Play Off Match Report: Old Laurentians 16-6 Moseley Oak

[Communications Team]

Midlands 2 Play Off

Old Laurentians v Moseley Oak, Saturday 4th May 3pm kick off

www.oldlaurentianrfc.co.uk Single leg – winner promoted to Midlands 1 West

Support
The support last weekend at Billesley against Silhillians was fantastic. A big ‘Thank You’ from the Moseley Oak players and management who would be delighted if you could come and support the team in this ‘winner takes all’ match on Saturday.

Directions
Old Laurentian RFC, Fenley Field, Lime Tree Avenue, Bilton, Rugby, Warks, CV22 7QT
Using SatNav the postcode above will take you along Lime Tree Avenue and past the club entrance and into the woods! So when you get to the end of the tarmac bit of road, you'll find the entrance on the left (clearly signposted). Coaches will need to park in Lime Tree Avenue.

Match Preview

Moseley Oak on a rugby mission - It’s showdown time.

Promotion rides on the last game of the season when Moseley Oak must bring their best rugby … to Rugby. The side will go into the second place play-off final against Old Laurentians as under-dog – a position which actually might suit them.

But they will have to perform a lot better than in their final Midlands Two West (North) game against league winners Silhillians if they are to claim victory. The match and Moseley Oak’s season went right down to the wire but a bonus point loss meant the home side tied on points with Wolverhampton, claiming the play-off place on games won, 16 to 14.

After an explosive start, going 20 points clear, the Billesley Common side were reined back in as Silhillians took the match 24-20 scoring a try at the death with what proved the final move.

Old Laurentians record
Old Laurentians will consider themselves unlucky not to go up automatically, finishing one point behind Kenilworth yet 18 clear of third place Kidderminster. A 54-31 bonus point win at Banbury in Midlands Two West (South) wasn't quite enough as Kenilworth got the win at Bedworth to secure the Championship title.

OLs finished the regular season with the best scoring and defensive record in the league but lost three games (each by a 3-point margin) which proved costly. They get home advantage against Moseley Oak who lost four in total.

The match takes place at Fenley Field this Saturday (May 4) with a 3pm kick off.

Old Laurentians - the club
Like many clubs, Old Laurentians was formed after a meeting in a pub!

It was created by Old Boys of Lawrence Sheriff School in 1919 and up to the late 1960’s only old boys could play for the club. If one was to kick a ball from The Close, where William Webb Ellis reputedly created the game of rugby, it could quite easily land in the grounds of Lawrence Sheriff School.

‘The match’ analysis
OLs are favourites because in recent years the South division has bossed the play off final.

And their points record is impressive – scoring 905 in 22 games conceding just 251 against Moseley Oak’s 518 in 20 games conceding 296. Indeed OLs are averaging more than 40 points a game.

And as Moseley always look to use the flair in their own back line it should be quite a display of attacking rugby. Big performances needed from the likes of Dan Pons and Jon Perks – the latter had an outstanding game last weekend.

And Moseley Oak will have to retain their discipline, unable against Old Laurentians to afford the two yellow cards which crippled efforts in the second period against Silhillians.

What the Chairman & Coach Say
Club chairman John Richards said: “This is a test of how far we have come as a side.
“We need everyone to turn it on in the way we know they are capable of doing. Old Laurentians away is very tough but we have it in us to win.”

Coach John White added: “In a one-off anything can happen. It is about who has the strength of mind to go out there and grab the game by the scruff of the neck. The scrum need to work as one and the backs have to be brave and dominate their opposite numbers.
I can assure supporters there’ll be nothing left in the changing room. This is the big one.”

Certainly the authorities seem to be expecting a bruising encounter – each squad must have at least five front row players and four substitutes are allowed rather than the usual three.[/font][/font]

[Communications Team]

From Laurentians website:

The 1st XV welcome the Midlands 2 West (North) runners-up to Fenley Field for what promises to be a real rugby treat.

Moseley Oak will be visiting us for the first time and we hope their supporters enjoy our customary hospitality and welcome.

OLs finished the regular season with the best scoring and defensive record in the league but lost three games (each by a 3-point margin) which proved costly.

Our visitors lost their final game at home to Silhillians but their losing bonus point claimed the play-off place over Wolverhampton on games won.

We are obliged by the RFU to charge an admission fee for the play-off game and there will be a £3 entry fee which will include a souvenir programme. There will also be an additional 'outside bar' and BBQ food will be available to buy from around 1:30pm.

www.oldlaurentianrfc.co.uk/2009/Home.html

[studleyken]

Good day at a nice, friendly Club. The Oak battled but Laurentians were the better team and deserved their promotion by winning 16-6. The Oak proved though that they are good enough to be in the same or a better position next season. Good turnout of Mose Fans to cheer the lads on. Lots of noise which the players we spoke to said they appreciated.
Come on you Moseley Oak.

[Communications Team]

Moseley Oak agonisingly miss out
Old Laurentians 16-6 Moseley Oak

Heartache for Moseley Oak who came so close in the Midlands Two West (North) play-off final away to Rugby side Old Laurentian.

Going down 16-6 was no consolation for being told it was one of OL’s toughest games of the season.

OL now take a step up; Moseley Oak must go again.

There was so little between the sides – had it been at Billesley Common the scoreline could easily have been reversed.

Sadly, it was in Moseley Oak’s own hands to win and they were unable to get over the line.

Just one try in it … pretty much a fluke.

On the Moseley Oak 22, the home side got taken apart in the scrum, the scrum half in desperation hacked the ball sideways, it by-passed the fly-half, fell beautifully into the lap of centre Iain Wallis and, with the defence wrong footed, he forced his way over.

In many ways a travesty.

But in truth Moseley Oak failed to make their own luck.

Ill-discipline saw them concede a forest of penalties in the first ten minutes and a forest of penalties in the last ten minutes.

Moseley Oak players couldn’t get their heads around referee Nicola Reynolds.

Offside and into the scrum from the side seemed to be way beyond her abilities; conversely she was certainly decisive.

And rightly took no back chat from players or officials.

A bellowing Moseley Oak coach John White: “For goodness sake, give us a game.”

Reynolds: “Roll away and you can have one.”

The referee never lost it for Moseley Oak; Moseley Oak did.

Apart from the converted try, fly half Dan O’Brien notched three penalties and for Moseley Oak Dan Pons managed two.

The away side did well in the line-outs and loose head prop Dan Toth, a Hungarian international, was trashing his opposite number.

So much so that after 25 minutes the latter was replaced, a crucial OL decision which restored parity.

Duncan White, son of the coach and a former Moseley 1st XV player, came on around the same time and made a big difference despite nursing an ankle injury.

So it was all to play for at half time – score 9-3 and Moseley Oak about to head down wind.

There were real hopes they could capitalise, but it wasn’t to be.

Somehow Moseley Oak lost their way and were unable to gain dominance.

The second Pons penalty put it tantalisingly close, but that was as good as it got.

OL ultimately dogged it out and probably just deserved it.

A huge missed opportunity for Moseley Oak and a lesson learned.

But fair play to OL – they were lovely people, a nice ground, proudly amateur, they put on a show and a tense but exciting match was clean throughout.

Well done OL – hope it goes well for you a division higher.

+++++++++++++++++++++++ End

[grooveavenue]

Went to OL match. It was very close as OL matched Oaks replacements in the scrum to balance up what became in the first instance a big advantage to us, gaining metres with the extra weight (Duncan?). We worked so hard to stay in the match and kept out wits about us right to the end despite pressure mounting up on us. It always looked as if a try would be a telling score in this close game. John was certainly looking for refereeing explanations of decisions and it was good to see the comments the ref made in Comm Teams report. The game of rugby won on Saturday with no flare ups and game played at a high pace. Oak have had a great season and can now use the experience to consolidate and improve the outcomes next season. We done to all 30 or so players. A neat ground and a welcoming crowd good draught beer and tasty hot dogs!

I liked the players shouts of "sir" to the referee...........old habits die hard!

[martinwatson aka Camera Shake]

I had a quick chat with another lady referee, and she said she always asked players to call her Sir or Ref. Avoids confusing the players - just sounds a bit odd. (Preferable to shouts of Miss! Miss! which makes them sound like school children, or Ma'am which is reserved for the Queen I believe).

Is that it now, until September?

[jackr]

Message from John White:

Just a short note of thanks for all those supporters who came to Old Laurentians, it was really very much appreciated. I'm sorry we were not able to produce a result, hopefully we will go one better next year. Thank you again.

John White