Old Alleynians RFC

Sat 6 Nov 2021, 14:30

Beccehamian

10 - 36

(HT 0-0)

Old Alleynians

Beccehamian

Old Alleynians

Williams’ late flurry sees OAs home

Beccehamians vs OAs 10-36

6^th November 2021

By Alex Smith

A much-changed OAs 1^st XV travelled to Beccehamians with the squad thinned by injuries, holidays, and the need to start seshing before midday. A new 9-10 combo and new look front row meant a test for the OA’s adaptability. Meanwhile, Beccehamians presented a somewhat unknown quantity, having run a lot of the top six teams close, the travelling side was wary that a mid-table position might belie the oppo’s quality. 

The OA’s back three continued their fine form with from the start, with Adetosoye opening the account and continuing his own run of scores. While OAs struggled to build consistent pressure through the first half, the back three looked dangerous in broken play, with Malins’s kick returns especially threatening. 

Sadly, the league’s all-star defender Conway fell to injury early in the half and was switched for Tom Vogel. Vogel was quick to tuck into a meat pie for the seniors, finishing a beautiful move on the right flank after some sexy offloading. Vogel was just as quick to return his breakfast to the land of the living after a 50m run and score. In this two-minute episode Vogel demonstrated he is both a solid rugby and cultural prospect for the senior team.  

With both sides keeping possession for periods but failing to thread together breaks, OAs used the set piece to exert more pressure, through scrummaging and lineout excellence. With the indomitable Captain moved to loose-head for the week, OAs punished the Becc’s scrum. Thompson was supported in his efforts by a back row-second row duo of Mairs and Shanahan. The left side of the OA’s scrum, with the combined effort of 40st, 400 caps, 4000 years and an annual income of £4m, proved unstoppable.

As the play continued to see-saw back and forth, Becc’s offloading game continued to keep the OA’s defence on its toes which, despite stalwart efforts on the line, shipped two tries. One came after some rogue decision making from Malins on his own line, shortly after scoring his own try. Early in the second half the game swung back into the balance at two tries to three, with the sides unable to gain dominance through phase play. 

It was with this backdrop that Tommy Williams decided to score loads of tries, late in the second half. Brilliant carrying and well-timed support lines saw Williams rack up three pies and carry off the MOTM champagne. Lovely! 

Honourable mentions 

• Malins – the Becc’s MOTM, fantastic with ball in hand
• Thompson – stepped in at loose head, brilliant in defence
• Will Sones – an excellent first 1^stdebut at scrum half