Oldfield 13 - London Welsh 19.

In an exhilarating quarter final, Oldfield were edged out of the National Colts Cup quarter final by a well organised and talented London Welsh side.

In front of a large crowd at Shaft Road in bright, but windy conditions, Oldfield’s young guns chose to play against the elements in the first half.

From the whistle, the strong and well drilled London Welsh pack took the game to Oldfield playing a fast rucking game, producing quick ball for their backs; with their fly half using the strong wind to keep Oldfield pinned down in their half with some accurate kicking.

Oldfield responded with some courageous defending turning defence into attack at every opportunity.  Eventually London Welsh were awarded a lineout from a penalty on Oldfield’s 5m line, a catch and drive resulted in a try wide out for their fly half to convert taking a 7 nil lead.

Gradually the Oldfield pack began to gain parity and produce some good ball for Oldfield’s talented back line with Freddie Burns, Sean Lilly and Mattie Pearce making some probing runs beyond the London Welsh defence; only to be thwarted by some excellent cover defence.

London Welsh continued to attack and put Oldfield’s line under pressure. Another forced error resulted in a penalty kick to touch to give London Welsh a line out, again on the Oldfield 5m line with the same result, a catch and drive and a try wide out for the fly half to convert moving the score to 14 nil.

Oldfield never panicked and continued with the same strategy, eventually gaining an attacking scrum just outside the London Welsh 22. Quick ball from scrum half Sam Burns gave brother Freddie the opening he was looking for and he opened up the London Welsh defence only to be pulled down by some desperate defence short of the line. Half time came with Oldfield on the attack trailing 14 nil with all to play for in the second half.

The second half commenced in the same mould as the first with the roles reversed Oldfield’s pack winning some quick ball for Freddie to use the wind to pin London Welsh in their half eventually forcing a scrum in the London Welsh 22. Quick ball and some jiggery pockery saw Freddie crash over under the posts for a converted try to take the score to 14 - 7

Both sides now upped their game and saw some exciting open attacking rugby from two young and talented sides. The well drilled London Welsh pack, with their driving and rucking were causing Oldfield some problems in the loose and eventually forced an opening in mid field for both London Welsh wingers to combine in a speedy sweeping  movement from one side of the pitch to the other to score wide out. The conversion missed took the score to 19 - 7 in London Welsh’s favour.  

Again Oldfield upped the anti and forced a penalty in the London Welsh half. Oldfield turned downed the penalty in favour for the kick to touch forcing a lineout on the London Welsh 5m line. Some desperate defence kept Oldfield out but Freddie slotted a close range drop goal to reduce the lead to six points.

Moving into the final quarter with the score 19 – 10 to London Welsh. Another penalty opportunity converted by Freddie after some excellent play by the Oldfield forwards took the score to 19 – 13. The next 20 minutes saw some scintillating rugby from both sides with attacking and defensive skills being stretched to the limit.

In the final minutes Oldfield conceded a scrum just outside their 22 and it seemed certain the well drilled London Welsh pack would keep possession, run through the phases and wind down the clock. Not to be, the determination and resilience of the Oldfield pack forced a London Welsh error after four or five phases and quick ball to Sean Lilley saw a magnificent break from his own 22 to take him over the halfway line and slip the ball to fellow centre, Joe Mcdonald, who raced towards the London Welsh posts with what seemed a certain match winning score.

All was not to be, the exceptional tracking back from the London Welsh left winger saw Jo brought down a yard short of the line. Scrum to the defending side. Huge pressure from the Oldfield eight resulted in a sliced kick to touch to give Oldfield a 5m lineout. However, the referee blew up for full time to see London Welsh go through to the Semi finals.

Well played to both sides for a magnificent spectacle and a shinning example of rugby played by young and talented sportsmen. Oldfield Colts have had a very successful competition beating Brixham (A) Redruth (H) and Longlevens (A).

Oldfield Colts:

Dan Smith, Ollie Hayes, Rich Stainer, Ricky Gibson, Jack Gillett, Russell Hunnybun, Guy Mercer, Matt Clifton, Sam Burns, Freddie Burns, Matt Pearce, Sean Lilley,
Joe Mcdonald, Lewis Davies, Chris Ericson - Ollie Mccafferty, Luke Lane, Tom Lovell, Dan Gallagher, Joe Shahin, Pete Goodwin, Chris Murphy.