With the rain effecting all other fixtures it was credit to the grounds staff at Old Reigatian that the 1st XV pitch was in such great condition and the game could go ahead in perfect conditions.
Colfeians must have one of the biggest packs in the league and in the early exchanges the weight advantage was clear. During the early exchanges Reigatian conceded a number of penalties and following the first scrum of the game the Ref had no hesitation to send young Sam Lenihan to the Bin for 10 minutes not the start Sam wanted to his first start for the 1st XV! Through the heavy runners and man advantage Colf’s gained good field position and in the sixth minute they were battering the home teams try line and brave defence kept them out until the space outside was recognised and quick hands and a long pass out to their left wing for him to score in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful and the visitors were 0-5 ahead.
The Reigate side struggled to work with the Referee and Sam Lenihan had just returned to play for Alex Skinner to head to the Sin Bin for what was called a deliberate knock on. Once again the home side were a man down. With Full Back Conor Woods filling in at scrum half the home team won a lineout on the left hand side of the pitch, the ball was moved to the right wing where Max Coylee put a kick ahead which the Colf’s full back took off the field of play giving the home team a line out close to the try line. With the line out Sam Lenihan made good ground the ball recycled and moved across the pitch where Finn Coyle managed to force his way over to score half a meter in from the touch line. Captain Lucas Overtoom slotted the conversion to give the Home Side a 7-5 lead at Half Time despite being a man down for 20 minutes.
Following the break the Colf’s pack used the bulk to push close to the line and again on the sixth minute of the half they forced they way over to regain the lead this time with a successful kick 7-12.
In the 16th minute OR’s had a scrum inside their own half Ryan Taylor Travers broke up the short side to find Skinner in support who in turn fed Max Coyle. Coyle beating his opposite number on the outside and passed back inside to Taylor Travers again who in turn found Lucas Overtoom who run in the try and added to extra two points. 14-12.
Reigatian regained field position a from a lineout on the ten minute line the ball was won by Dan Grant but not cleanly and the lose ball was regathered by Ryan Taylor Travers who managed to break the initial tackle and found himself in space. He had enough pace to remain untouched before touching down next to the post sand Overtoom once again slotted the conversion. 21-12.
Just as some of the supporters were thinking about heading to the bar in the 32nd minute a mistake in Reigatian’s midfield defensive one of OC’s back row broke the gain line and was able to run in from the 22 to score. 21-19 eight minutes left could the Visitors regain the lead?
From a Colf’s scrum on the half way line the ball was moved to the right wing and with inter passing between the Winger and Full Back Colf’s gain the lead the kick was good 21-26 with three minutes left on the Clock.
From a half way scrum the home side fought their way into the Colf’s 22 penalty followed penalty and OR’s kept the pressure on and finally the Ref showed a Colf forward a yellow card from the Penalty OR’s choose to scrum with Colf’s a man down the scrum edged closer to the try line until a scrum Pen was awarded the ball was moved quickly where Tom Allem looked to break over the try line he was held short the ball than moved to replacement Dom Flynn who also looked close to scoring but held short the ball was moved back infield with an unconventional pass the move looked like it could be over but young Sam Lenihan collected the ball and again ran the hard line but infield and was stopped just short he did well to recycle the ball. Max Coyle and Ryan Taylor Travers also drove for the line all the time sucking in defenders . The ball recycled again and Gareth Stephens stepped one and manged to reach out over the line to score in the 43rdminute. 26-26 with the last kick of the game to go . Up stepped Captain Overtoom 28-26 5 league points earned and with Beckenham losing again to Reeds. Old Reigatian are top of the League by a single point to Battersea Ironsides with Reeds away next week.
1.Ethan Monk. 2. Ciaran Nestor 3. Toby Collister 4. Oli Brooks 5. Dan Grant 6. Jack Baart 7. Sam Lenihan 8. Ryan Taylor Travers 9. Alex Skinner 10. Lucas Overtoom 11. Finn Coyle 12. Tom Allen 13. Gareth Stephens 14. Max Coyle 15. Conor Woods
16. Ciaran Lee 17. Joe Jenner 18. Dom Flynn
