Olney 40 - Nuns 55

Nuneaton extended their winning run to three games with an entertaining and high scoring match in the first league meeting with Olney on the weekend. The Nuns scored 8 tries to 6 and had the boot of Lucas Brindley to add 15 points as they moved up two league places to 4th.

Two changes to the squad that faced Oadby Wyggs two weeks ago saw Ben Dawes return at tight head prop for Fin Aherne and Tom Smitham at scrum half for Jamie Coburn. The bench saw new signings Nick Walton and Takudzwa (TK) Chawadya make their first appearances of the season for the Nuns.

From the start of the game the Nuns showed their dominance at scrum time and picked up their first try with a push over scrum finished off by George Wallis then converted by Brindley after just 5 minutes.

The hosts got themselves back in the game swiftly after, with tries on 10 and 14 minutes both converted to lead 14-7. A couple of defensive lapses from the Nuns giving Olney opportunities, which they gratefully took.

The Nuns response was quick and just two minutes later, like a human pinball Travis Bennett-Allcock crossed the line evading several tackles after some good phase play. 14 all on 16 minutes.

Olney again came back and on 21 minutes, from a penalty kicked to the corner they secured the lineout ball and after the initial drive was halted, wriggled over for an unconverted try to retake the lead 19-14.

The Nuns then hit a purple patch in the second quarter, scoring a further 4 tries to secure a try bonus point. First up, from a ruck Tom Smitham popped through a gap to run in from twenty metres, 14-21.

George Wallis picked up his second try after the Nuns set up a lineout catch and drive from nearly 20m out, 19-28 on 29 minutes.

On 38 minutes, after some more strong scrum work from the forwards Smitham was able to nip over from a couple of metres out for his second with Brindley again added the extras, 19-35.

The Nuns then ended the first half with their sixth try. Debutant winger Tak Chawadya made a fine 50m break down the touchline and unable to finish for a try the ball was recycled and Tom Eales crossed in the corner for an unconverted try leaving the score 19-40 at the break.

The second half started with a yellow car for Todd Bullions after 30secondd for a high tackle. However, this didn’t stop the Nuns and after turning over a scrum they moved the ball and from a high tackle penalty Brindley struck a 35m penalty to stretch the lead to 19-43 on 46mins.

Olney came back into the game after this though, using their man advantage. When the Nuns failed to clear their lines properly the hosts countered with a converted try, 26-43 on 50mins.

In the 53rd minute the Nuns struck again. From a centre field scrum Bennett-Allcock made a 40m break and then offloaded for Southall to score taking the lead to 26-48.

Olney stuck to their guns and crossed for two further converted tries on the 58th and 62nd minutes as they closed the gap to 40-48 but then the Nuns took control of the last quarter.

Dominating possession and territory they put the home side defence under pressure. After a couple of half chances went begging and also being held up over the line, Walton finished the match with a close range try converted to leave the score 40-55.

Reflecting on the result, head coach Huw Thomas added “After a week’s break it’s great to carry on building some momentum with another win. To score 50 plus points away from home and 5 league points is what matters to us. We have a few things to work on but the lad’s can be pleased with what we’ve done today. We’ve also added some more strength in depth to the squad in the break and so players have to work hard to keep their jersey now. Having four sides out today all with subs as well as big numbers training at the club is helping us move in the right direction.”

Other results from the weekend: Saxon went down 46-28 to Bourneville, Saracens lost 39-14 to Manor Park and Colts lost 31-19 at Stratford.

1 Ben Holmes 2 Toby Dearden 3 Ben Dawes 4 Tom Aherne 5 James Lloyd 6 Todd Bullions 7 Dan Southall 8 George Wallis 9 Tom Smitham 10 Max Carter 11 Travis Bennett-Allcock 12 Tom Eales 13 Stewart Davies 14 Ryan Southall 15 Lucas Brindley; 16 James Redman 17 Nick Walton 18 Takudzwa Chawadya