Match Report - Brighton Home

...meaning that the old boys would surely have a tough task making their home advantage count. Nonetheless, the south-londoners started brightly with the Brighton scrum disrupted by a committed OD tight five, ably led by example-setting skipper Boyd. Unfortunately, we were too easily turned over during the early encounters, particularly in loose play and wide positions, which meant the opportunity to build momentum and field position were lost.

As a result, Brighton enjoyed a period of pressure on the OD line, resulting in a penalty as the OD fly half was binned (and injured in the act) for illegally disrupting a Brighton thrust to the line. A reshuffle ensued with experienced campaigner Scott moving in to 10 and playing with composure and good sense as the OD's sought to redress the arrears. That they were able to do so and then take a 6-3 lead halfway through the first period was a credit to the resilience of the pack, who continued to scrummage well and compete fiercely in the loose, every man contributing to the peak of his energies. With Mott and Scott probing effectively, Paul Shepherd in the centre runnng hard and the OD full-back Liam Miles sweeping up Brighton's efforts to kick upfield in the no-nonsense way one would expect from a converted back-row player, the OD's sensed a try as Brighton resorted to illegal tactics to disturb our flow. When Mott was impeded taking a quick tap, Scott stepped up to add a third goal from three attempts, showing that what he lacks in length, he certainly makes up for in accuracy...

Half-time arrived and coaches Burford and Evans, who have done brilliantly to instil such team spirit, asked for renewed efforts in what would be a tricky 40 minues into the wind. In particular, the OD's would need to hold onto hard-won ball for longer periods if Brighton were to be held at bay. With the two back divisions largely cancelling each other out through strong organised defence, the spoils would surely go to the side whose pack of forwards simply wanted it the most.

Inevitably Brighton pressed hard and seemed to have the momentum through the phases, but the old boys simply would not lie down and even when the odd tackle was missed, reinforcements arrived to staunch the flow. Only a fortunate bounce on a kick-and-chase allowed Brighton to touch down in the corner, but with the conversion missed, OD's retained a slight advantage at 9-8. At this stage the crowd feared the worst, but got right behind the team, instead of shouting at the referee, who on balance had a very good game - forthright and fair in the binnings of a player from each team. It is hoped that the OD supporters see themselves as the guardians of decency and uphold the values that have made them a great club, rather than barracking the officials and thus bringing on-field difficulties for their heroes.

With the OD open-side Kalem Abbott inspiring his fellow back-rowers, the OD's found some continuity and as they bore down on the Brighton line with numbers over, chipped for the corner. With the right bounce, a try was a certainty, but instead the ball found its way into the arms of the pacy Brighton winger who tore away on an 80 yard run that could only have ended in a try were it not for the phenomenal chase and last-ditch tap-tackle executed by the OD 12. With 3 OD's quickly in attendance, disaster was averted and the ball cleared to touch. Nonetheless, pressure was now immense as Brighton dominated territory and ball. Refusing to cave in and concede a try, it was strangely almost a relief when the Brighton kicker knocked over a penalty to take a narrow 11-9 lead, meaning the OD's could at least kick deep from the restart in their attempt to steal the game with their own late score. The ODs showed patience and intelligence and eschewed long floaty passes for sensible grubbers and tight linking moves, hoping to force a penalty chance. Although none came, pressure in the line-out brought an OD scrum, the reliable Shepherd was sent up the inside channel by the thoughtful Scott and Mott, with the former then dropping back into the pocket to receive good service from his 9 and slot the drop-goal, much to the joy of the team and their enthralled audience.

The ODs still had to secure the kick off and get the ball safely away, which they partially managed to do, and in chasing the missed touchfinder as a committed unit, secured the turnover and final whistle. FINAL SCORE 12-11 WIN FOR OD's

This was an excellent win for the club, with a gargantuan defensive effort from the whole team against a confident and strong side. The sense seems to be that if the OD's can remain in touch on the scoreboard during the early exchanges of these tough league matches, they have the spirit and ability to overcome in the latter stages.