Threesy Does it as Blues Complete Hattrick Over Brookes

In front of a busy Iffley Road, OURLFC took on Oxford Brookes for the Touchlive Challenge Shield, in which they were able to come away with a 16-4 victory.

The Blues, short of match practice due to the weather and forfeitures, had assembled a strong squad and Captain Hugo Fearon, faced the unpleasant task of cutting this squad to 17 after the fixture. With a potential Varsity spot up for grabs, and the chance to complete a hat-trick over a baying Brookes crowd, the Blues were raring to go.

The game started in Oxford’s favour as Jake Whittaker thumbed the kick off over the Brookes players’ heads, and with glazed eyes they were resigned to the fact their first touch of the ball would be a Goal Line Drop Out.

Strong tackling from both sides muffled the attacking impulses of Oxford, but Oxford was able to get off the mark after Luke Jagoe was able to recover a fumbled high kick.

The 4-0 lead was not; however, to last long as Brookes were able to strike back with a breakaway try after their kick on the fifth tackle ricocheted off an Oxford man. Brookes missed the kick which meant that the scores were levelled 4-4.

The remainder of the half was strewn with errors, with Brookes feeding off Oxford mistakes, and rushes of blood to otherwise steady Blues players meant that the Blues were not as clinical as they would have hoped to be.

Olly Jones, on occasion mistaken for Ali Shipman, was able to intercept a Brookes pass and place it under the sticks, the half ended 10-4.

Celebrating bashing Brookes.

The second half’s action was not effectively translated to the scoreboard with only 6 points being scored. For the first thirty minutes play became bogged down in the middle of the park with Oxford being unable to unleash their potent attacking threat.

A penalty, slotted by Whittaker, brought the game to 12-4 and made it a two score game which gave Oxford vital breathing space.

In the dying moments of the game Oxford were once again to cross over, with Jack Baker shipping it wide to Jack McKenna who was intent on bombarding over the line, brining two Brookes defenders with him.

The Blues were jubilant with their 16-4 victory and Hugo Fearon was evidently overawed when receiving the inaugural Touchlive Shield. Victory celebrations, however, did not last long for Oxford as preparation for Cambridge on Friday awaits them.

Oxford take on Cambridge at 3.30pm at the Honourable Artillery Company, London, tickets are £10 contact jack.baker@spc if interested.