After the game OA attack coach Gareth Hatherley-Hurford, in charge of OAs in Dan George absence said, “I’m proud of the boys, it would have been easy to drop heads at Bury initial salvo. We talked at half time about how and where we attacked and the need to scan and attack the space where ever we are on the pitch”. He said “’I’m proud of the second half where we showed confidence and consistency”.

Dry and cold conditions and two in form teams wanting to play open rugby lead to great Advent entertainment for the Woollams faithful. Matches between the clubs have typically been close and this was no exception as the sides equally shared eight tries. Bury playing with a northly wind behind them in the first half started the stronger and were happy to move the ball through the hands through several phases and after only 5 minutes it led to the games first try after an initial break down the left, the ball was recycled and it looked as though the pack would score but the ball was passed out to centre Attfield who scored under the posts. Fly half Drury converted. Bury pressure continued and 8 minutes later scored again through Hill, the conversion was missed . Bury were starting to dominate and the penalty count against OA was rising a third try came on 16 minutes, after keeping the ball tight and going through some close passing Bury number 8 Williams scored, again the conversion was missed 0-17. This was to end the Bury scoring until the games last play. It took OA 35 minutes to move into the Bury 22 for the first time and their confidence was back. A series of three line outs 10 meters from the Bury try line failed to yield the expected catch and drive try, through a combination of sound defence and some lineout errors. However, the consistent Bury offending led to a yellow card for loose head Robinson. At the next lineout OA threw long and following a rolling maul Ben Alexander scored. Noot missed the conversion,. 5-17. 0n the stroke of half time Bury missed a clearance kick OA ran the ball back but were held up on the Bury try line but OAs John Kenwood borrowed over, this time Noot converted 12-17 at Halftime. With the wind at their back OA started the second half full of running and on 42 minutes centre Ollie Brown broke through to score close to the posts Noot converted and OA were ahead for the first time 19-12.Despite the cold conditions both teams were happy to play and through the ball about but often the last pass didn’t go to hand and the defences cancelled each other out. On 65 minutes, man of the match OA scrum half, Elliott McPhun scored the bonus point try after some interplay passing and he celebrated with a somersault. Noot converted and OA had the game won at 26-17. Bury didn’t give up and know another try would be worth 2 league point started to run the ball from their own 22. They were rewarded with a try with the last play from right wing Leeson. OA move up to second in the table.

Richard Homer,

Reporter