The method of winning a match with something to spare whilst losing a player to a red card is perhaps not to be recommended, however much the National team espouse it. Yet that is what OAs achieved last weekend on this visit to England’s garden when the sun shone throughout.

The incident referred to came just after the half hour mark, innocuous enough it seemed from the sideline, yet, apparently sufficient to send one forward from each side from the field, the home lock for ten minutes, (the hosts’ second yellow of the half), the visiting flanker for the duration. By this time Albanians had already garnered a bonus point through the efforts of flying wings Oluwaseyi (twice) and Ricci and back row Kemp Price.

Sevenoaks Hooker Sedgewick drove over with both sides down to 14 men and full back Adams converted for a half time score of 10-20.

Adams scored twice more in the first 10 minutes of the second period as the visitors came to terms with the one man deficit but then had to watch as OAs amassed 31 points without reply in the remaining half hour.

This was a tour de force for the side in general and for Kemp Price in particular. Albanian tight play was imperious with one glitch only in the lineout all afternoon. Defence was solid to say the least all over the field and loose play was dealt with calmly and to great effect. There was a sense of urgency in this performance epitomised by Price who showed up twice in the rapid attack for the final try, his second of the day.

Hooker Fleckney will be happy with his brace and Sam Jones, quiet in the fist half, contributed no less than 16 points in the second.

This talented outfit are now third in the League table and await the visit of TJs (in a similar points situation) next Saturday.

Brian Quinn,

Roving Reporter