Rugby Union
OLs claim home triumph

Buy photos » Iain Wallis crosses the line for OLs. Picture by Ray Todd.

Old Laurentians 43 Kidderminster Carolians 14

Midlands Two West (South)

WITH a performance that only occasionally matched the best they have produced this season, OLs comfortable disposed of a sturdy and competitive Kidderminster outfit to claim a bonus point victory on Saturday.

Fly half Jon Bean took the honours for OLs with a personal tally of 23 points to lift his seasonal tally to 150.

His contribution did not come solely through his kicking skills though as he scored two good tries, five conversions and a penalty.

Kidderminster started confidently and went ahead thanks to fly half Pinner successfully kicking an early penalty.

OLs secured possession from Bean’s excellent restart and moved the ball wide for full back Ben Wiles to take Greg Lloydall’s neat pass and crash over in the corner for a converted try.

Bean made it 10-3 in the eighth minute with a penalty but McClellan closed the gap by three with a drop goal as the lively start to the afternoon continued.

Iain Wallis became the second man to touch down after receiving a fine pass from Luke Harris and dodging a couple of tackles.

Bean’s conversion was followed by Pinner securing three points for the visitors with a penalty before OLs’ fly half became provider and finisher for the home side’s next score.

Simon Bayliss followed up his fine kick down the left hand side to force a line-out which resulted in Bean cruising over for a converted try that made it 24-9 at the break.

Kidderminster started the second half strongly, dominating territory and possession for the first 15 minutes, and they were rewarded when left wing Varley went over in the corner to cut the gap by five.

That was as good as it got for the visitors though as they faded markedly from this point, allowing OLs to take full control.

Bayliss intercepted a pass to stroll in from halfway for a converted try before Bean sliced through the defence for his second of the game.

Finally, Bayliss broke down the left and chipped ahead into empty space where Wallis gathered and fed fellow centre Matt Miller to score a try converted by Bean.

The victory pushes OLs back up to third in the table, two points behind Newbold in second and six behind leaders Barkers Butts.