Bec Old Boys - The seasons opens with a 36-10 win

After weeks of monk-like discipline and dedication to diet, cardio and
training the season finally opened for the Occies with a friendly at home
against Bec Old Boys 2s/3s (BOB).

BOB are in our league this year so this presented a good opportunity to
feel each
other out (not, I hasten to add, the way the London French prop repeatedly
felt out Calvert at the bottom of each ruck last season).

Going into Saturday, BOB already had a few training sessions and a game
under their belt. The Occies on the other hand…. well… the Occies had 13
men. Due to some
unfortunately last minute dropouts we were left scratching around the 3’s
for another player or two (having already been lent Jose and Francesco).
Thankfully Courts MG was able to come through and help soon came in the
shape of Nick. Still one player shy we did the unthinkable and asked the BOB’s for an extra player to fill a hole on the wing. Being a decent bunch of lads and keen to get on and play, they agreed.

Game on.

From the outset the Occies seemed to be in control. The ground was soft and the ball was wet, but surprisingly our handling was impressive for a
season opener. The forwards dominated the rucks and breakdowns. Gus led the way in turnovers, not only consistently tearing the ball from the grips of the oppo, but also proving a menace in the line out. Fitzy also won his share of turnovers, singlehandedly stopping a number of mauls going to ground.

The first fifteen minutes of the game saw a series of Occie attack
campaigns march towards the BOB 22, only to be cleared by the boot of the
impressively bearded BOB flyhalf. Campaign after campaign ended this way
until Ollie Haines drew first blood, forcing himself over the try line.

Gus soon followed with a second Occies try. BOB later managed to pull one
back before halftime. Over the course of the first 40 mins the team played solidly; forwards and backs linking up well to continue momentum. Huw kept the backs in check nicely, with Jose in great form outside of him.

Early in the second half BOB were able to score a second try. Sadly this
was followed by a rather bland 20 minutes of unexciting rugby…. But midway through the second half something clicked back into place and the game was going again.

If the first half was won in the forwards, the last 20 mins was won in the backs. As confidence grew and the ball dried, the backs the throwing the ball around with style. Out wide on the left wing Harry Santa was having an outstanding debut, leading OJ to question two things:

whether the most talented Santa-Olalla brother had been given the
captaincy?.... and why have we not used wingers before?

Harry connected with Tom Clarke, attacking from full back, numerous times. Tom consistently got himself into positions forcing an overlap resulting in 3 tries.

The match ended with a final break from OJ, who uncharacteristically opted not to try run around the defence, but took contact drawing in two
defenders before popping it to me to run in an easy last try. Obviously OJ could have gone through them if he'd wanted but he fancied the assist
instead…

All in all, a great first game and a solid start to the season.

Man of the match: There were a number of great performances, but MOM has to go to Tom Clarke; playing full back against his will and still managing to score three times.

And so to the Good the Bad and the Funny.

Good
- Impressive Occies debuts from Harry (wing), Tom Davies (hooker) and Fran
(flanker)
- A great game from returning Occie Ed Taylor and also Vets: Jose and Nick
- thanks for coming out.
- Phenomenal beards sported by the oppo
- Some great off-loading out of tackles
- a rare Huw Davies outside break from 10.
- Gus, Ollie and Fitzy playing through injury, and delivering barnstorming
performances.

Bad
- Tom Davies adding to the ever growing Welsh contingent.
- some soft defense around the fringes.
- some Saturday morning drop outs

Funny
- The only near scuffle of the game coming from Tom Sunderland starting on
the Oppo scrum half.
- Tom later taking over at no 8 in a bid for a try only to be scuppered by
the second smallest player in their team.
- Having gone cap in hand to the 3s and Vets asking a few more players. We
showed our appreciation by consistently getting their names wrong. With Gus
continually referring to Jose and Josie and OJ referring to Francesco as
Francesca.
- Huw using a friendly to practice his drop goals. Then falling asleep in
the pub afterwards.