Versa: Issue Ten

20 OA Sports
21
SAINTS DOMINATING
The Leagues
BY JOVE WE HAVE
a Portal…
OA Rugby Club
By James Osborn (OA 2002)
OA Rifle Club
By Andrew Wilkie (OA 1965)
Although a current league position of 10th is not where
we would like to be, a closer look at the results shows
the underlying development of the 1st XV men’s side,
with more points scored (733) than at this stage in previous
seasons. We’ve seen higher scoring games and, in some cases,
wins against sides at the top end of the table. The focus for
the remainder of the season will be to finish strongly and
continue the development ahead of next season. Recruitment
and retention is going well, with the vast majority of the squad
already committed for next season.
We were thrilled to see three of our former players selected for
England’s Six Nations this season, Maro Itoje, Max Malins &
Nick Isiekwe, the latter having come up through our Mini &
Youth section.
The senior club remains well. Particularly pleasing has been
the re-emergence of the Romans who have already won their
league, having lost only once all season, so far. The Gladiators
currently lie in 5th place in their league, only 13 points off the
top. The Grizzlies currently occupy 2nd place in their league,
only 3 points off the top.
Our Saints 1st XV came out second best in a fiercely contested
and physical clash against first-placed rivals Thurrock T-Birds.
However, the story is not yet over, as the team’s second-place
finish in the league means that we progress to the semi-finals
and will travel to the home of Cheltenham Tigers to fight for
a place in the national Championship finals. Additionally, in
a testament to the depth and talent across the entire women’s
squad, alongside the Club’s commitment to continue to grow
the women’s game in Hertfordshire, we are delighted that our
2nd XV secured a final victory at home against Harlow WRFC,
and with that finished top of the table and undefeated in their
inaugural season. The team will be promoted to the NC1
league as a result and are relishing the additional challenge this
will bring next season.
Our Junior Saints U18’s Girls, having won the Final of the
Midlands U18’s Girls Cup, just fell short of reaching the Final
of the National U18’s Girls, losing narrowly to Liverpool St
Helens in the Semi-Final. One of our U18’s, Katie Johnson, was
selected and played for England U18’s against Scotland earlier
this year. Three other players, Chloe Flanagan, Kaela Ford and
Megan Sullivan were all selected for the England U18 Talent
Development Group.
The team has shot in one Herts Winter 25yd league
since my last submission back in autumn 2021, coming
4th in Division 1. Individual results from a total of
ten rounds shot over that period are to put it mildly, variable.
The consistency of shooting both by OAs and other clubs has
become markedly reduced. Plus, in Dorset where I currently
shoot, the general problem that we had back in October 2021
of finding team members, has not gone away.
There is undoubtedly a generational element to all this with
those in their seventies and eighties understandably slowing
down. With volunteers and hens’ teeth having about the
same rarity value there seems little prospect of revitalising
shooting as we knew it any time soon. One outcome deriving
from the lack of volunteers is that technology is gradually
encroaching onto the scene, but that comes with huge issues.
The “App for Everything” software writing brigade has little or
no understanding of the practicalities of organising shooting.
What we do is built on years of paper-based systems that must
be flexible. Change may be necessary, but people are still the
root of the sport, Portal, or not.
THE 300
OA Cricket Club
By David Goodier
The present arrangement with the NRA portal is for the
club to decide the date, distance and number of targets they
want to shoot then to submit this electronically for approval.
The club then gets told whether that request is approved or
not. When not approved a workable Plan B is then of course
required. Now the fun starts. Do you pick another random
date and try again or phone the office at Bisley for inside
information and submit a second guess? In my experience this
second request is also often declined. All of this, of course,
takes time which is not so bad if you are retired but during a
busy working environment it becomes virtually impossible.
Against the odds our opening event at Bisley this year against
the Old Lawrentians did manage to sneak through the NRA
portal and was shot on a very chilly but otherwise sunny day
on the Century range. The result was a surprising win for
the OAs, 467.38 to 446.17. Two ‘possibles’ were recorded in
our team, Martin Warr and John Simmons both with 50.5 at
500yds. Top score for the match went to Thomas Chapman
(OA 2020) with 95.9. Well done everyone.
The Old Albanian CC are deep into preparations for the new
cricket season, which commences at the end of April for our
junior section and the beginning of May for the senior sides.
The committee have been working hard to get high quality
new practice facilities installed at Woollams and it is hoped
that this will be achieved by the start of the season.
Regular practice sessions are being held at Verulam School
on Sundays. Over the winter the junior section of the Club
has grown to over 300 members, a record for the Club
and an indication that it continues to go from strength to
strength. These 300 members will benefit from the coaching
skills of newly qualified volunteers, who have been through
the ECB coaching course. This has been achieved through
kind donations from the 948 Foundation and the ECB. The
committee are extremely grateful to both organisations for
their help in securing the future of the Club.
The junior pathways into the senior league teams have never
been more clearly defined and we expect an increased number
of juniors to be able to join in the competitive league cricket
that will take place in the Saracens Herts Cricket League.
The Club will once again enter four teams into the league
structure. We are keen to welcome any new playing members
or anybody who wishes to make a contribution as scorer,
umpire or committee member. Please contact us at the email
address below if you would like to make a contribution.
The Club will host the Lords Taverners on Sunday 3rd July
and there will be an accompanying lunch. Please email
oacc_team_sec@hotmail.com if you would like to attend. Last
year we were able to raise over £400 for the Taverners’ charity
and even enjoyed a good game of cricket in the sunshine. We
hope to see you at Woollams at some point this season.