Tuesday 17 November 2009

Hucclecote v Old Richians 15th November 2009

Hucclecote 55 Old Richians 10


Richians travelled to Hucclecote for the game in very windy conditions. From the start Richians seems out of sorts, and whilst they dominated every scrum, the backs could not seem to keep their line and were leaving a large gap down the left wing, which the Hucclecote squad took full advantage of, getting the ball to their swift winger who took full advantage. Full back Luis Haddow made several try saving tackles to put Hucclecote players into touch, as did Niall Cox, Sam Dixon also made a good tackle racing across the pitch to stop a Cote player on their 22, and Malik Kent, Toby Freeman and Jack Lewis stopping players midfield. But at the end of the first half Hucclecote had scored 50 unanswered points.




During the half time break, Mosky had a good talk with the boys, letting them know what they were doing right and wrong.



It seemed like a different side that started the 2nd half, Malik and Jack made some bracing runs before being stopped with several Cote players hanging off them. The gap in the wing was reduced, and Cote were unable to make any headway, being kept well in their own half with some brilliant tackling from Richians putting Cote into touch as they tried the same tactics they successfully executed in the first half. Josh Harris, took a player into touch and from the lineout Richians won the ball and through good circulation made brilliant yards. They ended up with a scrum in their own 22, and from out of nowhere prop Jack Murdoch popped up and powered over for a try. With the windy conditions there was no conversion. Cote tried their hardest, but it was another 15 minutes before they managed a try, which again couldn’t be converted due to the wind. The play then returned to Richians half, with Martin Sladen coming off the back and charging through players at every scrum, before he finally broke through the Cote defence to score under the posts.


A brilliant 2nd half which Richians won 10 points to 5, making the first half all the more disappointing.

Sunday 8 November 2009

ORRFC V PAINSWICK 8th November 2009

ORRFC 19 PAINSWICK 12

The two sides were evenly matched, after pressure from both teams Painswick broke through the Richians defence to open the scoring but failed to convert. Play moved from end to end of the pitch before Painswick again broke through for a converted try.
Richians managed a number of breaks through fullback Luis Haddow, Centre Toby Freeman, No8 Ryan Bayliss and centre Dan Spencer-Tonks, with yards being made before the strong Painswick defence stopped them in their tracks, then a swift movement of the ball through scrum half Jake Melocia and fly half Kieran Stranger saw the ball land in Spencer-Tonks hands and saw him cross over the line for a try.
Painswick continued to put Richians under pressure, making yards through their strong forwards, but Richians continued to defend well, with crunching tackles from Freeman, 2nd Row Martin Sladen before a superb wrap up by Harry Barr saw the ball fly out to Stranger who popped the ball out for a well work attack by Freeman, Haddow and Spencer-Tonks that saw the latter charge over for a further try under the posts which he duly converted. The half time whistle went with the scores 12 all.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein with both side putting on the pressure, and each defending their lines well. A Painswick player made a great break down the wing before a try saving tackle by wing Sam Dixon put him into touch, prop and captain Jack Murdoch ripped the ball from a further player and made yards before being stopped by two painswick players, but not before he had passed the ball out along the line. New player, giant wing Malik Kent, coming on for Niall Cox, introduced himself to the team with a crunching tackle on a Painswick player running down the sideline, stopping the player in his tracks, later racing up the pitch and over 2 of the opposition players before being brought down. With 5 mins to go a well worked move through Melocia, Stranger, Freeman and Haddow saw the ball pop out to Spencer-Tonks who charged over in the corner for his hat trick, and an excellent conversion from the touch line. Despite best efforts from Painswick they could not break through the Richians defence to answer with any points in the 2nd half.

Wednesday 4 November 2009

ORRFC v CHIPPING SODBURY U15's 11th OCTOBER 20009

OLD RICHIANS 61 CHIPPING SODBURY 31

Due to injuries, Chipping Sodbury were only able to bring 11 players, but both teams decided to play anyway. This certainly tested the fitness of both sides, playing a full game on the full sized pitch.

Try scorers were Ryan Bayliss (4), Josh Harris (3), Toby Freeman (1) Jack Lewis (2) Steve Powell (1)

Conversions weren't so forthcoming - Toby Freeman (2), Tom Eaton (1)

ORRFC V BERRY HILL U15's 4th OCTOBER 2009

BERRY HILL 36 OLD RICHIANS 28


Richians travelled to Berry Hill with a bare team due to a number of players carrying injuries. Berry Hill were soon showing their strength with a converted try under the posts, shortly followed by a further try. Richians were soon focusing and some excellent tackling by stopped a further onslaught, before Josh Harris, Centre, raced down the pitch to score under the posts, which he then converted. The Hill men replied with a try in the corner, duly converted before the whistle went for half time.
Richians started the 2nd half with renewed vigour, and soon some excellent passing along the line, saw the ball land in centre Toby Freeman's hands on the 22 and he charged over in the corner, with an excellent conversion from Harris. Not to be outdone, Berry Hill managed a further try before, and full team effort moved the ball up the pitch, before landing again with Freeman, despite best efforts from the Hill forwards to hold him up he was able to use his full 6ft + frame to reach over them and ground the ball, Harris definitely had his kicking boots on with another conversion from the side of pitch. Some great play from both sides, in particular some try saving tackles by Nyall and Harry Barr, eventually ended with a further try by Berry Hill. Not to be out done, Richians replied with a hat trick try from Freeman under the posts, with an easier conversion this time for Harris. With 2 minutes to go Richians only trailed by 1 point. A brilliant effort from all the lads, who due to the bare team were unable to make any subs for fresh legs. Just before the final whistle, Berry Hill obtained possession of the ball, and were not going to give an inch, they used their full pack to push over for a converted try.

Tuesday 3 November 2009

ORRFC v LYDNEY U15's 20th September 2009

Lydney 12 – Old Richians 34

For their first game of the season Old Richians travelled down to Lydney. After a slow start, Richians opened the scoring with a superb try from prop, Jack Murdoch. More fluid play followed with Richians remaining dominant, before Lydney gained possession and made a great run for the line, they were halted in their efforts by a crunching tackle by centre Toby Freeman which sent the Lydney player crashing into touch. With Richians again in possession, No 8 Ryan Bayliss made a great break before offloading to Freeman, who linked with Centre and Captain Josh Harris who charged over for the try. From the kick off flanker Jack Lewis caught the ball and made a bracing run before linking with Freeman who passed to Murdoch who stormed up the pitch before a trio of Lydney players stopped his run. Richians players made some good breaks throughout, however the fact that it was the first game of the season was showing with lack of support for runners leaving the ball carriers isolated. Scrum half Harry Preece gave excellent circulation of the ball with one resulting in a brilliant break by hooker Harry Barr. Lydney didn’t give up and a brilliant tackle by Lewis was needed to prevent a breakaway try. With Richians back in possession Steve ‘Crusher’ Powell, who had been making a complete nuisance of himself to the opposition all game, made a storming break down wing before being tackled into touch, but not before offloading to Flanker Jack Minns who was providing excellent support.

Second half started in the same vein, with Richians holding possession before Harris again sprinted up for the his 2nd try, with the first conversion of the game by fullback Carlo Carlucci. A quieter period, then ensued with both sides feeling the heat of brilliant sunshine, before Crusher gained possession gaining yards before be brought down by some good Lydney defence, with turn over ball Lydney made their way towards their first try before, a tackle from Murdoch caused the Lydney player to lose the ball, this was picked up by Harris, who kicked away for clearance just before being tackled, the ball was collected by the Lydney fullback who ran straight into Lewis, losing the ball which was picked up by Carlucci, a perfect step got him out of trouble from a big Lydney player before quick hands offloaded to Freeman who ran in for a try, converted by Preece. Lydney were still not ready to give in, and from the kick-off their players made their way into their 22, before the ball carrier was stopped in his tracks by Barr, the ball was lost with Carlucci getting his foot to the ball and kicking up the pitch in a foot race with Lydney eventually losing the ball into touch in the Richians 22, Richians won the lineout and Preece sent the ball to Murdoch who stormed over for his second try. Richians having dominated throughout took their foot off the gas in the last 10 minutes, and when the Lydney scrum half received the ball he made a great run for the line, several missed tackled by Richians enabled him to get into his 5m before centre Freeman caught him with a tap tackle, but he managed to keep his balance and cross the line for a converted try. Straight from the kick-off Lydney passed to their fast no 21, who raced down the wing, and again some poor missed tackles from Richians allowed Lydney their second try. There was just time, for Richians to regain possession, and some good circulation resulted in Freeman getting the ball and crossing the line which was disallowed by the ref for a forward pass.

Coaches man of the match was Crusher.

ORRFC V OLD PATS U14's county cup semi final

Old Pats 0-65 Old Richians County Cup Quarter Final

For their quarter final game Old Richians travelled to Old Pats who had come through the group stages unbeaten. The conditions couldn’t have been better, with sunshine and a firm pitch, providing the sort of ground that the strong Richians runners revel in.
Old Pats won the toss and chose to run against the uphill slant of the pitch first half. Richians buoyed by their win last week came out strongly, with Prop Jack Murdoch opening the scoring on 3 minutes, duly converted by Centre and captain Dan Spencer-Tonks. From there on Richians upped the pressure recycling the ball through their line and when Old Pats did gain the ball, defending brilliantly with not a tackle missed. Despite best efforts from Old Pats, Richians continued the scoring with tries from Centre Josh Harris, Prop Ryan Bayliss, and two from Spencer-Tonks before the half time whistle blew.
Richians knew they had to keep up the pressure 2nd half with them now playing uphill. Old Pats started more confidently, but the Old Richians were proving to be the superior side, winning all of their line outs, using the pitch to their full advantage, using their whole line, kicking into space and dominating in every scrum. Old Pats kept pressing to get into the Richians half, but Richians defence remained too strong. The 2nd half scoring was opened by Richians No 8 Toby Freeman, followed by Jack Lewis, before Freeman scored again, a brilliant break by Spencer-Tonks saw him pass out to scrum half Harry Preece to score under the posts. With credit to Old Pats they did not give up throughout the game, but by now Richians aim was to ensure that they did not concede any points. Freeman scored his hat trick, before Harris crossed the line for this 2nd score. With 10 minutes left to play, despite tremendous effort, Old Pats had failed to score and with 11 tries from Richians and 5 conversions from the boot of Spencer-Tonks, the game was wound up, Richians having booking themselves a semi-final place.