OPs lose at Amersham and Chiltern

The OPs went into Saturday's game with a slightly shorter injury list, still with some players out but delighted to have two strong squads for the day's fixtures. The OPs prior two fixtures with Amersham were very close indeed so, regardless of who won, a tight game was expected. As it happened, however, the OPs showed significant Christmas rust in a game where they struggled to really get started.

A&C came flying out of the blocks with an intensity that the OPs took time to match and resulted in rare defensive errors which allowed A&C to gain ground and exert plenty of early pressure. Amersham scored within 5-6mins, following an excellent kick to the corner from a penalty. The initial drive was repulsed but it wasn't long before the home side were over the line for a 7-0 lead. This soon increased with an impressive 45m penalty kicked to extend the lead to 10-0. The bad start was soon exacerbated by Eloi Durand having to leave the field with a shoulder injury. A key player for the OPs, it looks like he could miss the next couple of games which is a big shame. Furthermore, both flankers Matt Delargy and Rowan Halsall had taken early knocks that was clearly limiting their effectiveness, with both trying their best to keep going until early in the second half.

The OPs managed to gain a bit of a foothold in the game and kept possession fairly well despite a couple of hits by the determined Amersham defence. Eventually the OPs executed a fairly simple move very well to create space for Conor Dolan to race to the line to reduce the deficit to 10-5. The OPs weren't quite able to push on and rare defensive errors allowed gaps in the middle which Amersham gleefully raced through. For their second try, Amersham were able to make good ground close to the ruck before attacking wide and their winger outstripped the OP defence leading to a 17-5 lead. Prior to half time this was further extended by another long-range penalty for a 20-5 score: a long way back against a good side.

In truth, the OPs didn't look themselves and morale was dented early in the second half by an Amersham try. With a penalty advantage, Amersham kicked cross-field which was caught and off-loaded for their third try and a 25-5 lead. Things went from bad to worse for the OPs with David Wilkie sin-binned for a seat-belt tackle. The OP players were slightly frustrated as similar tackles in the first half hadn't been punished in the same way and the surprise grew when the sin bin lasted 13 and a half minutes despite no reason for the watch to have been stopped and opportunities during play for Wilkie to return. Substitutes Andrew Wilkie and Jamie Spanswick had a positive impact, providing OPs with much-needed 'go-forward'. The OPs exerted some pressure on Amersham and eventually forced their way over for the score. Somewhat surprisingly, the away side then hit quickly with another score. A break in the midfield unleashed the excellent Conor Dolan who raced 50m beyond the covering Amersham defenders to score. 25-15 to Amersham and it looked like an improbable OP comeback was a possibility.

It wasn't to be. Amersham re-found good territory and were next to score and effectively kill the game at 32-15. The OPs grew increasingly frustrated with the referee's interpretation of the break-down but ultimately failed to adapt to what he wanted to see, leading to penalties and twice being marched back an extra ten for their vociferous surprise at the decisions. Regardless of frustration, which no doubt was as much at the OP performance, these are unnecessary and unacceptable penalties to give away. Late on, the OPs were trying to force things to find a way back in and a wide miss-pass in our own 22m went to floor, gratefully picked up by Amersham who scored within a couple more phases for a final score of 39-15.

A disappointing day for the OPs but Amersham were by far deserving of their victory, better in all facets of the game. The game kicked off a tough run of fixtures with Colchester, Southend, North Walsham in January and at least three players lost to injury during the match. The squad has better depth this year than in recent seasons to hopefully minimise the impact of these knocks, and with today's wake up call hopefully can spur everyone on to better performances in the coming weeks that truly reflect the quality this side posesses.

Damo Langley Award: Joe Wellings
Joe Codrington Award: Conor Dolan