home side back over the goal line for try number two, scored by Tom Heslop and converted by Brad James.
There was uncertainty again from the kick-off which allowed Evesham to take control and after a series of mauls an infringement by the visitors prompted the match official to award a penalty try, which was converted, to take Evesham into a two point lead with the game not yet ten minutes old.
From this point OLs game became ragged and at times ill-disciplined and whilst the effort displayed by the visitors could not be faulted, the skill level, defensive tackling and ball retention was not up to the normal standard, allowing Evesham to dominate the game.
After 15 minutes play a penalty given away in front of the posts was converted by Evesham to extend the home score and two more tries before half time saw OLs go into half-time 29-12 down.
The visitors featured better in the second half and had more of the game but the tendency to spill the ball in tackles remained a constant fault. Despite this they remained well in contention but could not break down the home defence.
A long range penalty was all Evesham had to show for the half before they scored a late try through an OLs mistake close to their own line which allowed the ball to be thrown wide for the Evesham centre to run in under the posts. The try was converted to round off a comfortable win for Evesham.
OLs have a week off to prepare for their next fixture at home to Ledbury on December 10.
