2s narrowly miss out on a great comeback against the league leaders

Finsbury Park 2nd XV vs Old Albanians 5th team – Saturday 8th October 2016

This week the second team had the unenviable task of travelling up to St Albans to play OAs 5ths, the team currently top of the league. However, we know our ability and that on our day, we can run anyone close – so with a good team, we travelled there.
Old Albanians have a beautiful club, and there is a reason that both Saracens and England have used their facilities for training. So a beautiful, flat pitch and excellent playing conditions (weather wise) greeted us.
We kicked off into the wind and were soon greeted with a physical outfit of OAs forwards, complete with a competent backs set up.
We went back and forth fighting for possession before the OAs 10 spotted a space in our covering defence and kicked through. From the resulting series of rucks the OAs flanker was able to not only turn over the ball, but spot a gap in our defensive guard. He picked up the ball and burrowed over for the first score. 15 minutes played and 5-0 to OAs. The try was quite close to the posts, and so the OAs fly half had little worry in slotting the conversion. 7-0 to the home team.
Finsbury gathered our thoughts under the posts and came back at OAs. Pushing them back into their 22 from the next passage of play. But quick thinking from the OAs fullback resulted in a thunderous kick down field to relieve the pressure and put the ball on the Finsbury 22. We then unfortunately lost the lineout giving OAs chance again to attack and pressure us.
However, some great work from Alex Wood (playing 8) and Morgan Carter-Tocny (7) in the loose resulted in a great turnover and set up a great platform for Mike O’Donovan (Scrum-half) to get the ball away.
Pressure relieved Finsbury were able to go back on the offensive and pushed play wide to try and exploit the OAs drift defence. Again some great work from the OAs 7 resulted in another turnover which was quickly thrown to the OAs fly-half who again kicked through. With no fullback or wings covering due to them having been involved in the last attack of play, we now had a footrace between the OAs scrum-half and our own speedy centre, Saylan Lucas (12). However, the scrum-half had a 10 metre advantage and this proved decisive as he was able to get downward pressure on the ball whilst Saylan tackled him. Again the try was scored under the posts so up stepped the OAs fly half to increase the lead to 14-0.
10 minutes of game-time passed with both teams pushing for possession before Finsbury Fly-half, Jon Dixon received a turnover ball. He hoisted up an up and under whilst getting tackled by the covering number 7. This resulted in a miss-match in the defensive line and OAs quickly realized – shipping the ball out to the wing for another foot race and Jon was unable to stop the score. However, the try was on the touchline, so the conversion was missed.
19-0 down with 5 minutes of the first half left, and a very uphill battle on the cards for the Finsbury lads. The second half was going to be a challenge.
With the wind behind us, and a rousing half-time team talk from Captain and Hooker Salvador Peya. Finsbury received the kick off from OAs. It was long and into the hands of Alex Wood, who put a beautiful spiral kick back into touch in the OAs half. We were going to play them at their game!
Liam Todd rose high at the front and stole the OAs lineout and we drove the ball on another 10 meters.
Quick hands in the backs resulted in OAs having to scrabble their defense and after a series of plays we were able to get the ball to Dave Carter on the wing. Carrying two of the OAs players he smashed over and miraculously was able to get the ball down! Great score and lighting the touch paper for a potential comeback! Unfortunately, with the breeze, stand in fly-hlaf Dixon struck the ball into the upright and so we stayed at 19-5.
But Finsbury were not to be outdone, and 5 minutes later, Man of the match Alex Wood went on another of his trademark runs with a fantastic step off his right foot straight through the defence. He dotted the ball down under the posts and Dixon made no mistake with this one. 19-12 with 20 minutes to play!
OAs took this as the incentive they needed to come back at us, and after a series of very good carries they were able to get into the Finsbury half and unfortunately we were pinged at the breakdown for going off our feet, resulting in a penalty. OAs opted to take this for the posts and the 10 struck it well but pushed it wide of the post!
This gave Finsbury the option to come back down the pitch and push again for that all-important score to level the match. From a continuous play which included great running from Adam Strowger, Mike, Eamonn, Dixon, Saylan and Shey with offloads and rucking that it was shame hadn’t been seen in the game until then we were able to get 10 metres out and get a chance for the score. That try came through captain Salva, with another great few carries he was able to burrow over to make it 19-17 to OAs.
Dixon stepped up, but though he struck the ball cleanly he shaved the outside of the post with the attempt and the score stayed at 19-17.
With five minutes to play, it was all Finsbury possession and pressure trying to win the game, and from a rolling maul, Finsbury thought they had got the win when the forwards managed to get down over the line. After what seemed like an age, the referee decided it was held up, and we set for the scrum in the final play of the game.
Finsbury won the ball and shipped it down the line, but great pressure from OAs resulted in the ball going to ground with a knock on! Such a shame, as that would have been the comeback to end all comebacks.
All in all, a great performance from a spirited team who haven’t played together nearly enough. Great heart and passion for the season and we look forward to the return fixture.
Teamsheet
1. Eamonn O’Gallchobhair
2. Salvador Peya (captain)
3. Adam Strowger
4. Vincent Hirribarren
5. Steve Williams
6. Liam Todd
7. Morgan Carter-Tocny
8. Alex Wood
9. Mike O’Donovan
10. Jon Dixon
11. Dave Carter
12. Saylan Lucas
13. Shey Vincenzie
14. Lau Cioccan
15. Stephen Partridge