ORRFC v Thornbury U14 8 March 2009

Old Richians 43-10 Thornbury County Cup Group Stages

After 4 weeks without a game, the final match for Old Richians in the county cup group stage was played in horrendous weather, with the teams enduring high winds, torrential rain and even hail for most of the match.

The game started slowly, with Richians showing some rustiness from lack of game time, having to defend in their own 22, before an excellent team effort saw No 8 Toby Freeman charge over to open the scoring for the Sandyleaze side, Centre and captain Dan Spencer-Tonks converting into the strong wind. Again Thornbury put Richians under pressure, before Spencer-Tonks made a break from the halfway to score under the posts. Richians gained confidence, despite Thornbury continuing to put them under pressure, with a 2nd score from Freeman and a try from Prop Jack Murdoch in the first half. Thornbury replied with an unconverted try just before the half time whistle. The second half saw Thornbury rejuvenated, pushing forward into the Richians 22 on several occasions, however full back Lewis Haddow won the footrace from an excellent Thornbury kick to prevent what looked like a certain Thornbury try. In the end it was Thornbury who open the 2nd half scoring, which seemed to focus the Richians side. With the deteriorating weather conditions, the match became a forwards game with Prop Ryan Bayliss, and Hooker Harry Barr finishing off what were excellent team efforts with tries, before centre Josh Harris received a ball ripped from a Thornbury player and charged half a length of the pitch for a try. Spencer-Tonks kicked his 4th conversion of the game as the final whistle went.

Old Richians, coming 2nd in their group move onto the quarter finals.

ORRFC v Dursley U14's, 22 March 2009

Old Richians 73 – 17 Dursley

In a break between County Cup games, Old Richians entertained a spirited Dursley side at home.

The game started off slowly with Dursley pushing into the Richians half, before centre and captain Dan Spencer-Tonks started the scoring for the home side with an unconverted try. Undeterred Dursley answered almost immediately with an excellently worked try which they converted, shortly afterwards they were awarded a penalty under the posts which was slotted over with ease to leave the hosts trailing by 5 points. The home side then got into the game dominating through their strong forwards at every scrum, with Number 8 Toby Freeman, Prop Jack Murdoch and Flankers Harry Barr and Jack Lewis gaining yards with every touch of the ball and Richians fast running backs cutting through the defence, with Fly Half Jake Melocia and scrum half Harry Preece encouraging fast ball whilst full back Lewis Haddow collected up any space kicks that Dursley tried. This enabled a period of rapid scoring, with wing Kirk Johnson, prop Ryan Bayliss, centre Josh Harris and a further try from Spencer-Tonks before half time.

After the break Dursley came out strongly putting in unrelenting effort, and pushing the home team, however there was only going to be one winner. Bayliss started the scoring minutes into the second half, swiftly followed by Harris, Spencer-Tonks and Bayliss before a slip in the Richians defence allowed Dursley to complete a well worked converted try. The visitors didn’t give up throughout the game, but were unable to stop a 4th try by Spencer-Tonks, followed up by Lewis, with the game finished off by a piercing break culminating in a try for Haddow. Conversions Spencer-Tonks (4), Harris (1), Preece (1)