Old Leamingtonians in pole position after tense victory over title rivals

Old Coventrians attacked from the start and soon had OLs on the ropes in their own 22.

Their ball handling was superb and, after a number of rucks on the five-metre line, the OCs forwards crossed for an unconverted pushover try.

The visitors had been stung by the early score and responded with a catch and drive from the five-metre line which was touched down by Chris Huckvale.

Angus Rose converted for a two-point lead.

Mark Foley fed stand-off Rose for a second converted try, but the game was back on a knife edge when a brilliant display of running rugby sent the OCs centre in under the posts.

After the restart, OLs camped in OCs’ 22 and were rewarded when scrum-half Foley pinched the ball off his forwards to dot down. With Rose now off the field injured, the kick was missed.

OCs were not disheartened and despite failing to ground the ball after a forward drive crossed the line, made the most of a tap penalty to scurry over and bring it back to 19-17.

A few minutes later, a scything run by OCs’ centre put him in for another try wide out left. Again the kick was missed but OCs had gained a three-point lead.

OLs did not panic and winger Liam Wellings brushed aside a string of tacklers on his way to the bonus-point try, converted by Foley.

The hosts came at OLs with all guns blazing in the final five minutes but fell to the sucker punch when centre Lyndsey Bishop intercepted in the home 22 to go over unopposed.