College v OTH
On the penultimate Tuesday of Common Time, the sky was glowing, the air was crisp and the canvas was set for what is a highlight in the WinCoFo calendar- OTH vs College VIs. The start of the game brought fastflowing winkies, with both teams racking up points – similar to that of a basketball game. Notable big kicks from Henry Spoerri( Coll: 2021-) gained ground for College, and the ensuing chasing led to a multitude of goals for them. College followed that up with a string of good plants from Edison Xu( Coll: 2020-) as well as a huge tackle from Oscar Oldenhove( Coll: 2020-). OTH’ s consistent stream of behinds and conversions, however, made them the better team at the interval – 40-23.
The second half began with a hot, OTH easily winning out and setting the tone for the rest of the half despite College’ s strong willpower. The second half lacked the same flow as the first half due to tiredness and heat, and the teams slowed down their scoring; flyers were sent out of the canvas instead of the usual direction towards worms. A notable moment of the second half was when Ollie Kaung( Coll: 2022-) stepped to avoid an incoming tackle from James Kitson( B, 2020-) before smashing it over worms as well as OTH’ s and Oscar Pritchard’ s( Coll: 2023-) consistently good down kicks. Despite their efforts, College was unable to stop the stream of OTH points, and the encounter finished 64-32 to Houses, an impressive win.
Arthur Duckworth( H, 2021-) Commoners v OTH, Boys
On the last Saturday of term the clouds covered the sun which had been so cruel and demanding just two days before. Both teams were emboldened by their decisive victories over College – the game promised to be a close encounter. OTH made no changes to their side, and the two on dress were swapped out for two of the VIs players for the Commoners.
The starting hot was fiercely contested, with an unlikely Commoner three managing to out push OTH. After an early goal from Houses, Commoners responded with a behind which Seb Morgan, true to form, converted. Strong breathing from George Bowder( B, 2020-) and strong play from Luke Edwards( K, 2021-) meant the ropes battles were decidedly in Commoner favour. Great
The Wykehamist
kicking from the back two and fast and reactive chasing from Arthur James-Duff ensured that Commoners pulled ahead. The prediction of a close match seemed unlikely to come to fruition. It was not so much that OTH were playing badly; the Reds were just so on form, with barely a kick misplaced. Following one of the many Commoner goals, Antony Cloke-Browne( B, 2020-) was able to bust it straight over for a behind. Dom Jackson’ s( A, 2020-) chasing was also of note, putting in monumental plants and setting up his team for behinds and goals. These( very few) goals, unfortunately for them, were not enough and the match was starting to be humiliating. It was, by now, unquestionably not a close match. Half time approached, and following an OTH behind, Anthony Cloke- Browne sliced it perpendicular to the canvas. BHGC, OTH coach and referee alongside Commoner coach MR, looked dejected. The first half was over and the score stood at an unbelievable 22-9 to Commoners.
The second half also started with a hot – this time, it was an OTH win. The Reds, though, not looking to be put down, were quick to silence the OTH crowd. Even Felix Edmondson( Coll: 2020-)( now an OTH supporter) had no words. A wonderful passage of play, orchestrated by the everreliable David Sam, let the Commoners go further up, sinking OTH deeper into their pool of misery. On ropes, however, George Bowder seemed to have warmed up now and was able to make the duels tighter, and more exciting. The Commoner and OTH catching was night and day; where Seb can catch and return all that comes to him, Dom and the rest of OTH were having serious trouble. As the second half drew into its final stages, Tony was getting more and more sloppy with his kicks, finding great difficulty in keeping the ball on the canvas. OTH made an effort, but in the end the Commoners were too quick, strong, tactical, and good for them. The brownwash did not happen this year as cheers went from the Commoner side: 44-26 to the reds.
Anton Oliver( H, 2021-)
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