Oxford 39, Gosford All Blacks 9

31st March 2008

Herewith is report from Oxford's game on Saturday 29th March 2008;   Oxford 39, Gosford All Blacks 9 Oxford's running, supporting game was severely hampered by a strong end to end wind and driving rain but they still managed to score seven tries in beating Gosford All Blacks, 39-9, in a Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier League match. In fact Oxford were even better than the score suggests and several promising chances went astray in trying to handle the ball in the unusual spring time conditions. Gosford All Blacks, on the other hand, never threatened once, never looked like scoring and relied solely on kicks down field and dogged resistence.  Playing into the face on the wind in the first half Oxford actually scored first when, keeping the ball in hand, they created an overlap to send winger Joe HARTLEY away on a sixty yard run to the line for a good try. The conversion attempt from Tom Olley failed. Gosford continued to kick down wind where Oxford were penalised and Tim ELLIS kicked an easy penalty from in front of the posts. Soon after ELLIS did it again with a similar kick. Oxford retaliated to carry the ball upfield and, from good forward interplay, Jack RUDMAN crashed over near the posts for a try but Olley's kick again went wide. ELLIS added a third penalty kick from, again, in front of the posts to reduce Gosford's arrears. Oxford attacked from the off in the second period and close passing saw the ball reach prop Ed MITCHELL who plunged over for a try. Again Olley missed the conversion. Oxford's attempts to keep the ball moving through the hands paid dividends and, although Gosford defended desperately, Adam THOMPSON found a gap in the centre for Oxford's fourth try. Gosford failed to secure the ball in a lineout and Tim KNAPP scooped it up as it went loose at the back, to run ten metres for a try. Tom OLLEY's luck changed for the better when he had a gift of a try with an easy interception in the centre, to run forty metres for a try under the posts and, at last, he was able to kick his first conversion of the afternoon! Oxford continued to press and Gosford cleared with a kick to touch but, from the ensuing lineout, the ball was caught and the Oxford forwards drove ten metres to the line where Paul MOLYNEUX got the scoring touchdown. And Tom OLLEY, with probably his most difficult kick of the afternoon, added the conversion for a handsome 39-9 win.

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There were celebrations at the Southern Bypass ground on Saturday lunchtime when members of Oxford Rugby Club honoured the memory of one of the club's greatest servants, Ron Martin, by re-naming the club's redecorated and improved lounge bar in his name. Ron was Club Secretary for twenty one years and Oxfordshire RFU President for two, as well as carrying out many other duties on behalf of club and county.  Twenty three of Ron's relatives joined many club members and County representatives for the occasion before Ron's eldest daughter, Valerie Walton, cut the ribbon to open 'The Ron Martin Lounge'. After a buffet lunch the party moved outside where a suitably inscribed bench seat overlooking the ground, was unveiled.  Richard Tyrrell