With three home games, for the first time in somewhile, it proved to be a busy afternoon, with the 1st XV winning handsomely, the A XV narrowly going down to unbeaten Farnham and the Extra A XV victorious in a close encounter with Bec OB [22 – 10].
The second team started strongly, using the elements effectively to camp in Farnham’s 22 for the majority of the first half – our opponents only venturing into Green and Blue territory once or twice, However, their sturdy tackling, alongside the appalling conditions and a few missed chances, kept ORs points tally to a solitary try from Harrison Mitchell. The vital question was whether this was going to be sufficient to keep the league leaders under the thumb during the second period.
After half time, the situation reversed, with Farnham doing to us what we had done to them for the first 40 minutes. Replicating their stout resistance, we managed to hold them out with defiant defence, but they eventually breached our line and added their conversion to take a two-point lead.
Now, with wind in their sales [and there was wind aplenty], Farnham went further ahead at 12 -5, and it looked as though their dominance would put paid to any pleasure for ORs. However, a good passage of play from the kick off led to an Adam Mendoza try, with Ben Holder adding the conversion.
At 12 points a-piece, it would have been a fair conclusion to the match, but mirroring the Dorking fixture, at the outset of the season, our opponents scored a somewhat controversial goal at the death to seal the victory; the cheers from their players appeared to signify relief over pleasure.
So, a disappointing ending, but, as previously, lots of affirmatives to take away and use to our benefit when the season resumes after Christmas.
Thanks to roving reporter, Steve Jenner, for his updates during the game… and for his thoughts on the last try, which, unfortunately, I am unable to quote for the purpose of decency.
