Avery’s card is costly for OLs

The battle of the second and third-placed Midlands Three West (South) sides may have gone the way of the visitors, but Old Leamingtonians’ young side can take plenty of positives from a close-fought encounter.

There was little between the sides in the first quarter, with a long-range penalty from home scrum-half Oscar Heath being cancelled out by a unconverted try from Newbold.

A second Heath penalty from distance restored OLs’ lead before the hosts moved further in front with the best try of the game.

A blindside break by Heath committed the defence and winger Rob Hotchin was in support to take the pass and run in under the posts. The try was converted, but the eight-point cushion was to prove short-lived.

A series of missed tackles allowed a Newbold forward to scythe through the heart of the home defence, with the resultant conversion reducing the gap to one point at the break.

From the second-half kick-off Newbold infringed in front of their posts and Heath added a further three points to his tally.

This was to prove OLs’ last score of the game as Newbold’s forwards began to dominate, with a converted pushover try giving the visitors the lead.

OLs responded well and desperate Newbold defence, which sometimes bordered on cynical, provoked retaliation from back-row Anthony Avery and a spell in the sin-bin.

Despite their numerical advantage, Newbold were unable to breach the OLs defence, with only a long-range penalty and a drop goal extending their lead to nine points.

The home side had opportunities from penalties to reduce the deficit but too often chose the wrong option and the reward of a bonus point went begging.

n Old Leamingtonians Extras routed Dunlop 2nds 59-0.

A couple of weeks without match action showed in the first half, with OLs lacking any fluidity.

Tries from Will Andrews and Matty Hyam gave them a 10-0 half-time lead before they finally clicked into gear.

Further tries were added by Adam Thompson (3), Howard Wicks (2), Dan Biddle, Andy Hall, and prop duo Matt McIntyre and Tom Kerr, with man-of-the-match Jack Jones adding two conversions.