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Oakmeadians  61  vs  Ivel  5  -  Away  Southern Counties South
 
 
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Pictures in section below from Dave Fowler
 
 

Ivel travelled to Bournemouth to play one of the early league leaders on a wet and blustery day.

Whereas other teams may have been expected to fold before entering the field of play Ivel showed early confidence and strength of spirit.  Even facing an England Sevens international in the Oaks line-up didn’t dishearten the team from Yeovil.

Due to recent injuries Ivel had to call on the services of players from the 2XV to fill the gaps.  Gavin Partoon, Andrew Cook and Steve Blight stepping up to the plate.  Andrew Cook, usually a hooker/flanker played outside centre.  Ivel did manage to save some face when “Big” Dave Salberg sprinted down the wing to score.  The conversion was missed.

Unfortunately for Ivel, team spirit, heart and commitment don’t equal points and they were trailing the Meryck Park side by 20 to 5  at halftime.

Captain Kris Shore’s half-time teamtalk didn’t improve the weather, or affect the quality of the opposition. It became a game of containment for Ivel who defended to new levels. At the final whistle Oakmeadians ran out comfortable winners and left Ivel propping up the league table.

The lads were still in good spirits despite everything and are determined to get their first win of the season soon. The next match is home, at The Showground, against Tadley on 11th October.

So come on up to the game and cheer on the lads. Be the “sixteenth” player! It might be getting cold, wet and windy but this is the weather rugby was designed for. And remember, Ivel play for the game and for each other, not for a weekly retainer and win bonus. 
 
 
 
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Ivel  3  vs  Oakmeadians  93      Saturday 21st February 2009
 
 
Pictures in section below from Dave Fowler
 
 
This was a match that Ivel needed to get some league points from as the season draws to a close. Unfortunately is was not meant to be. There was an evident difference in the two side’s performances. Oakmedians came with a more professional approach with Ivel wanting to play to their strengths.

 

The first half started with the visitors giving an early indication of their strength and power. Ivel received from kick-off and returned the ball back to the opposition’s 22-metre line with some strong phases of play. Unfortunately turn-over ball saw Oakmedians return down the home end. A try was almost inevitable, and so it proved. No sooner had Ivel kicked-off and the visitors came back with another try scoring run of handling and passing. After, approximately, fifteen minutes Ivel managed to get on the scoreboard. Sam Armitstead scored a penalty following an Oakmedians infringement. This did not stem the tide from the Dorset side. And the scores kept coming. So much so that, at half-time, the score had crept up to 48-3 to the visitors.

 

The second-half began with Ivel trying to push forward. A series on injuries during the second period saw a series of re-shuffles. Ivel had started the game with two forwards playing in the centres. And this didn’t change with the substitutions. But the team could not come up with answers to Oakmedians power players. Missed tackles, infringements spotted by the referee and strong defence saw Ivel on the back foot. Points kept stacking up against Ivel, but the team kept on trying to push forward. The tally of injuries so far this season is so high that Head Coach Steve Berryman made an appearance. Ed Mason (another forward) moved into the centres and the intensity of Ivel’s tackling increased. 

 

The end result, 93-3, would appear as a drubbing but Ivel can be proud of the fact that they didn’t give up. Other teams may have less points scored against them, but even Oakmedians admitted, post game, that they had a battle today.

 

Ivel might be at the wrong end of the table but, with hard work and determination, there will be more win opportunities before the season ends.