OLD Leamingtonians resumed their winning form with a 15-10 victory away to Stoke Old Boys at Albert Gale Field last weekend, ahead of facing Upton-on-Severn on Saturday.
The visiting Leams controlled proceedings although the scoreline may have suggested a tighter affair, but most importantly come away with maximum points to resume their position in third place in the table.
From the outset, Leamington’s line pushed forwards to exert pressure on the hosts, but with no reward for their efforts inside the opening ten minutes.
The Old Boys went against the run of play when a move out wide saw the ball bundled over the line after a first venture into OL’s 22, points added by a conversion.
Joe Beckett’s try gave Old Leamingtonians reprieve after a period of concerted play, the wing forward going over the try line whilst Henry Reynolds’ conversion levelled the scores going into the break.
A converted penalty for both sides was as open as the game got in the bulk of the second-half, as the contest descended into a very drab, defensive affair.
Reynolds this time scored maximum points himself when embarking on the move of the game, a switch of play inside the Stoke half enabled the OL fly-half to bundle the ball home late on after a solo run of 45 metres cut open the Old Boys’ defence in scintillating fashion.
With just five minutes left on the clock, Old Leam’s were able to see out the victory on a tough afternoon against the Old Boys.
Next up is a home tie at The Crofts against bottom-of-the-table Upton-on-Severn this Saturday (2:15pm), where the Leamingtonians can keep up the pace on leaders Pinley and Shipston-on-Stour.
