Coached World Cup Winning Red Rose Vicky Fleetwood who in total gained 82 caps for England they were always going to be well organised. As the Teams made their way on to the pitch the size of the Home Pack was clearly much larger than the Reigate teams with players such as the two props and Captain and Lock Andy O’Malley giving the home side a massive weight advantage up front.
However, despite the long journey and traffic issues meaning some players arrived late and on the journey to the ground one of the Reigatian Players had to withdraw from the game due to family reasons. Leaving the Team with only two replacements The visitors got off to a great start playing some skilful Rugby and keeping the ball alive. The came close with a Finn Coyle break which the home side just cleared their line only for other Winger Harrison Mitchell scoring on the other side of the pitch. With three minutes gone OR’s lead by 0-5. With another attack and Finn Coyle going close to scoring a second try the Home side seemed to find their Tempo. In the next twenty minutes Old Colfeians ran in four unanswered points and lead the game 24-5 this left the team from Reigate shocked and angry with themselves for the lack of concentration in defence.
With strong words behind the posts from Senior Players The visitors gained their composure and started to play as they had in the first few minutes and as we knew they were capable of, After 26 minutes After multiple phases of Play Alex Skinner moved the ball down the blind side where Tom Woodford found a gap to score a try and with Tom Baldwin adding the extra points, bringing the score to 24-12. OR’s worked their way back into Colf’s half and with a Line Out close to the Line the forwards won clean ball at the Line Out and the forwards drove their way over the Line to close the gap to 24-17.
As half time approached Tom Woodford got his second try of the day and with the score 24-22 at half time it was very much in the balance.
The second half continued with Reigatian in the ascendancy with another maul setup close to the Colf’s line the drive was stopped illegally in the with of the Referee and he had no hesitation to award a Penalty try and ORs were in the lead 24-29. Then within two minutes a player from each side were shown Yellow cards. So 14 v 14 unfortunately Woodford was the receiver of the Reigate teams card which happened in the act of Colf’s scoring. 31-29. In the 15th minute of the second half Reigatian were awarded a Penalty Tom Baldwin stepped up to take the three points 31-33.
In the twentieth minute Colf worked a good try and scored for the first time in 40 minutes retaking the lead 36-32
Next up Ryan Taylor Travers having his normal busy game got himself on the end of a good move to again retake the lead 36-37 The home side would not accept defeat and rallied again and managed one more try with minutes left on the clock. 41-37. Reigatian came back again and worked their way into a great attacking position with a Line Out 5 meters out. They had scored from this position earlier in the gam eand the home crowd were silent. Only for the Line Out to be lost and OC’s were able to kick the ball dead. Game over 41-37. The game seemed over after twenty minutes and credit to the Team to fight their way back to be within 2 points at half time. The lead then changed hands six times in the second half! With no doubt and opportunity for a 7th at the death. But two teams gave a great display of Rugby Saturday. OR’s took a try scoring BP and losing BP back to Park Lane.
The 2nd XV continued their successful season with another win on the road at Chobham winning 7-34 with Prop Val Garrec being awarded his 4th Man of the Match in a row!
This Saturday the 1st XV at home against Sutton & Epsom
Last Saturday 1st XV
1. Paul Marshall 2. Ciaran Nestor 3. Ciaran Lee 4. Dan Grant 5. Reilly Franklin Talbot © 6. Elliot Anderson 7. Sam Foreman 8. Ryan Taylor Travers 9. Alex Skinner 10. Ben Holder 11. Finn Coyle 12. Tom Baldwin 13. Tom Allen 14. Harrison Mitchell 15. Tom Woodford 16. Will Godwin 17. Ali Webb
