Hard-fought victory after being 17-3 down at half time.
On the 5th November the Old Pangbournian Rugby Club were invited by the old boys of Lord Williams School in Thame, Old Tamensians, to play against them on their Founders Day, writes Jack Muggridge (01-08). We accepted the fixture and turned up with a strong squad consisting of nineteen players spanning across seven years worth of leavers.
As seems to be the tradition with OP rugby we started very slowly with the Old Tamensians side looking very well prepared and well organised. We managed to hold out for first 15 minutes or so, only conceding the odd penalty goal. Unfortunately after that we conceded a try under the post which was starting to feel perhaps the first of many. However, the Old Pangbournian backs managed to tear through the Old Tamensians backline with great ease on occation with the outside backs linking up very well just before the back. Unfortunately, this good play came to nothing more than three points with a penalty goal kicked just before the break to make it Old Tamensians 17- Old Pangbournians 3.
Following on from the end of the first half, the OPs took control for the majority of the second half. The positive free flowing rugby was rewarded in the form of three tries, firstly from Jamie Anderson who finished off a lovely move down the right hand side of the pitch, again coming from some lovely inter-changing hands from the outside backs. Secondly, Mike Riley hit a lovely line to go in untouched from about 30 metres out, after Tom Bishop laid off a neat pass out of the tackle, drawing two men in during the process. Finally, Tom Rogers went in under the posts showing a clean pair of heels after the Old Tamensains mid-field opened up. The final score ended Old Tamensians 17- Old Pangbournians 20.
Many thanks to everyone at Lord Williams School for being incredibly hospitable and a massive thank you to all the OP’s who came along and took part. They were as follows:
Tom Rogers (2005 Leaver)
Ed Lea (2005)
Jo Binfield (2006)
Olly Huson (2007)
Ben Lawton (2007)
Jack Muggridge (2008)
Tom Bishop (2008)
James Paterson (2009)
Joe Reid (2009)
Olly Walgren (2009)
Jamie Anderson
Jordan Abrahams
Tom Matthewman
Will Hardcastle
Mike Riley
Ben Tooze
Chris Torely
Will Harwood
Stevo