U18's Boys Home V Cartha Queens Park
Oban took on an undeafeted Cartha team at Glencruitten on Saturday and played their part in a great game of rugby.
On 5 minutes the Cartha scrum half made a blindside break and passed to their winger to score the opening try of the game 0-5.
With Oban competing well in the forwards Cartha scored against the flow of the game on 13 minutes 0-12.
Despite the scoreline Oban began to get a foothold in the game, with Alexander Macdonald and Vinnie Buckley gaining good territory with astute kicking.
In addition to this forwards Kuba Kolodziejczyk, Cammy Crowe and Beinn Grey began to cause Cartha problems at the breakdown.
On 26 minutes good work off the back of a scrum from Crowe and scrum half Joe Corns saw Corns make a break and exchange passes with Robbie Lockhart before passing onto Crowe to power over for Oban's first try, converted by Macdonald 7-12.
On 30 minutes with the game on a knife edge Oban tried to run the ball from their 22m line but lost the ball at the ruck and Cartha took full advantage to send their speedy winger in for a try 7-19.
Second half.
Oban started the second half brightly testing the Cartha defence with driving runs from Kolodziejczyk, Cody Mackay and JJ Blackley, this resulted in a couple of penalties , which were taken quickly by Macdonald and saw Crowe and hooker Franek Kupczak driving into the heart of the Cartha defence just inches from the try line from which Corns made a sniping blind side run before passing onto Mackay who leapt through the air like a salmon to score Oban's second 12-19, game on.
Oban were now beginning to dominate the forward battle allowing the fast improving George Pagan to break the Cartha defence every time he got the ball, this pressure led to more penalties which allowed Corns and Macdonald to supply fast ball to Kupczak who was stopped just short and then to prop Daniel Grant who wasn't to be denied for Oban's third try on 55 minutes, converted by Macdonald 19-19.
5 minutes later Cartha attacked the left wing of Oban and it seemed they would score but Kolodziejczyk made a magnificent cover tackle on the winger.
From the 5m line out Oban Grey soared high to secure the ball which was driven on well by the forwards, unfortunately the referee missed the Cartha hooker sneak in from the side to steal the ball and Cartha moved the ball in field to score under the post, 19-26.
With bith sets of players tiring Cartha were able to utilise their 25 man squad to the full whereas Oban juggled their 16 man squad the best they could.
On 30 minutes Cartha managed to score against a tiring Oban 19-33.
Oban continued to take the game to Cartha and in the dying embers of the game the all action Kolodziejczyk appeared to have scored but the referee deemed the ball to have been held up over the line, from the goal line clearance the impressive Milo Llewelyn beat 3 defenders but the ball was lost in the ruck and a long kick into the empty back field saw Cartha score the final points of the match to make the final score 19-40.
An outstanding effort from the boys against the undefeated league winners.
The boys continue to improve and really gelled as a team in this match. So many players could have been man of the match but the award goes to Cody Mackay this week for his work in the scrum and loose where his driving runs and lovely passing caused Cartha lots of problems.
Our last match before the Xmas break is at home to Whitecraigs on 30th November in what will be another tough match.
