Ivel moved to the top of the league with a good show of attacking rugby away to Oakmedians. The away side took control of the game straight from kick off, collecting the ball, Ivel went straight on the attack pushing oaks back and testing their defence, but handling errors let Ivel down and allowed oaks to clear their lines. Oakmedians started to attack the Ivel line but some strong tackling was stopping the home side from getting near the line, this left the Oaks 10 with no choice but to go for a drop goal, successfully kicking the points he gave his side the lead. Straight from the restart Ivel were able to force Oaks into touch deep in the home sides half, with a well worked move at the lineout Ivel captain Paul Mortensen was able to power over the line, with the conversion missed Ivel held a 5-3 lead. Ivel with confidence were attacking with strong running and good support play, but the final pass or wrong decision making allowed the home side to stay in the game. After another strong Ivel scrum Ivel’s backs were able to run a move that allowed John Clay to cross the line for his first try of the game, with the conversion successfully converted Ivel went in at the break with a nine point lead.

HT 3-12

The second half started how the first ended with Ivel applying the pressure. It was not long before they scored again through full back John Clay who made a good break through the Oaks defence to score in the corner, conv missed. Oakmedians again were trying to break through Ivel’s defence but with no effect when a silly penalty by an Ivel player allowed oaks to add three more points. Ivel then seemed to step it up a level and were playing fast attacking rugby.  Ivel centre Tom Armistead then found a gap in the home sides defence and was able to cross the line and also converted the extra points. Ivel then scored two more tries in quick succession the second coming from lock Matt Corrigan, with both tries converted Ivel now held a healthy lead. The away side were not finshed adding two more tries before the end of the game, the first came through flanker Troy Fowler and the final by man of the match John Clay, also completing his hat trick for the day. After the game Ivel coach Martin Cole said “We got off to a nervy start, we had the chance to put the game away by halftime but poor handling and bad decision making let us down, but the second half we settled and done the basics well, playing some good rugby we now look to take that into the next game”

FT Ivel  50    Oakmeadians 2XV  6

Ivel are next home to North Dorset II.