Walk in the Park for dominant OLs after early scare
AFTER surviving an early setback the OLs steamrollered Nuneaton visitors Manor Park in a much improved display.
The hosts took the game to the visitors from the kick off but fell behind after just five minutes.
A clearance from Park saw the ball knocked-on by OLs in front of their own posts and from the resulting scrum Park forced the ball over the OLs goal line to register the first try.
The conversion that followed turned out to be Manor Park’s last points of the game.
From the kick off OLs took complete control and with the home forwards dominating the set scrums the in-form OLs three-quarters enjoyed time and space to create scoring chances but it took 15 minutes of further play for the first OLs score. Winger Liam Wellings shrugged off three defensive tackles to cross wide out on the right. The conversion was missed.
This was the turning point in the game as OLs continued to dominate forcing Manor Park into mistakes.
Simon Hemming crossed under the posts for the second OLs try. The conversion attempt hit the post but further pressure saw OLs awarded a penalty that was converted to move OLs into a 13-7 lead.
The domination by OLs continued and whilst some good scoring chances were squandered fly half Bradley James capitalised on more good three-quarter play to cross for try number three which he converted.
The second half followed the same pattern as the first with OLs dominant.
The home forwards repeatedly drove the visitors backwards in the set pieces to create time and space for their backs to capitalise.
Back row Felix Heath touched down for numbers four and five, the first of which resulted from the OLs forwards pushing Manor Park backwards from 10 metres out.
His second try was from a pick up inside the Manor Park 22 metre area forcing his way through a number of defensive tackles. Neither try was converted.
OLs continued to dominate and try number six followed shortly afterwards when back row Joe Tallamini intercepted a loose Manor Park pass to increase the score. The try was converted by Ciaran O’Connor.
The seventh try, again created when the OLs forwards drove Manor Park backwards in a set scrum to win the ball, allowed winger Liam Wellings to cross for his second try of the game. This too was converted, this time by Bradley James.
With the match drawing to a close second row Rhys Cory got in on the act when the dominant OLs forwards again stole the ball in a set scrum and keeping it in the back of the pack, drove forward for Rhys to collect and cross the line for try number eight.
The victory lifts OLs back up to fourth place in the Midlands 3 West (South).
OLs next game is at home to Woodrush on January 6.