The wait is over. The 1st team win their first league game of the season 26-12 at Telford. At this point I must introduce you to Andrew Dunne, a former 1st team number 8 who has volunteered to fill the role of match analyst. No new technology for Andrew, just a plain notebook and pencil and a thorough review of individual, unit and team performances presented to the selection comittee to enable them to gain a neutral assessment of each game.
Here is his general game review rather than the full analysis.
Result: TELFORD 12, OYRFC 26
OYs reversed their recent sequence of losses with an emphatic win at mid
table Telford. OYs forwards dominated from the start, and the side refused to
allow Telford into the match with constant pressure with the ball, and solid
defence without it. Territory gained from this pressure resulted in points for Adam
Walker,(pen), and after 38 min of the first half, following one of many forward
drives, an unconverted try for Luke Harris.
The second half continued much as before, OY's camped in the Telford half,
and constant pressure applied by both the forwards and the backs resulted in two
further penalties for Walker, and reflecting the style of the OY's approach to
the game, a second try for prop Harris, and one for fellow prop Gary Robinson,
converted by Walker.
With the game won, and in the last ten minutes of the match, OY's game plan
faltered, and resultant loose play resulted in Telford stealing two late tries
through their mobile threequarters to give a final result that did not do
justice to OY's dominance.
Yards Development team defeat Edwardian 2nds by 39-7
Yet another very good display by our young lads with pace and determination in abundance and an improved defence is now starting to appear. Tries were scored by Dave Langley x3 (and yes he did buy a jug), Phil, the barn dancing supremo Evans, Sam Richards, Andy Rhodes (congratulations on your first ever try for the club), and Dave Simpson, and Dave, if you ever find that Bas**** who cut your hair like that, let the boys know and we'll sort him! Oh yes and 2 conversions by that smooth fly half Rob Willis. Eds offered little apart from centre Ogan the 'Algebra Man' (you owe me a pint for that mate!). Captain Ellwyn's man of the match was the Gosforth Gasman Steve Cunningham. Well done Steve! Probably more entertaining than most of the game was the meticulous effort by a former star number 10 to get the ball out of the tree, along with 2 touch posts/flags. Yes I did get the ball and yes you do feel it when a fairly large branch hits you on the head.
Just in case you don't know too much about our Captain. Ellwyn, an ex pupil of St Peters RC School in Solihull, was found by Marcus Hope wandering the streets of Acocks Green having just been given a free-transfer by a local football team for his many exceptionally mediocre performances. In a simillar way to many of our recruits over the years Ellwyn was dragged off the street, thrown in the back of car, loaned some smelly kit (probably Snake's) from the back store of the club and with only basic tuition making his debut on the wing. Never being in doubt, Ellwyn made rapid progress, scoring many tries. Captaincy followed and then, the biggest honour available to rugby players, he was voted on to the club comittee. That'll teach you to fall asleep at the AGM. But seriously Ellwyn well done.