Sat 7 Sep 2024
Peterborough RUFC 1st Team made the trip to Olney RUFC for their first league game of the 2024/25 season. Despite coming away with a 44-36 defeat their were loads of positives from the new look side.
Lead by new Captain Luke Swindells Borough started brightly and were in control for large parts of the first half. Byron Van Uden got the scoring under way with a well taken try which he converted, he then followed up with a penalty kick for a 10-0 lead. Olney then managed to score an unconverted try of their own before Borough scored two more tries to wing Michael Teague who was on debut. With another conversion to Van Uden Borough had a comfortable 22-5 halftime lead. New Head Coach Sam Crooks was happy with his new look side and asked for more of the same.
Unfortunate injuries to wingers Teague, Nic Langton and fullback Aram Jones meant a lot of reshuffling of players which lead to Borough losing the continuity and shape they had in the first half. Olney were now getting the rub of the green from the referee and went onto score 19 unanswered points to take the lead for the first time. Borough to their credit didn't give up and managed to retake the lead from converted tries to Andrew Dewdney and replacement Tom Downer. However Olney managed to score 2 late tries to take the win by a scoreline of 44-36. Despite the result Borough should be happy with how parts of their game went. The first half was very good and had their back three players remained on the pitch it well might of been a different result.
Director of Rugby Shane Manning's comments " the first half was really good to watch and shows what the side is capable of. There are things to work on of course but definitely a step in the right direction. Tom Payne was immense in only his second ever senior game, in fact all the new players did really well. Harry Anderson looked really good at 13 and will improve the more he plays there. We now face Wellingborough at home,3pm ko. We have a few injuries so will need to regroup. Wellingborough will be tough as they have recruited well and beat us twice last season so will be confident. But hopefully we will have a big home crowd and they will drive the lads on."
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