Oswestry 45
Rugeley 28
Oswestry opened their North Midlands League season in style with a resounding victory at home to Rugeley.
The club returned to competitive action for the first time sine March 2020 following the ongoing global pandemic and easing of social distancing restrictions with the club returning to the field to the delight of their loyal supporters.
Coach Jordan Davies was determined to ensure the club’s supporters were repaid with an opening day win on home soil against their Staffordshire visitors.
Oswestry players present a cheque for £30,000 to the Doddy Foundation. Picture by Nick Evans-Jones.
The first duty of the team was to pose for a club picture presenting a cheque for £30,000 to the Doddy Foundation for Motor Neurone disease.
Rugeley players and coaches joined their Oswestry hosts in holding a minute’s silence for the tragic death of Dylan Price from Bishop’s Castle.
Oswestry led inside the opening five minutes with Jedd Corbett bursting through to cross for the opening try with Aidan Lindsay converting.
However Rugeley replied with three converted tries to establish a comfortable 21-7 lead before Lindsay reduced the arrears with a penalty.
Action from Oswestry's clash with Rugeley. Picture by Nick Evans-Jones
Oswestry were back in the game by half-time with Paul Jehu releasing Craig Howell to cross the whitewash with Lindsay once again converting.
The home side regained their lead early in the second-half with Mike Evans-Jones and Corbett linking to free Howell for his second try of the day, converted by Lindsay.
Lindsay continued his fine day with the boot with a penalty to extend his side’s lead before the border side flexed their attacking muscles with a dominant end to the match.
Action from Oswestry's clash with Rugeley. Picture by Nick Evans-Jones.
Jack Charmley powered through before feeding Zack Morgan for a try before Evans-Jones showed his class with a 60 yard break from his own half culminating in a try.
Rugeley rallied and reduced the arrears with a try of their own but Oswestry were not to be denied and got back on track with a penalty from Lindsay before man of the match Morgan put the seal on a resounding victory with his second try of the afternoon.
Next week Oswestry travel to Staffordshire to play Trentham.
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