Wellings the main man for OL in crushing win over basement side - The Leamington Observer

Wellings the main man for OL in crushing win over basement side

Leamington Editorial 17th Dec, 2019   0

HAT-TRICK hero Liam Wellings helped Old Leamingtonians claim the result of the weekend in Midlands Three West (South) after a 44-12 triumph over Bedworth.

After Bedworth’s home turf was deemed unfit to play on, the match was played out at The Crofts, something which OL took full advantage of in a blistering display of rugby.

It did not take long for the hosts to go in front after an opening score was provided by Simon Hemming in the corner inside the opening five minutes, following a flowing move across three quarters of the pitch.

Though the conversion was missed, Old Leamingtonians continued their offensive approach and benefited from the misfortune of the visitors, who were forced to play the majority of the game a man light after an injured player could not be replaced with no options on the bench.




Spurred on by this, the hosts eventually found try number two when Kai Cott finished in the corner, though Old Leams’ inability to add the extra’s remained a flaw.

Callum Semple was the scorer of the third try, the first to be converted, to put the home side in command at 17-0 up, capping off a team passing move with a rapid sprint into the corner.


Despite the prospect of a big win being on the cards, a momentary lapse by OL allowed Bedworth to register on the scoreboard with a converted try after a sustained period of pressure.

It was the warning that the home side needed and with five minutes remaining of the first half, a try each for Wellings and Semple sent Old Leamingtonians 29-7 in front at the break.

Both sides exchanged unconverted scores to kick off the second half, with Wellings recording his second and OL’s sixth try of the game.

From that moment on in the game, the bottom side gave way to an onslaught of attacking play from the hosts that ensued until the final whistle.

Time and again Old Leamingtonians cut through Bedworth’s defence but to no avail, with the final pass often lacking.

It required Joe Talamini’s determined drive after the breakdown of a maul to create OL’s next score. He offloaded to Mike Robertson 20 metres from the try line, who in turn dragged in the last defender, creating a gap for which the ball was spun to Andrew O’Toole to crash down between the posts.

A hat-trick try for Wellings finished off the scoring following another move that started from deep to round off a relatively straightforward bonus-point victory.

Next up for sixth-placed Old Leamingtonians is another home game against Berkswell & Balsall, a side that sit fourth at present, on Saturday (2.15pm) in the final fixture of the calendar year.

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