Scrooge is alive in East London.

Actually, the Marshes were far from that - firm pitch with a good covering of grass so no slippery conditions as compared with the last two matches - but the main factor was the strong wind blowing mainly down the pitch, although partly across it as well, making kicking a lottery at times, as OS discovered in the first 20 minutes or so when kicks into the BE 22 were blown beyond the dead ball line, taking play back a long way back for the resultant scrum. Furthermore, inside five minutes, a simple OS penalty from immediately in front of the BE posts and 15 metres away was blown wide. However, a few minutes later, no BE player put a hand on the home scrum half as he waltzed through for a try: despite the earlier penalty miss, the OS kicker had no problem with a wider conversion kick.

It was all OS, for most of the half, as their match play discipline was better, keeping the ball alive and making good grounds to attack: in comparison, apart from JAMES ORAM who made good inroads with ball in hand although without support, BE floundered. Then, just after the half hour mark, OS attacked and, from a ruck, close to the BE goal line, they forced a try, also converted, to lead 14-0. BE did come back, late in the half, but made too many mistakes although there were further breaks by JAMES ORAM and the odd run down the wing by GLYN BAYLEY. So, it was 14-0 at half time and with BE now having the wind behind them in the second half.

Not that that made any difference as the team continued to play as individuals and never as a team: too many times, the ball was dropped in good attacking positions or there was an infringement. HARRY EADE kicked a penalty to get the team on the score-sheet but that was as good as it was all through the second half: in fact, OS looked the more likely to score again in the final quarter although all came to nothing in the end. With Christmas not too far away, Scrooge ensured there were no gifts for the 1st XV in this part of East London.

Scrooge may re-appear next Saturday as the 1st XV are away to London Welsh Amateurs, several places above them in the table, at Kew with a 2 pm kick-off.

PGY